Gabby Williams Powers Valkyries Past Defending Champion Aces in WNBA Semifinal Opener

Gabby Williams delivered another postseason statement Sunday, finishing with 25 points, 11 rebounds and five assists as the Golden State Valkyries defeated the defending champion Las Vegas Aces 71-60 in Game 1 of their WNBA semifinal series. Williams scored 18 points in the first half, helping Golden State seize control at Chase Center before its defense and rebounding kept Las Vegas from mounting a comeback.

The numbers behind the victory were just as striking as the final score. Golden State outrebounded Las Vegas 52-25 and held the Aces to their lowest point total of the season. Kiah Stokes grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked three shots, while the Valkyries also received important production from their bench. A’ja Wilson led Las Vegas with 24 points, but the Aces lost guard Jewell Loyd to a left leg injury early in the third quarter. The team said Loyd was being evaluated, and coach Becky Hammon did not have an immediate update afterward.

For Golden State, this was more than stealing the first game of a best-of-five series. The Valkyries just eliminated Dallas in a winner-take-all Game 3 and immediately followed it by beating the defending champions. Williams has become the centerpiece of that postseason surge, and Golden State now has a 1-0 series lead with Game 2 again at Chase Center on Wednesday.