Aces' Jewell Loyd comes alive, Ends Valkyries 3-Game Win Streak

Though the phrase "Any Given Sunday" is most often associated with the NFL, it's proving just as true in the WNBA.

On Sunday, the Golden State Valkyries concluded a grueling five-game, eight-day road swing with a 101-77 defeat to the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday afternoon at Michelob ULTRA Arena. They closed out the stretch with a respectable 3-2 record.

The Valkyries found themselves playing from behind early despite a competitive start that saw the game tied at 7-7. Las Vegas strung together a quick 9-2 run to close the first quarter with a 27-14 lead, capitalizing on some early momentum.

In the second quarter, Golden State hit a cold stretch from the field, but continued to battle while the Aces found their rhythm behind a hot-shooting bench and standout play from Jewell Loyd.

The half closed on an emotional note, with a flagrant foul that led to the ejection of Janelle Salaun and a buzzer-beater from Kirstan Bell, giving Las Vegas a 50-25 edge heading into the break.

Despite the lopsided final score, the Valkyries never stopped competing in the 2nd half, playing mostly even with the Aces, sparked by renewed energy and a strong effort from the bench.

Head Coach Natalie Nakase praised her squad’s resilience: “We came out too flat, especially against a team as talented as the Aces. But we came back and we punched them in the third and the fourth; and I love that response.”

Loyd led the charge for the Aces with a blistering 27-point performance, knocking down seven three-pointers and tying the Aces’ franchise record for most in a game. After a stretch of underwhelming outings that had many questioning her impact since joining Las Vegas, Sunday marked Loyd’s long-awaited breakout performance of the season.

It was a timely and emphatic response, not just for Loyd but for the entire Aces team, who also posted season-highs in offensive rebounds, total rebounds, and made threes (18), delivering a statement win just a day after suffering their worst loss of the year.

The balance and unpredictability of the WNBA was on full display with the Aces' back-to-back performances. One night they were on the wrong end of a historic blowout, and the next, they delivered one of their strongest showings of the season.

Just 25 hours after suffering the worst home defeat in WNBA history, a 53-point home loss to the Minnesota Lynx, Las Vegas bounced back with a dominant 24-point victory over Golden State. The result marked a record-setting 77-point turnaround, the biggest game-to-game point swing in WNBA history.

The Valkyries experienced plenty of highs and lows on this road trip, securing hard-fought, down-to-the-wire victories against the Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics, while also enduring decisive losses to both the Aces and the Connecticut Sun.

Despite the ups and downs of the trip and the late scratches of veterans Cecilia Zandalasini and Tiffany Hayes, the Valkyries continued to showcase their depth.

Iliana Rupert delivered a career-best outing, leading the Valkyries with 17 points and eight rebounds. She was efficient from the line (4-of-4) and confident beyond the arc, going 3-of-8 from distance.

Carla Leite added 14 points in her fifth start of the season, her eighth game in double figures, while Laeticia Amihere contributed 14 points and nine rebounds off the bench, including a perfect 8-of-8 performance from the free-throw line.

Newcomer Kaila Charles impressed in her second game with Golden State, scoring 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting and knocking down three triples.

Nakase praised how quickly Charles has integrated into the rotation. “Bringing in Kai so late, and she’s been playing really well for us. She had 14 tonight, and she just fit right in. Credit to the players, who love to bring in new people and just embrace her.”

On the positive side, the Valkyries maintained their efficiency at the line, hitting 17-of-18 free throws (94.4%), and continued their recent streak of strong foul shooting, 89.5% over the last four games. The team posted four double-digit scorers for the 10th time this season, a testament to their balanced offense even on off nights.

While Sunday’s result was disappointing, it came at the end of a grueling stretch of travel and high-intensity games. Coach Nakase noted that rest and recovery were now the top priorities. “Health is obviously number one for me. So, can't wait to get back into our beds, when we're all healthy, to have 12 healthy will be pretty dangerous.”

The Valkyries return home at 14-14, still firmly in the playoff hunt and eager to reset after a taxing road swing.

Their response in the second half, their continued growth as a team, and their ability to bring new contributors into the fold speak to a franchise built for the long haul. As Nakase and her players reaffirmed, the key isn’t perfection, it’s resilience. And the Valkyries have that in spades.

UP NEXT

• Golden State returns home to take on the same Las Vegas Aces this Wednesday, August 6 at 7 p.m. PT on KPIX+, KMAX, NBA TV, 95.7 The Game, and the Audacy App.
• For tickets, news, and more team updates, visit valkyries.wnba.com.