With time to take a collective breath after three days off, the Las Vegas Aces are back home after a three-game trip that took them through Dallas, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
The welcoming committee, unfortunately, won’t be kind.
Waiting inside Michelob Ultra Arena is revenge-minded Golden State, after the two just met on May 31, when the Aces took a 91-81 decision from the Valkyries.
At DraftKings, the Aces are laying a modest -2.5 points, a near pick’em line as both are Western Conference contenders who can win this game.
Here are three storylines from the game:
Home Not-So Sweet Home
While the Aces are 6-1 away from home with seven of their first nine games away from Las Vegas, they’re still in search of their first home win. After receiving their exquisite championship rings for the third time in four seasons, the Aces were humiliated by the Phoenix Mercury by 33 points at T-Mobile Arena in both teams’ season opener. Then, after going 4-0 during their first road trip, they lost to an original border rival after watching their championship banner go into the rafters at Michelob Ultra, as former Ace Kelsey Plum led the Los Angeles Sparks to a 101-95 win.
The last time the Aces opened the home portion of their schedule 0-2, they weren’t the Aces, as the franchise was still in San Antonio. The then-Stars lost their first 14 games in 2017, including their first six home games. Coincidentally, it’s the Aces’ annual Alumni Weekend, and there will be plenty of Stars in the building. Reigning MVP A’ja Wilson will do everything she can to avoid a third-straight loss at home.
What Rivalry?
The built-in storylines provide an organic rivalry in this clash, starting with former Las Vegas assistant coach Natalie Nakase in charge of the Valkyries. The “mentor vs. mentee” mantra will remain intact for a while. There’s also the fact that both are two of the best teams in the Western Conference, and they reside in neighboring states. That all said, it’s been a one-sided clash ever since the Valkyries stomped Las Vegas in the teams’ first-ever meeting, 95-68, on June 7, 2025.
𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑-𝐎𝐅-𝐀-𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐃
Ahead of Alumni Weekend, we’re throwin’ it back to our four #1 picks in franchise history!
Moments That Made Us presented by @BetMGM pic.twitter.com/qeYTUMVS4S
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) June 4, 2026
The Aces have won four in a row over Golden State, two of them by double digits. Built with Nakase’s stingy defensive tactics, her mentor Becky Hammon has been able to push the right buttons in the four wins, averaging 93.5 points per game. For perspective, the Valkyries allowed an average of 76.3 PPG last season, and are yielding 80.1 PPG. this season. It’ll be interesting to see how the Valkyries respond after losing the first meeting of the season. This is also a Commissioner’s Cup game, so the stakes are high.
Hurtin’ Burton
If there is anyone who can put a hurting on the champs in this one, it’s Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton, who leads the team with 27.8 minutes and 5.8 assists per game. Burton, who has never missed a game in franchise history, will be facing a short-handed backcourt, as the Aces have both Chennedy Carter and Dana Evans listed out, and Jewell Loyd as questionable. Evans hasn’t played this season, so the Aces have gotten used to that. But missing Carter and Loyd will open things up for Burton to create offensive opportunities.
The Golden State Valkyries blocked 11 shots tonight.
5 of them came from 5’9 Veronica Burton. pic.twitter.com/emt8F4oL7x
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) May 29, 2026
At the other end, let’s not forget Burton was the 2025 WNBA Most Improved Player and a member of the All-Defensive Second Team. A big game from Burton could help the Valkyries end their skid against Las Vegas and help push them closer to the league-leading Minnesota Lynx. The burden doesn’t fall on Burton’s shoulders, but she is certainly the right catalyst for the Valkyries in this game.
W.G. Ramirez is a 39-year veteran sports writer and 54-year resident of Southern Nevada who is a Senior Staff Writer at Ballislife.com. Follow him on X at @WillieGRamirez.
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