Burton's 3-pointer with 41 seconds left helps send Valkyries past Aces 83-81 for 2-0 semifinals lead

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Veronica Burton hit a deep 3-pointer that put Golden State ahead with 41 seconds left and converted two free throws in the closing seconds, Tiffany Hayes had 21 points, and the Valkyries held off the Las Vegas Aces 83-81 on Wednesday night for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five WNBA semifinal series.

“I think I held my breath the whole time the ball was in the air,” Hayes said about watching Burton’s clutch shot.

In a wild finish, Jackie Young missed the second of two free throws with six seconds left to give Las Vegas one last chance, then Chelsea Gray grabbed the rebound and drove under the basket for a layup attempt. Kiah Stokes blocked the shot and Burton corralled the ball.

Gabby Williams had 20 points and five rebounds and Kayla Thornton scored 16 points as the Valkyries moved one win away from reaching the WNBA Finals in just their second season. Golden State became the first expansion team in league history to make the playoffs in its inaugural season last year.

Hayes missed that postseason run because of a left knee injury, and now she's shining against her former team.

“It felt amazing to be able to go out there and get a win with the team that I’m with now,” she said.

A shot-clock violation gave Golden State the ball back with 1:01 to play and Burton delivered with her lone basket of the night.

“That Burton 3 was massive,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “We battled back and gave ourselves a shot after a really abysmal first half.”

The series now shifts to Las Vegas for Game 3 on Friday with the defending champions trying to stave off elimination. Hammon said before Wednesday's game how important it would be to go home with a split — but the Valkyries have been too good in front of their rocking home crowd and now Hammon's team is on the brink of the season ending without a repeat title.

“I can't convince them that this is not a must-win, because if we lose we go home, and we stay home,” she said. “The goal is to get one quarter at a time and we've got to string it together. We know we're capable of stringing three in a row.”

A’ja Wilson had 24 points on 9-for-16 shooting and seven rebounds for Las Vegas, which trailed 66-55 going into the final 10 minutes and made it interesting down the stretch.

Gray’s jumper with 4:46 to go pulled the Aces to 73-68 then Dana Evans’ 3-pointer made it 74-71 before Gray hit a tying 3 with 2:10 left.

Burton, who sat down with 7:29 left in the third quarter of a 71-60 Game 1 win Sunday and didn’t return, was thrilled to have the ball in her hands this time.

“I was just saying I had to do something out there,” she said. “I appreciated Gabby trusting me in that moment, obviously a big moment. We trust her with the ball in her hands as well and so for her to pass it up to me not just once in that possession but twice ... the second one I knew that had to go up.”

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

Las Vegas Aces center Kalani Brown (20) tries to shoot between Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes (41) and guard Veronica Burton (22) during the second half of Game 2 of the WNBA basketball semifinals, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) celebrates after scoring a three-pointer against Las Vegas Aces during Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals in San Francisco, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

The Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes (41) and guard Kaila Charles (6) block Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) during Game 2 of the WNBA Semifinals in San Francisco, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton (5) reacts as the Valkyries recover the Las Vegas Aces' free throw to seal the victory in the fourth quarte during Game 2 of the WNBA Semifinals in San Francisco, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Golden State Valkyries guard Kaitlyn Chen (2) and Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) celebrate their win against the Las Vegas Aces during Game 2 of the WNBA Semifinals in San Francisco, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

CHICAGO (AP) — Jo Adell and José Ramírez powered Cleveland with a pair of two-out triples, and the Guardians avoided an AL Division Series sweep by cooling off the Chicago White Sox with a 9-3 victory in Game 3 on Wednesday.

Adell's three-run triple gave Cleveland a 4-1 lead in the third inning. Ramírez's three-bagger drove in Travis Bazzana and Patrick Bailey for a 7-3 advantage in the eighth.

“We continued to pile on,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “I think that’s been the difference of the first couple games to today was Game 2, we were able to get a couple runs but weren’t able to add on. But really good job by our guys today.”

The Guardians hit two triples in a postseason game for the first time in franchise history. They became the first major league team to accomplish the feat since the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees.

Adell, Ramírez, Bailey and Brayan Rocchio each had two of the team's 11 hits — a complete turnaround for the AL Central champions after they managed just three runs and seven hits in the first two games of the series combined.

Game 4 is Thursday in Chicago, with the White Sox leading 2-1 in the best-of-five matchup. Once again, they'll try to clinch a postseason series at home for the first time since the 1906 World Series against the Chicago Cubs.

“Today has nothing to do with tomorrow. Nothing," White Sox catcher Kyle Teel said. "We come ready to go like we always do tomorrow.”

Chicago won its first four games in a surprising postseason appearance after going 60-102 last year. It was backed by a frenzied crowd of 40,590 for the franchise's first home playoff game since 2021, but there wasn't much for the fans to cheer in the final innings.

The White Sox struck out 19 times and went 2 for 11 with runners in position. Their bullpen faltered after coming up big during their fast postseason start.

“I think there was some stuff we could have played better, but they played good, too,” left-hander Hagen Smith said. “It’s a good team, and we’ll come back tomorrow and fight.”

Chicago jumped in front on Teel's RBI double off Daniel Espino with one out in the first. But then Espino fanned Chase Meidroth before Foster Griffin struck out Tristan Peters looking, stranding runners on second and third.

Griffin set a franchise record for a reliever with seven strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. The left-hander allowed one run and two hits in his first appearance since Sept. 23.

“Once we got the momentum going on our side, it was tough to stop it,” said Griffin, who came over in a trade with Washington in August.

Cleveland rallied in the third against Bryan Hudson, who entered after Sean Newcomb pitched two scoreless innings.

Bazzana walked and scored on Steven Kwan's one-out single to left. Facing Smith with two down and the bases loaded, Adell grounded a high fastball down the first-base line for a 4-1 lead.

Adell, acquired in an August trade with the Los Angeles Angels, also hit an RBI triple during Cleveland's 4-3 loss in Game 2. He hit one triple during the regular season in each of the last two years.

“It was huge,” Adell said. “Really just proud of how I kind of cleaned that at-bat up.”

Playing in his 48th postseason game — all with Cleveland — Ramírez manufactured an insurance run for the Guardians in the fifth. He doubled, stole third and scored on Chase DeLauter's grounder to second, beating Teel's tag with a headfirst slide.

Ramírez's savvy baserunning gave the Guardians a 5-2 lead. The seven-time All-Star went 0 for 6 with two walks in the first two games of the series.

The 34-year-old Ramírez also made a diving stop on Miguel Vargas' bases-loaded smash in the sixth, preserving Cleveland's 5-3 advantage.

“I felt it was a significant shift in momentum in the game when we were able to make that play,” Ramírez said through a translator. “I felt like this is going to be our game.”

Parker Messick starts for Cleveland in Game 4. Messick permitted two runs and four hits over 4 1/3 innings in the series opener. The rookie left-hander went 12-9 with a 2.56 ERA in 32 starts during the regular season.

Smith will open for Chicago. He also started Game 1, striking out four in 2 2/3 hitless innings.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Cleveland Guardians' Foster Griffin pitches during the first inning in Game 3 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago White Sox's Noah Schultz pitches during the fourth inning in Game 3 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago White Sox's Tristan Peters celebrates after hitting a run-scoring double against Cleveland Guardians pitcher Foster Griffin during the fourth inning in Game 3 of baseball's American League Division Series Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Cleveland Guardians' Jo Adell celebrates after hitting a three-run triple against Chicago White Sox pitcher Hagen Smith during the third inning in Game 3 of baseball's American League Division Series Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Cleveland Guardians' José Ramírez, left, celebrates after scoring on a fielder's choice by Chase DeLauter during the fifth inning in Game 3 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)