SAN FRANCISCO — Kayla Thornton had an impressive performance with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Veronica Burton and Monique Billings recorded double-doubles as the Golden State Valkyries secured a commanding 95-68 victory over the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday, ending their four-game losing streak.
Burton contributed significantly with 14 points, a career-high 12 assists, and seven rebounds. Billings also played a vital role, delivering 14 points, 11 rebounds, as well as two steals and two blocks. Adding to the remarkable team effort, Cecilia Zandalasini posted a career-high with 18 points, and Kate Martin contributed 12 points for the expansion Valkyries, setting a new franchise record for points scored in a single game.
The momentum shifted early in the game when Thornton assisted Martin for a layup near the end of the first quarter, establishing a lead for the Valkyries that they maintained throughout the contest. Thornton’s successful three-pointer extended the lead to 31-21 with 3:47 left in the second quarter, and Las Vegas struggled to make a comeback, trailing by double digits for the remainder of the game.
The Valkyries (3-5) put on a dazzling performance, scoring an impressive 34 points in the second quarter alone—more than the Aces managed during the entire first half. Martin’s deep three-pointer at the halftime buzzer left Golden State with a solid 49-28 advantage.
For the Aces, A’ja Wilson was the lead scorer with 17 points, followed closely by Chelsea Gray, who chipped in 16 points with a highly efficient 7-of-11 shooting. Rookie Aaliyah Nye made notable contributions by hitting three three-pointers and achieving a season-high 13 points, marking her second game in a row with double-digit scoring.
Despite their efforts, the Aces struggled with accuracy, finishing with a 36% shooting rate (22 of 62) and successfully converting only 6 out of 25 attempts (24%) from beyond the three-point line.
Looking forward, Golden State will travel south to face off against the Los Angeles Sparks on Monday. Meanwhile, the Aces will return home to host Los Angeles on Wednesday.