Charlie Cummings previews Sunday’s WNBA matchup between the Las Vegas Aces and the Golden State Valkyries and provides his best pick.
Now this is going to be a fistfight. Two of the best defensive teams in the WNBA are going head-to-head in the only game on our Sunday slate. The Las Vegas Aces and Golden State Valkyries both have big plans for this season and the talent to back it up. This is going to be one heck of a matchup.
Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. The Aces are 1.5-point road favorites with -122 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. A Valkyries upset is priced at +102. The game total is set at O/U 169.5 points.
Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Aces-Valkyries game.
The quest for a fourth title in the desert is off to a strong start. Last season erased all doubt about the greatness of this Aces team and their ability to perform when their backs are against the wall. A’ja Wilson is still the best player in the game, and the Chelsea Gray-Jackie Young backcourt tandem is the best in the league. Las Vegas kept the core together this offseason, but suffered some losses on the margins. They took a big swing in adding Chennedy Carter, and boy has that paid off.
Carter, one of the most electric driving threats in the league, has been a godsend for Becky Hammon’s bench. She’s pouring in 19.1 points per game on a blistering 64.6% mark from the field, adding a new dimension to this team. While they’ve had some disappointing losses in the early going, this team will surely give us a run at another title.
After making the playoffs in 2025, the first expansion team to do so, expectations were high for the Valkyries. Signing All-Star Gabby Williams was a sign that they are ready to take the next step. So far, so good; the Valkyries are 5-2 and have the best defense in the WNBA. Head coach Natalie Nakase has them absolutely humming.
The Valkyries are one of the most predictable teams in the league. You’re going to see hard-nosed defense and a ton of three-point attempts; no team in the WNBA scores a higher percentage of its points from beyond the arc. Even if you know what’s coming, it is awfully difficult to deal with.
The tone for this game will be set on defense. The Aces have elite defensive talents and can always buckle down. The Valkyries will swarm, and swarm, and swarm. This one will be electric.
Now we have a good idea what to expect from these teams. Who is going to come out the winner?
In case I haven’t made it clear, it’s about the defense. Sure, both sides have strong scoring talents, but the Valkyries have a way of exerting their will over games. They will grind things to a halt and turn this into a low-scoring slug fest.
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