The Las Vegas Aces finally got one at home, and Jackie Young made sure they finished it.
Las Vegas beat the Golden State Valkyries 84-79 on Saturday at Michelob ULTRA Arena, earning its first home win of the season after another fourth-quarter test. The Aces had watched late-game problems follow them through the early part of the year, but this time they answered behind Young, A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray.
Wilson finished with 28 points, 14 rebounds and three assists. Young added 27 points, five rebounds and five assists while shooting 6-for-8 from 3-point range.
Young also had to work through an injury scare. She twisted her ankle, got it taped up and returned to carry the Aces in the fourth quarter. After Golden State took control late, Young hit the biggest shot of the game, a 25-foot 3-pointer with 24.2 seconds left that put Las Vegas ahead 80-78.
She then made two free throws with 7.2 seconds left to stretch the lead to three.
Aces answer the fourth-quarter test
Before the game, Aces coach Becky Hammon said her biggest focus was clear.
“Just defense,” Hammon said. “We got to close games better. Starts on the defensive end.”
Hammon also said the Aces could not “go away from what got us the lead” and had to play ahead without letting off the gas.
Saturday became that exact test.
Las Vegas led by as many as 12 in the first half and carried a 58-55 lead into the fourth quarter. But Golden State opened the final period with back-to-back threes from Janelle Salaun and Tiffany Hayes, taking a 60-58 lead. It was the Valkyries’ first lead since 2-0.
The Aces did not fold.
Jewell Loyd, back after missing two games with a leg injury, answered with a driving layup and later tied the game with a 3-pointer. Young followed with two huge 3s midway through the quarter, then delivered again in the final minute.
Golden State led 76-72 with 3:03 left after a Gabby Williams 3-pointer. From there, Las Vegas closed the game on a 12-3 run.
Wilson made a turnaround jumper with 52.3 seconds left to give Las Vegas a 77-76 lead. After Veronica Burton answered for Golden State, Young hit the go-ahead 3. Wilson then grabbed two late defensive rebounds and made two free throws with 2.4 seconds left to seal it.
Wilson starts fast, Young finishes
Wilson gave Las Vegas the early control.
She scored 14 points in the first quarter and had 20 by halftime as the Aces took a 38-35 lead into the break. Golden State opened cold from deep, missing eight of its first nine 3-point attempts, and Wilson punished the Valkyries inside and at the free-throw line.
By the end, Wilson had gone 9-for-17 from the field and 8-for-8 at the line.
Young supplied the closing punch. She made six of Las Vegas’ 13 3-pointers and scored 14 of her 27 points in the fourth quarter, including three 3-pointers and five free throws.
Together, Wilson and Young combined for 55 of the Aces’ 84 points.
Gray ties Hammon’s mark
Gray added another major moment to the day.
She tied Hammon for the franchise’s all-time assists lead during the third quarter, a mark that spans the team’s history as the Utah Starzz, San Antonio Silver Stars/Stars and Las Vegas Aces.
Gray finished with 12 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals. She also helped Las Vegas keep the ball moving against Golden State’s pressure.
The Aces finished with 22 assists on 27 made baskets.
Loyd returns on Alumni Day
Loyd returned after missing the previous two games with a leg injury and gave Las Vegas important minutes off the bench. She finished with five points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal in 28 minutes.
Las Vegas still played without Chennedy Carter and Dana Evans, but Loyd’s return gave the Aces another perimeter option.
The Aces also wore Rebel red on Alumni Day, with the franchise recognizing former players as part of its 30th season celebration.
Valkyries keep pushing
Williams led Golden State with 27 points, six rebounds and two steals. Burton added 15 points, five rebounds and three assists, while Salaun scored 11 off the bench.
Golden State shot only 39% from the field and 31% from 3-point range, but it stayed close with 10 offensive rebounds and another high-volume day from deep. The Valkyries finished 11-for-35 from 3-point range after making 16 threes in the previous meeting between the teams.
Kayla Thornton added 10 points and nine rebounds.
Aces finally finish at home
The final score mattered. The way Las Vegas got there mattered more.
The Aces entered Saturday needing to prove they could protect a fourth-quarter lead and win at home. Golden State took the lead early in the fourth, then went up four with just over three minutes left.
This time, Las Vegas had the answer.
Wilson controlled the glass and closed at the line. Gray reached a franchise milestone. Loyd returned. And Young, taped ankle and all, carried the Aces through the finish.
For the first time this season, Las Vegas walked off its home floor with a win.
Up next
The Aces stay home Monday, June 8, for a Commissioner’s Cup matchup against the Seattle Storm at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on USA Network, Vegas 34 and CW Seattle. Las Vegas enters at 7-3 and riding a three-game winning streak after finally getting its first home win of the season. Seattle comes in 3-9 and has lost five straight.
The matchup leans heavily toward the Aces on paper. Las Vegas is averaging 89.7 points per game, while Seattle is at 75.6. A’ja Wilson leads the Aces at 24.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, and Chelsea Gray is averaging 7.2 assists after tying Becky Hammon for the franchise assists record Saturday.
Seattle will be without Ezi Magbegor, while Lexie Brown is listed as a game-time decision. For Las Vegas, Chennedy Carter and Dana Evans remain listed out.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
