Jackie Young Dropped the Hammer in the Fourth and the Aces Held On. 84-79

Alumni Weekend at The House delivered exactly what it promised a game that went down to the wire, a crowd that was fully locked in, and a Las Vegas Aces team that found a way to win when it mattered most.

The Golden State Valkyries came in ready to compete and they gave the Aces everything they could handle. But Jackie Young had other plans in the fourth quarter. Final score: Aces 84, Valkyries 79. Las Vegas improves to 7-3.

Jackie Young was THAT girl in the fourth quarter

Let's start here because this performance deserves its own conversation. Jackie Young scored 14 of her season high 27 points in the fourth quarter alone going 3 for 3 from three and 5 for 5 from the free throw line when the game was on the line. Six three pointers on the night. A season high.

Here's how the fourth quarter played out because it was genuinely dramatic. Golden State went up 76-72 and looked like they were going to steal this one. Young got fouled on a three-point attempt and swished all three free throws to cut it to one. Wilson put the Aces up 77-76. The Valkyries reclaimed the lead 14 seconds later. Then with 24.2 seconds on the clock Jackie Young caught the ball, stepped back, and buried a three to put Las Vegas up 80-78 for good.

A'ja Wilson made history twice and it wasn't even the story of the game

That's how good Jackie Young was tonight. Because A'ja Wilson went for 28 points and 14 rebounds her 125th career double-double, fifth most in WNBA history and it was almost a footnote.

She broke a tie with DeLisha Milton-Jones and moved into No. 15 on the WNBA all-time rebounding list with 2,588 career boards. She extended her league leading streak of consecutive 20 point games to eight straight. She has now scored in double figures in 34 consecutive games the longest active streak in the league. Wilson came out of the gate on fire 14 of her 28 points came in the first quarter alone, 20 in the first half. She set the tone from tip-off and never let the Valkyries get comfortable.

Chelsea Gray made franchise history too

On a night full of big moments, Chelsea Gray quietly made one of her own. With a dish to Jewell Loyd at 6:57 in the fourth quarter, Gray passed Becky Hammon her own head coach to become the all time assists leader in Las Vegas Aces franchise history. She now has 1,134 assists in an Aces uniform. That's a record that belongs to one of the greatest point guards this franchise has ever seen. Gray finished with 12 points and 6 assists and ran this offense with the kind of calm that only she can bring.

The Valkyries made this a game

Full credit to Golden State they did not come to Las Vegas to lose quietly. Gabby Williams led all scorers with 27 points and was virtually unstoppable for stretches. Kayla Thornton added 10 and the Valkyries bench outscored the Aces bench 21-5. They went on multiple runs, led in the fourth quarter, and had this one tied at 72 with just over three minutes left.

The Valkyries are 6-5 and they are a legitimate team. This was not a comfortable win for Las Vegas and Golden State should hold their heads high leaving The House tonight.

What Becky said

Coach Hammon was honest after the game about what needs to get cleaned up and what got them through in the end.

"I thought they hurt us on the glass. Our initial defense was good, and then they get those second, third opportunities. It just puts a ton of pressure on your defense. They didn't kill us in second chance points, but I don't like them even getting those extra opportunities. It's something we have to clean up. It's been an issue."

She's right Golden State grabbed 10 offensive rebounds and the Valkyries bench doing damage on those extra possessions is exactly the kind of thing that flips games late. But Hammon also gave credit where it was due.

"Down the stretch I thought we got some key stops and that's always big. And then obviously Jackie, I thought, and A'ja stepping up hitting some big shots for us and kind of being those closers that we need them to be."

Closers. That's the word. Jackie Young and A'ja Wilson are built for those moments and tonight they delivered exactly when this team needed them most.

My take

Three records broken in one game. Jackie Young reminding everyone she is built for big moments. Chelsea Gray becoming the all-time assists leader in franchise history. Alumni Weekend at The House living up to every bit of the billing.

The Aces are 7-3 and still finding their rhythm with Carter and Evans both out. Jewell Loyd returned and chipped in her presence makes this team deeper and more dangerous immediately. When this roster is fully healthy the ceiling goes way up.

Las Vegas stays home Monday June 8 against the Seattle Storm at 7pm on USA and The Spot-Vegas 34. Her Game Network will be there.