SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Kayla Thornton had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Veronica Burton and Monique Billings also had double-doubles and the Golden State Valkyries beat the Las Vegas Aces 95-68 on Saturday to snap a four-game losing streak.
Burton added 14 points, a career-high 12 assists and seven rebounds, while Billings finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
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Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase answers questions during a press conference before her team's WNBA basketball game against the Las Vegas Aces, where she spent three seasons as an assistant coach, Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon answers questions during a press conference before a WNBA basketball game against the Golden State Valkyries, Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Valkyries center Temi Fagbenle (14) and guard Veronica Burton (22) defend against Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson in the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) guards against Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) in the first half at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) guards against Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) during the first half a WNBA basketball game, Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Cecilia Zandalasini scored a career-high 18 points for Golden State and Kate Martin had 12 for the expansion Valkyries, who set a franchise record for points in a game.
Thornton found Martin for a layup with a minute left in the first quarter to give the Valkyries the lead for good and Thornton’s 3-pointer with 3:47 remaining in the second made it 31-21. Las Vegas trailed by double figures the rest of the way.
The Valkyries (3-5) scored more points (34) in the second quarter than the Aces, who shot 29% (9 of 31) from the field in the first half, had at halftime. Martin’s deep pull-up 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Golden State a 49-28 lead at the intermission.
A'ja Wilson scored 17 for Las Vegas (4-3) and Chelsea Gray had 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Rookie Aaliyah Nye hit three 3-pointers and finished with a season-high 13 points, her second consecutive game in double figures.
The Aces finished shooting 36% (22 of 62) and made 6 of 25 (24%) from 3-point range.
Golden State heads south to play the Los Angeles Sparks on Monday. The Aces return home to take on Los Angeles on Wednesday.
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase answers questions during a press conference before her team's WNBA basketball game against the Las Vegas Aces, where she spent three seasons as an assistant coach, Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon answers questions during a press conference before a WNBA basketball game against the Golden State Valkyries, Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Valkyries center Temi Fagbenle (14) and guard Veronica Burton (22) defend against Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson in the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) guards against Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) in the first half at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) guards against Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) during the first half a WNBA basketball game, Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
