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Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-08 · by Janie Mccauley The Associated Press
Veronica Burton’s last-second 3-pointer secured the Golden State Valkyries an 83-81 victory over the Las Vegas Aces in Game 2 of their WNBA semifinals series on Wednesday night. With this win, the Valkyries now lead the best-of-five series 2-0. Tiffany Hayes contributed 21 points for Golden State, while A’ja Wilson scored 24 points for the Aces. The pivotal moment came when Burton hit a critical shot with 41 seconds remaining and sealed the game by making two free throws in the final seconds.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Veronica Burton hit a crucial 3-pointer with 41 seconds remaining, putting the Golden State Valkyries ahead of the Las Vegas Aces in an 83-81 victory on Wednesday night. This win gave the Valkyries a 2-0 series lead in their best-of-five WNBA semifinal matchup. Tiffany Hayes led the Valkyries with 21 points, while Gabby Williams contributed 20 points and five rebounds and Kayla Thornton added 16 points. The Valkyries, now just one win away from reaching the WNBA Finals in their second season, narrowly avoided a comeback by Las Vegas, who had a last-second opportunity that was thwarted by a defensive block from Kiah Stokes.
Written for “NBA Playoffs Game” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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.
asserted
Valkyries → hit → series
“I think I held my breath the whole time the ball was in the air,” Hayes said about watching Burton’s clutch shot.
asserted
Hayes → think → 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.
asserted
Gray → miss → attempt
Kiah Stokes blocked the shot and Burton corralled the ball.
asserted
Burton → block → 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.
asserted
Valkyries → have → season
Golden State became the first expansion team in league history to make the playoffs in its inaugural season last year.
asserted
State → become → season
Hayes missed that postseason run because of a left knee injury, and now she’s shining against her former team.
asserted
she → miss → 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.
asserted
she → feel → that
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.
asserted
Burton → give → night
“That Burton 3 was massive,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said.
asserted
Hammon → say → ?
“We battled back and gave ourselves a shot after a really abysmal first half.”
asserted
We → battle → half
The series now shifts to Las Vegas for Game 3 on Friday with the defending champions trying to stave off elimination.
asserted
champions → shift → 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.
asserted
season → say → 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.
asserted
she → convince → them
“The goal is to get one quarter at a time and we’ve got to string it together.
asserted
we → get → it
We know we’re capable of stringing three in a row.”
asserted
we → know → 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.
asserted
it → have → 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.
asserted
Gray → go → 2:10
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.
asserted
who → sit → hands
“I was just saying I had to do something out there,” she said.
asserted
she → say → something
“I appreciated Gabby trusting me in that moment, obviously a big moment.
asserted
Gabby → appreciate → 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.”
asserted
that → trust → possession
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