Of course, just hours earlier, the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces had been eliminated in the 2026 semifinals by the second-season Golden State Valkyrie, but it never hurts to laugh about it. Or rather, laughing with the players.
Superstars A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray did just that within minutes of an 87-77 overtime loss. Yes — that’s because Gray missed a shot at the end of the regular season.
Near the end of the fourth quarter, Gray had a chance to break the tie with a fadeaway three-pointer against the league’s best defense with 4.8 seconds left. Then, as fate would have it, the ball missed the mark.
At the press conference, the ball-controlling god was resolute.
Instagram footage shows a reporter asking, “Can you talk about the shot at the end of the game?” before Gray immediately interrupted.
“Should have hit it.”
“-everyone in the world probably thought it was going to go in-“
“Me too.”
That made Wilson, the five-time MVP, chuckle under his black hoodie. “Chelsea, please.”
After an overtime loss, it was a moment of relief as the young Valkyrie swept the championship and clinched a berth in the WNBA Finals for the first time.
“It’s a blessing to be here at this moment. We’re making history,” guard Veronica Burton said, according to ESPN. “It’s unimaginable, but it’s so realistic for us. That’s our expectation and that’s what we’re working toward. That’s been our belief all year long… We’re confident to be here.”
Although Wilson wasn’t at her best during the game, she still led the Aces with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Gray finished the night with 17 points and five rebounds.
The WNBA Finals kick off next Saturday as the Golden State Warriors take on the Angel Reese-led Atlanta Dream in a best-of-seven series.