WNBA Playoffs: Valkyries Hold Off Aces 83-81, Push Defending Champs to the Brink

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SAN FRANCISCO — They might only be in their second year of existence, but the Golden State Valkyries are officially playing like seasoned WNBA championship contenders.

In a thrilling Game 2 of the WNBA Semifinals at Chase Center on Wednesday night, the Valkyries held off a fierce late surge to defeat the defending champion Las Vegas Aces 83-81. The victory gives Golden State a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, pushing the star-studded Aces to the absolute brink of elimination.

Here is a detailed breakdown of how the Valkyries defended their home court and moved one win away from their first WNBA Finals appearance.

A Devastating Defensive Game Plan

The storyline of the series so far has been Golden State’s suffocating defensive pressure. Head coach Natalie Nakase’s squad constantly disrupted the Aces’ rhythm, forcing them into contested shots and heavily limiting their interior production outside of their MVP.

The Valkyries’ defense dictated the tempo all night, making the Aces labor for every single possession. Las Vegas struggled mightily to find consistency inside the arc against Golden State’s aggressive rotations and physical play in the paint.

Game 2 showstoppers 🎬

@tiphayes3 and Gabby Williams are your Players of the Game. https://t.co/MCSDLoaKM5

— Golden State Valkyries (@valkyries) October 8, 2026

Golden State’s Offensive Firepower

Offensively, the Valkyries relied on a brilliantly balanced attack, spearheaded by a massive performance from their bench.

Veteran guard Tiffany Hayes was the absolute hero for Golden State, erupting for a team-high 21 points off the bench in just 17 minutes of action. Hayes was incredibly efficient, shooting 6-for-10 from the floor and keeping the offense afloat whenever the starters needed a breather.

In the starting lineup, Gabby Williams continued her stellar postseason run, finishing with 20 points, five rebounds, and three assists while playing relentless defense on the perimeter. Forward Kayla Thornton also stepped up in a major way, knocking down three critical three-pointers to finish with 16 points and perfectly complement the Valkyries’ offensive scheme.

The Aces’ Big Three Battle, but the Bench Falters

For Las Vegas, the burden fell entirely on their superstar trio, who fought valiantly to orchestrate a late fourth-quarter comeback that ultimately fell just short.

A’ja Wilson was spectacular as always, posting a game-high 24 points and seven rebounds while drawing constant double-teams. Point guard Chelsea Gray found her stroke from the outside, hitting three three-pointers to finish with 19 points and six assists, while Jackie Young added 14 points and eight assists of her own.

However, the Aces simply could not find enough auxiliary scoring to match Golden State’s depth. While the Valkyries’ bench (led by Hayes) was deeply impactful, the Las Vegas reserves struggled to generate consistent offense when the starters were off the floor. In a tightly contested, two-point game, that lack of bench production proved to be the fatal flaw.

What’s Next?

The series now shifts to Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas for a do-or-die Game 3 on Friday.

The Aces find themselves in an incredibly unfamiliar 0-2 hole. To keep their dynasty alive and force a Game 4, Las Vegas must immediately figure out how to crack the “Valkatraz” defense and find reliable scoring beyond their Big Three. Meanwhile, the Valkyries are riding a massive wave of momentum, sitting just one win away from completing the sweep and punching their ticket to the WNBA Finals in only their second season.