Valkyries takeaways: Return to Vegas for Martin, Nakase, Hayes spoiled by Aces
LAS VEGAS – The Valkyries’ first trip to the Las Vegas strip was a homecoming for several members of the WNBA’s newest team.
The last time Natalie Nakase coached in Las Vegas, she was the top assistant on an Aces team that captured back-to-back WNBA titles and boasted a highly touted defense. She returned as the leader of another vexing defensive unit on Saturday, but this time, she patrolled the sidelines as the head coach of her own team with postseason ambitions.
“Goosebumps, and it’s going to be a family reunion, and obviously wearing different jerseys,” Nakase said before the game. “But yeah, it feels good.”
Her Valkyries had shut down Caitlin Clark and the Fever on Wednesday, and now faced the league’s greatest player at the court in Mandalay Bay Casino. That vaunted defense was strained by A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young, who combined for 64 points in a 104-102 Valkyries loss.
The Valkyries led 46-45 at halftime, but the high-powered Aces were able to find space in the second half. The visitors kept it close, trailing just 90-86 with 3:32 remaining after a Veronica Burton triple from straightaway, and 92-90 on a Janelle Salaun layup.
Burton tied at 94 with two minutes remaining on an and-1 layup, but Jackie Young responded with a jumper and a scoop finish to push the lead back to four. A couple Aces free throws gave Las Vegas a 100-94 lead, but Cecilia Zandalasini dropped in a 3-pointer to make it 100-97 with 14 seconds left. Young made two more free throws to keep the Valkyries at bay.
Tiffany Hayes, facing her old team, made a leaning 3-pointer to cut the deficit to just two points again with seven seconds on the clock. Young made two more free throws, and the Valkyries buzzer-beating two was too little, too late.
Salaun and Hayes led Golden State in scoring with 16 apiece, and Temi Fagbenle scored 13 as the team dropped to 10-10. The Valkyries finished their four-game road trip with a 1-3 record, and will play host to Phoenix on Monday,
Tiffany Hayes, Kate Martin also back
Nakase was not the only former Ace returning to old stomping grounds. Hayes, now a starter in the Bay Area, spent last season coming off the bench in Las Vegas and was named the 2024 Sixth Woman of the Year.
Hayes connected on four triples, obviously comfortable with the rims in Las Vegas, and also scored a layup over Wilson in the second half.
Meanwhile, Kate Martin took on the franchise that picked her in the second round last season. She scored eight while facing former Iowa teammate Megan Gustafson.
A’ja Wilson torches Valkyries
Wilson was questionable with a right wrist injury entering Saturday’s showdown, but after going through a full warmup, suited up and started.
The Valkyries had held Wilson to 5 of 13 shooting and just 17 points in their first matchup, unveiling their trademark defensive scheme that prioritized cutting off the paint at all costs. The Valkyries won that game 95-67.
It didn’t work quite as well in the rematch.
Playing as the center in a 1-in-4-out offense, she torched the Valkyries in the mid-post, burying fadeways and bullying Golden State at the rim en-route to 25 first-half points. Wilson scored 34 overall while also grabbing a game-high 16 rebounds.