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, A’ja Wilson, at the court in Mandalay Bay Casino. That vaunted defense was strained by Wilson and Jackie Young, who combined for 64 points in a 104-102 victory over the expansion Valkyries.

“They’re great players, and they’re a championship team,” Valkyries center Temi Fagbenle said. “It’s never going to be a walk in the park against them.”

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 Veronica Burton’s triple from straightaway and 92-90 on Janelle Salaun’s layup.

Burton tied the score at 94 with two minutes remaining on an and-1 layup, but 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.

Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes (15) and Golden State Valkyries forward Cecilia Zandalasini (24) defend against Las Vegas Aces guard Aaliyah Nye (13) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Saturday, July 12, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Tiffany Hayes, facing her former team, made a leaning 3-pointer to cut the deficit to just two 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’s 3-pointer saw her smothered in a way that Nakase believed was a foul.

“This doesn’t sound great coming from the coach, but it’s my job to show up and do my job, and for the refs too, I just want there to be consistency,” Nakase said. “That play where Ja gets a nice three and she can’t land, I think that should be called.”

Salaun and Hayes led Golden State in scoring with 16 apiece, and Fagbenle scored 13 as Golden State dropped to 10-10. The Valkyries finished their four-game trip with a 1-3 record. They will play host to Phoenix on Monday.

Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) loses control of the ball after being fouled by Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton, left, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Saturday, July 12, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Tiffany Hayes, Kate Martin also back

Nakase was not the only former member of the Aces 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 points 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, she suited up and started.

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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, Wilson torched the Valkyries in the mid-post, burying fadeaways 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, and was also a problem in the open court.

“They pushed the ball in transition, so it’s a little bit of a different way that she’s catching it, rather than running sets where we knew she was going to catch it,” Nakase said.