The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Las Vegas Aces 87-77 in overtime Friday, October 9, 2026, with standout Kiah Stokes contributing 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. Golden State erased a nine-point halftime deficit at Michelob ULTRA Arena and completed a 3-0 sweep in Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Aces Establish an Early Advantage
Las Vegas finished the opening quarter ahead 19-16. The three-point margin gave the home team an early edge in front of an announced crowd of 10,218, but Golden State stayed within reach.
Second Quarter: Las Vegas Extends Its Lead
The Aces outscored the Valkyries 26-20 in the second period, their highest-scoring quarter of the game. Las Vegas entered halftime with a 45-36 advantage, leaving Golden State needing a substantial second-half improvement to close out the series.
Third Quarter: Golden State Changes the Game
The Valkyries delivered that improvement immediately after halftime, outscoring Las Vegas 17-7. Holding the Aces to seven points reversed the game’s direction: Golden State turned a nine-point deficit into a 53-52 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter: Teams Finish Regulation Level
Las Vegas edged Golden State 19-18 in the fourth, recovering the single point separating the teams after three quarters. Regulation ended tied at 71-71, sending the semifinal matchup into overtime.
Overtime: Valkyries Pull Away
Golden State took control in the extra period with a 16-6 scoring advantage. After four quarters produced a tie, the Valkyries built the entire final 10-point margin in overtime to secure the road victory and finish the series.
Key Performers
- Kiah Stokes, Golden State: Stokes recorded 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, pairing a double-double with a significant defensive contribution.
- Kayla Thornton, Golden State: Thornton led the Valkyries with 18 points.
- Tiffany Hayes, Golden State: Hayes paced the winning team with four assists.
- A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas: Wilson led all scorers with 21 points and added 10 rebounds for a double-double.
- Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas: Gray led the Aces with five assists.
NerdSports Stat: Golden State scored as many points in five minutes of overtime as it did in the entire 10-minute first quarter: 16 in each period.
Game Analysis
The third quarter made Golden State’s comeback possible; overtime made it decisive. Across the second half and extra period, the Valkyries outscored the Aces 51-32, a 19-point advantage that more than offset their nine-point halftime deficit.
Golden State also held meaningful advantages in rebounding and overall shooting. The Valkyries collected 43 rebounds to Las Vegas’ 35 and shot 40.5% from the field, making 30 of 74 attempts. The Aces finished at 38.2%, converting 26 of 68 shots. Golden State recorded 16 assists compared with 13 for Las Vegas.
Three-point shooting did not separate the teams on the scoreboard. Both made seven triples, although Las Vegas was more efficient at 35.0% than Golden State at 29.2%. The Valkyries instead gained eight points through additional two-point baskets and another two at the foul line—together accounting for the final margin.
Both teams attempted 22 free throws. Golden State made 20 for a 90.9% conversion rate, while Las Vegas made 18 for 81.8%. Those small advantages complemented the larger turnaround after halftime.
Closing Context: Golden State Advances
The victory completed Golden State’s 3-0 semifinal sweep and secured its place in the WNBA Finals, ending Las Vegas’ postseason. The supplied records list the Valkyries at 32-12 and the Aces at 31-13 for the regular season; this playoff result determines advancement rather than changing those regular-season standings.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Las Vegas Aces 87-77 in overtime on October 9, 2026.
A’ja Wilson scored a game-high 21 points. Her individual shooting percentage was not included in the supplied game statistics.
After the win, the Golden State Valkyries completed a 3-0 WNBA semifinal series victory and advanced to the Finals. Their listed regular-season record was 32-12; conference standings were not provided.
Kiah Stokes was the standout all-around performer for Golden State with 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. A’ja Wilson led all scorers with 21 points and also collected 10 rebounds.
