Valkyries instant analysis: Golden State fights hard, but can’t close out A’ja Wilson-led Aces

Six days ago, the Las Vegas Aces outclassed the Valkyries in front of their home crowd.

Golden State came much closer to knocking them off Saturday — just not close enough.

The Valkyries lost to Las Vegas 84-79 on Saturday, but this wasn’t the Valkyries squad that got dominated last Sunday at Chase Center. They held the Aces’ role players in check and made A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young carry the offense almost entirely on their own.

It just wasn’t enough.

With a chance to tie late in the game, point guard Veronica Burton missed the second of two free throws and the Aces hit their foul shots to win the game.

Gabby Williams had her best game of the season as she finished with 27 points and six rebounds. Burton had 15 points, five rebounds and three assists. Janelle Salaün scored 11 points off the bench.

Wilson had a monster game, finishing with 28 points and 14 rebounds . Jackie Young hit every big shot for the defending champions down the stretch, scoring 27 points, grabbing five rebounds and dishing out five assists.

NorCal native Chelsea Gray scored 12 and dished out six assists. She tied her head coach Becky Hammon on the franchise’s all-time assists list.

Wilson single-handedly beat the Valkyries in the first quarter. The reigning league MVP scored 14 points in the first quarter, tying her season-high for points in a period.

Despite opening the game 1-for-8 from the 3-point line to start the game, the Valkyries recovered in the second quarter. Williams, Thornton and Salaün combined to score 26 points in the first half as Golden State trailed by three at halftime.

Both teams went back-and-forth throughout the fourth quarter.

Veronica Burtot’s driving layup with 38.3 seconds left put the Valkyries up 78-77. Las Vegas responded with a stepback 3-pointer on the following possession to put the Aces up two with 19.1 seconds remaining.

Down two, Burton was fouled on a reverse layup to the basket. But she hit one of two free throws and the Valkyries had to foul on the rebound. Young hit two more free throws to put the Aces up three.

Needing a 3-pointer to tie the game, Salaün’s contested corner 3-pointer clanked off the rim and Wilson sunk two more free throws to ice the game.

Williams bounce back

After registering her lowest point total of the season, Williams looked more aggressive to get her own shot on Saturday.

Williams scored 10 points in the first half on 4-for-8 shooting from the field and 1-for-3 from beyond the arc.

Small ball

Starting center Kiah Stokes had another rough outing.

The former Aces player drew the assignment of guarding Wilson early, but couldn’t hang with the former South Carolina standout.

Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase opted to go small, playing Thornton and Salaün in the two frontcourt spots. The move worked out well in the first half as the duo cut the Aces’ 12-point first-half lead to just three at the conclusion of the second quarter.