LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 21: Gabby Williams #1 of the Golden State Valkyries drives to the basket during the game against the Las Vegas Aces on June 21, 2026 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Notebook from 92-73 loss against Aces
LAS VEGAS — Aces coach Becky Hammon was happy to see the kind of role her former center Kiah Stokes has taken to as the Valkyries’ starting post.
“There's a lot of space in that system,” Hammon said. “Basically five out, very rarely do they just put somebody that sit there on the block, so she's somebody who can initiate action for them. We always knew she could shoot, so that's not surprising at all, in a lot of our practice drills, she'd be the best shooter on the floor. So I'm glad that she's feeling confident and comfortable in that system.”
Nadia Fingall made her debut amidst the blowout, entering the game with 4:12 left to play. She picked up an offensive rebound and made a fadeaway jumper in her four minutes of playing time.
“I loved Nadia coming off the bench,” said Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase. “That rebound that she got, and then just making a selfless play, then ended up coming back to her hands really good. The ‘stay ready’ group did a great job.”
Veronica Burton is in a mini shooting slump the past couple of games, and she played just 16 minutes on Sunday and looked pretty gassed in those minutes. She notched just 2 points ion 1-of-5 shooting from the field and against the Lynx on Friday scored just 8 points on 3-of-8 shooting.
“She had heavy, heavy minutes these first three games,” Nakase said. “Health is the priority to walk away from these four games in seven days, and we did that because we’re facing a team that had three days rest compared to our four four and seven.”
Listen: Post-game podcast
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