Valkyries Fight to the Final Buzzer but Fall Short Against Aces, 78–72

SAN FRANCISCO — In a night that felt like a playoff preview featuring the Golden State Valkyries against the Las Vegas Aces, the Valkyries threw everything they had at the Aces — and nearly stole it late — before falling 78–72 at Chase Center on Wednesday night.

Down by 10 heading into the fourth, the Valkyries lit up the crowd with a 9–2 surge to slice the deficit to just three. In this fierce Golden State Valkyries vs Las Vegas Aces matchup, the defense clamped down hard, holding the Aces to just 2-for-12 shooting in the final frame. The building buzzed with belief. The fight was there. The grit was there. But the final dagger never came.

The Return of Hayes & Zandalasini

Two key Valkyries returned to action — and it showed in their battle against the Las Vegas Aces.

• Tiffany Hayes, back after missing two games with a leg injury, led Golden State with 14 points and a season-high-tying 9 rebounds, catching fire in crunch time with 8 points in the fourth quarter alone.
• Cecilia Zandalasini, fresh from a three-game absence with a foot injury, brought her trademark energy and floor spacing.

The Supporting Firepower

• Janelle Salaün continued her steady presence, posting 13 points and a team-high 3 assists, battling the Las Vegas Aces on both ends.
• Carla Leite carved up the lane in 24 minutes, scoring 11 points with fearless drives to the rim.
• Kaila Charles, just three games into her Valkyries career, made it back-to-back double-digit games with an ultra-efficient 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting.

Perfect from the Stripe

If there was one flawless stat, it was free throw shooting. The Valkyries went 18-for-19 (94.7%) from the line — their second-best mark of the season — proving once again that every point matters in games this tight, especially when facing the Las Vegas Aces.

Looking Ahead

This was more than just a loss against the Las Vegas Aces — it was proof that this expansion squad can push the defending champs to the edge.

The Valkyries now set their sights on:

• Saturday, Aug. 9 vs. LA Sparks (5:30 p.m., KPIX+) — the fifth and final meeting this season.
• Monday, Aug. 11 vs. Connecticut Sun (7 p.m., KPIX+) — before heading out for a two-game road swing.

The fight is still alive. The playoff push is still real. And if Wednesday night proved anything, it’s that this team refuses to back down from anyone, including the Las Vegas Aces.