After the last meeting turned on paint control and a third-quarter avalanche, the Aces have a simple target again: win the middle, finish possessions, and stay clean with the ball.
Aces-Valkyries rematch comes with a blueprint
Golden State made 16 threes in the last meeting and still lost 91-81 because Las Vegas owned the 2-point game. The Aces won points in the paint 38-16, and they held the Valkyries to 9-for-39 on 2-pointers.
The swing arrived after halftime. Las Vegas led 43-41 at the break, then ripped a 29-13 third quarter that decided it. A’ja Wilson powered the matchup with 28 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks, while Jackie Young kept the pressure on with 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists.
One clear cleanup item remains, though. The Aces had 15 turnovers in that win, and Golden State turned them into 14 points. If Las Vegas protects it at noon, the Valkyries lose their easiest path to rhythm threes.
Diggins lifts Sky, and Chicago finally breathes
Chicago beat Connecticut 85-80 on Friday night to end a five-game losing streak. Skylar Diggins scored 24 points and did most of her damage early, with 18 in the first half. Then, Elizabeth Williams delivered the closing touch with two key baskets in the final minute.
For Connecticut, Diamond Miller and Brittney Griner scored 16 apiece, and Aneesah Morrow pulled down 17 rebounds. However, the Sun shot 4-for-18 from 3, and that miss rate kept them chasing late.
Wings keep rolling, and the Sparks take another hit
Dallas beat Los Angeles 104-96 on Friday night behind star power and a steady flow of assists. Arike Ogunbowale scored 30 points and hit six 3s, while Paige Bueckers posted 18 points and a career-high 14 assists. Jessica Shepard added 22 points and 15 rebounds as Dallas stayed hot.
Los Angeles got 27 from Kelsey Plum in her return, and Nneka Ogwumike finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Still, the Sparks’ 17 turnovers mattered, especially late, because Dallas kept getting extra chances to close.
Bonner steadies Phoenix in Portland
Phoenix beat Portland 78-72 despite missing two usual starters, with DeWanna Bonner leading the way. Bonner scored a season-high 19 points, and Natasha Mack added 16 as the Mercury closed the game at the line. Phoenix finished 19-for-22 on free throws and did its best work late.
Portland’s problem was loud: 22 turnovers. Sarah Ashlee Barker led the Fire with 15 points and 7 rebounds, and Karlie Samuelson hit her first four 3s on the way to 13 points. Even so, Phoenix turned Portland’s giveaways into 23 points, and that decided it.
Standings watch
Minnesota leads at 8-2, and Dallas is right behind at 7-3 with four straight wins. Las Vegas sits third at 6-3, yet the home record is the story: the Aces are 0-2 at home and 6-1 on the road.
That is why Saturday matters. The next tier is close, with Atlanta at 6-3, the Valkyries at 6-4, and New York at 6-4. In other words, a home win is not just a vibe fix, it is a standings separator.
Up next
Seattle at Minnesota, 10:00 a.m. PT on ABC. Golden State Valkyries at Aces, 12:00 p.m. PT on ABC. Washington at Atlanta, 3:00 p.m. PT. Indiana at New York, 5:00 p.m. PT on CBS and Paramount+.
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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.
