Golden State Valkyries Sweep Defending Champion Aces to Reach WNBA Finals in Second Season

The Golden State Valkyries became the fastest expansion franchise in WNBA history to reach the Finals, completing a three-game sweep of the defending champion Las Vegas Aces with an 87-77 overtime victory on October 9 in Las Vegas. Kayla Thornton scored 18 points and Gabby Williams added 16, including eight in overtime, as the second-year team outscored the Aces 16-6 in the extra period.

The Valkyries will face the Atlanta Dream in a best-of-seven series beginning October 17 at Chase Center in San Francisco. The Dream swept the New York Liberty 85-83 earlier the same night to reach its first Finals since 2013. Neither team has previously won a WNBA championship. Golden State opened as a slight favorite.

A’ja Wilson, honored before the game for a fifth MVP award, scored 21 points on 6-of-19 shooting for the Aces. The Aces had won three of the previous four titles. The Valkyries overcame an 11-point second-half deficit, holding Las Vegas to seven points in the third quarter before the game tightened and forced overtime. Williams, Thornton and Tiffany Hayes scored all of Golden State’s overtime points.

Veronica Burton called the moment a blessing and said the team was making history. Coach Natalie Nakase, a former assistant with the Aces under Becky Hammon, watched her second-year squad complete the sweep. Eight Valkyries scored at least six points. Kiah Stokes finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

The Valkyries won all three regular-season meetings against the Dream. Game 1 of the Finals is set for 12:30 p.m. Pacific time on October 17. The series continues on October 19 before shifting to Atlanta. The expansion team, founded with a stated goal of contending within five years, reached the championship round in half that time.

The Aces face an offseason of questions after the early exit. For Golden State, the sweep confirms the depth that carried them through the postseason. Williams’ step-back and defensive steals in the closing minutes proved decisive. The Finals pairing of two teams without previous titles sets up a matchup between an established Eastern Conference side and a Western expansion club that has already exceeded its initial timeline.