Las Vegas turned a tight contest into a clear win with a dominant third quarter, beating the Golden State Valkyries 91-81. The two-time defending WNBA champions used a huge surge after half-time to secure their first victory in three games and move to 5-3.
A'Ja Wilson and Jackie Young drove the Las Vegas response after the interval. Las Vegas led only 43-41 at the break, but then seized control. The visitors outscored Golden State 29-13 in the third quarter and entered the final period ahead by 18 points.
Wilson produced another standout display for Las Vegas, finishing with 28 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks. Young backed that up with 23 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Young hit 5 of 9 attempts from three-point range, stretching
the Golden State defence throughout.
NaLyssa Smith gave Las Vegas extra support on both ends. Smith scored 15 points on 7 of 9 shooting from the field and collected nine rebounds. That efficiency helped Las Vegas stay composed early, then punish Golden State once the third-quarter run started to build pressure.
Golden State struggled badly during the decisive spell. The Valkyries made only 3 of 17 shots in the third quarter, just 18 per cent. That cold stretch left Golden State chasing the game late. Golden State also dropped to 5-3 after losing for the first time in three outings.
Gabby Williams kept Golden State competitive with 20 points, carrying much of the scoring load. Janelle Salaun added 16 points but shot 5 of 13 from the floor. That mix of low third-quarter accuracy and limited support scoring kept Golden State from threatening the Las Vegas lead again.
| Team | Record | Final score | Top scorer | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas Aces | 5-3 | 91 | A'Ja Wilson | 28 | 15 | — |
| Las Vegas Aces | 5-3 | 91 | Jackie Young | 23 | 7 | 9 |
| Golden State Valkyries | 5-3 | 81 | Gabby Williams | 20 | — | — |
| Golden State Valkyries | 5-3 | 81 | Janelle Salaun | 16 | — | — |
Special Agent 0 clocked in 23 PTS 7 REB 9 AST 53% FG@JackieYoung3 // #ALLINLV pic.twitter.com/SBPyw3jMSALas Vegas Aces (@LVAces) May 31, 2026
The result highlighted how quickly momentum shifted once Las Vegas tightened defence and found rhythm. Wilson, Young and Smith combined efficient offence with strong rebounding, while Golden State could not answer during the third quarter. That stretch decided the contest between two teams that now share the same 5-3 record.
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