SAN FRANCISCO — For the last seven games, the Valkyries have relied on their connectivity and chemistry to lead them to five wins. 

But on Sunday afternoon, Golden State’s lack of star power was evident in the Valkyries’ 91-81 loss to the Las Vegas Aces at home. 

Despite clawing back from a 24-point deficit, reigning MVP A’ja Wilson scored 28 points and superstar Jackie Young added 23 as the Aces handed the Valkyries their third loss of the season

Golden State shot 34% from the field and while committing 12 turnovers. 

Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 20 points. After a career night against the Fever, point guard Veronica Burton had seven points on 3-of-9 shooting while recording two turnovers. 

After going tit-for-tat with the defending champions in the first half, the Valkyries lost control in the third quarter.

Golden State was outscored 29-13 out of the halftime break. Wilson scored 13 and Young had 11 in the period as the home team had no answer for the best offensive duo in the league. 

Las Vegas had a lead as large as 24 in the final 10 minutes. Golden State cut the lead down to as small as eight, but it was too little too late as the Aces cruised to a dominant win. 

New starting lineup

Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase has stuck with the same starting lineup for each of the Valkyries’ seven games this season with Veronica Burton, Kaila Charles, Gabby Williams, Kayla Thornton and Kiah Stokes opening games. 

But on Sunday, Nakase inserted sharpshooter Cecilia Zandalasini for defensive stopper Charles. 

Playing in her third game since returning from a jaw injury, Zandalasini scored nine points and gave the Valkyries a much-needed scoring punch against Las Vegas’ offensive powerhouse. 

Litte run for Jocytė

After closing the second half with rookie Justė Jocytė against the Fever, the 20-year-old didn’t get much run against the Aces. 

Despite needing some type of offensive creator in the second half, Nakase opted to stick with veteran Tiffany Hayes and backup point guard Kailtyn Chen when Burton and Williams were off the floor. 

Hayes played 14 minutes, finished with five points and had a plus-minus rating of -16. Chen had five points in 12 minutes. 

Jocytė checked into the game at the 5:29 mark of the fourth quarter with the Valkyries down 20. She knocked down her first shot of the game when she hit a left-wing 3-pointer. She also had a good sequence when she attacked the basket and dished out to an open Williams, who hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 11 at the 1:51 mark of the period. 

Jocytė finished with five points in five minutes. 

Thornton bounces back

The 33-year-old forward struggled in the Valkyries’ win over the Fever on Thursday, finishing without scoring a point for the second time this season. 

Thornton bounced back, finishing with 12 points while hitting 4-of-7 of her 3-point attempts.