Three takeaways from the Aces’ hectic 104-102 win over Valkyries

LAS VEGAS—It was far from the prettiest 40 minutes the Las Vegas Aces played, but they came up big in the moments that counted.

On Saturday, the Aces pulled out a gutsy 104-102 victory over the Golden State Valkyries at Michelob ULTRA Arena.

Their first win over the expansion Valkyries pushes the Aces closer to .500 with a 10-11 record, breaking their skid at two games. Meanwhile, Golden State heads down to an even record of 10-10.

Here are three takeaways from the back-and-forth battle:

A’ja back in action

Coming back from a wrist injury, A’ja Wilson reminded everyone just how dangerous she is on the court.

From the first half, Wilson was far and away the best player on the court, scoring 25 of the Aces’ 45 points in that span. Even with the second half focusing more on other players, Wilson was still able to contribute as her team tried to close the game out. The three-time MVP finished the game with another double-double, tallying game-high marks with 34 total points and 16 rebounds.

Better late than never

While the first half felt more like a one-woman show, the Aces did a better job supporting Wilson in the second.

Forward Jackie Young became the focal point on offense, scoring 22 of her 29 points in the second half. Guard Jewell Loyd was also a key contributor despite being shut out in the first half, ending the game with 15 points. The two’s dynamic performance gave the Aces some much-needed cushion to fend off a late push from the Valkyries.

Disadvantage from deep

The Valkyries showed their willingness to attack from beyond the three-point line, and it nearly made the difference for them in this game.

Long-range shooting proved to be the Valkyries’ strength, going 12-for-31 from beyond the arc. Golden State was lead in three-point shots made by former Aces guard Tiffany Hayes, who made four of her seven attempts, as well as Kate Martin and Cecilia Zandalasini (four-for-nine combined). The Aces were far less efficient (six-for-21), but the difference between the two was not enough to keep the Aces from a victory.