Golden State Valkyries reach WNBA Finals for the first time
In the Western final of the US women's pro basketball league WNBA, California's Golden State Valkyries swept the Las Vegas Aces 3-0 and reached the finals for the first time. They will face the Atlanta Dream.
The Golden State Valkyries, a women's basketball club from California, won 87:77 in overtime (71:71 in regulation) away at the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday morning, 10 October, Latvian time. The win completed a 3-0 sweep of the best-of-five series and sent the team to the finals of the WNBA, the top US women's professional basketball league, for the first time in its history.
The team, coached by Natalie Nakase, had lost all three regular-season meetings with Las Vegas, yet finished the regular season in second place. The Aces entered the playoffs as the third seed.
How the series went
Home-court advantage mattered. The Valkyries sold out their 48th and 49th consecutive home games, drawing 18,064 spectators each time to the Chase Center, also known as "Ballhalla". Wins of 71:60 and 83:81 put the hosts 2-0 up.
The day before Game 3, Aces leader A'ja Wilson was named WNBA Most Valuable Player for the fifth time in nine seasons. In the deciding game she played 43 minutes and scored 21 points, but it was not enough for Las Vegas.
Top performers
Kayla Thornton scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the winners. Gabby Williams added 16 points and three steals, while Kiah Stokes had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Lithuanian Juste Jocyte and Canadian Laeticia Amihere did not play and stayed on the bench.
The finals
In the finals the Valkyries will meet the Atlanta Dream. The Georgia-based team won 85:83 away at the New York Liberty, took that series 3-0 and reached the finals for the first time since 2013. Neither finalist has won a title yet.
The finals begin on Saturday, 17 October, at 22:30 Latvian time.
