LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kayla Thornton scored 18 points and the second-year Golden State Valkyries became the quickest expansion team to reach the WNBA Finals, sweeping the defending champion Las Vegas Aces 87-77 in overtime Friday night in Game 3.
The second-seeded Valkyries will have home-court advantage and will host No. 4 Atlanta beginning Oct. 17. The Dream swept New York earlier in the night, and now teams are 22-0 in playoff history when leading a series 2-0.
Las Vegas, which was seeded third, had won three of the past four championships.
Gabby Williams added 16 points for the Valkyries, including eight in overtime. Former Aces Kiah Stokes and Tiffany Hayes each had 11 points, and Stokes also grabbed 10 rebounds.
A’ja Wilson, honored before night’s game for winning an unprecedented fifth MVP, scored 21 points, but on 6-for-19 shooting for the Aces. She also had 10 rebounds, joining DeWanna Bonner as the only players with 1,300 points and 600 rebounds in the postseason.
Jackie Young added 18 points and Chelsea Gray 17.
A 17-point run bolted Golden State past the Aces for a 53-47. Las Vegas closed within a point by the end of the quarter, giving the Aces only seven points in the period.
The Aces led by six points late in the game before the Valkyries evened the score when Gabby Williams stole the ball from Wilson and Thornton finished with a transition layup to make it 69-69 with 1:50 left.
Golden State then took the lead Veronica Burton's 9-foot floater with 1:12 remaining. The Aces tied the score on Gray's inbound pass to Young with 27 seconds left and ultimately force overtime.
The extra period belonged completely to the Valkyries, who outscored the Aces 16-6
___
See AP’s full WNBA coverage here
-
WATCH: Las Vegas Aces championship parade and celebrations
See all our live coverage from this afternoon and evening on Channel 13 and The Spot Vegas 34 with special guests Anne O'Neil and Gianna Hearn!
Here's where you can celebrate the Las Vegas Aces after 3rd title win
After securing their third WNBA championship title in four years, the Aces will be celebrating their exciting win during the Las Vegas Aces 2025 Championship Celebration on Friday, Oct. 17.
Get parade-ready: Las Vegas Aces' store holds WNBA Championship merch pop-up
A historic third Championship win for the Las Vegas Aces brings them home to a parade slated for October 17 — and they want to make sure you're decked out for it.
Parade plans in the works: Las Vegas celebrates Aces' third championship trophy
As of Friday night, we're awaiting additional details on when you can expect the Aces victory parade to take over the Las Vegas Strip.
