The Golden State Valkyries have only been in the WNBA for two seasons, but they're already making history. In one of the biggest surprises of the WNBA postseason, Golden State completed a three-game sweep of the defending champion Las Vegas Aces on Friday night, securing the franchise's first trip to the WNBA Finals. The Valkyries defeated Las Vegas 87-77 in overtime at Michelob ULTRA Arena, ending the Aces' hopes of defending their championship and setting up a Finals matchup against the Atlanta Dream.
For a franchise that didn't play its first game until 2025, reaching the championship round this quickly is a remarkable accomplishment. And Golden State didn't take the easy road to get there. Standing in Golden State's way was a Las Vegas team that had captured three of the previous four WNBA championships.
Led by five-time MVP A'ja Wilson, the Aces entered the postseason looking to add another title to an already impressive championship run. Instead, Golden State flipped the script, sweeping the defending champions in three consecutive games and ending Las Vegas' hopes of another title. But completing the sweep was far from easy, as Friday's elimination game pushed the Valkyries to their limits.
Playing on the road for the first time in the series, the Valkyries struggled to find their rhythm offensively, going scoreless for the opening three minutes. Las Vegas took advantage of the slow start and controlled much of the first half. Chelsea Gray helped set the tone for the Aces, scoring 15 points before halftime as Las Vegas built a nine-point advantage heading into the break.
For the first time in the series, Golden State found itself facing serious adversity. But rather than allowing Las Vegas to take control, the Valkyries came out of halftime with a renewed sense of urgency, putting together a dominant 17-0 run that completely shifted the momentum. Tiffany Hayes helped spark the comeback with her defensive intensity, while Kayla Thornton provided an offensive boost with a timely 3-pointer.
Kaitlyn Chen eventually gave Golden State its first lead of the night, and Kiah Stokes capped the run with a corner 3-pointer. During that stretch, the Valkyries held Las Vegas scoreless for more than seven minutes, forcing 12 consecutive missed shots. What once appeared to be an opportunity for the Aces to extend the series had suddenly become another example of Golden State's ability to respond under pressure.
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