The Golden State Valkyries bench has averaged 35.9 PPG in the regular season, but the Las Vegas bench hasn’t been nearly as efficient, at 21.5 per game. The Aces lost their regular-season edge over the Golden State Valkyries with their lowest-scoring game all season during Game 1 of their semifinals series. But roster depth has become a more pressing problem, as not one, but two players were off the active roster ahead of Game 2 at Chase Center. But Aces head coach Becky Hammon’s recent update might allow fans to breathe easy.

According to the latest Las Vegas Aces injury report, Jewell Loyd is marked doubtful, while Stephanie Talbot is marked questionable for the Wednesday matchup against the Valkyries – both for left leg injuries. But the Tuesday practice session saw both Loyd and Talbot shooting towards the end of the session, per ESPN’s Kendra Andrews on X. While their availability for Game 2 remains uncertain pending the final injury report at 5 p.m., Hammon revealed what she knew about the Aces’ mounting injury concerns, per an X update from Andrews.

“We’re trying to ramp them up, but now we’ve got to see how they feel and recover off of this little workout.”

While Hammon’s quote presents a wait-and-see approach, there has been no confirmation about either of them playing tonight.

Loyd and Talbot can be key to the Aces equalizing the series

While Loyd is not a heavy volume scorer for the Las Vegas Aces, she has been important off the bench all season. She has played 42 games in the 2026 regular season, and despite starting only three, has averaged a steal per game. Over her 10 seasons with the Seattle Storm, she averaged 16.9 PPG.

While her scoring with the Aces has been far less effective, that can be attributed to the fewer minutes she has played. In Game 3 against the Fever, while she went scoreless, she added three rebounds and two steals in her 35 minutes.

Having Loyd on the bench has provided Hammon with a reliable option when the team’s big three – Wilson, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young – need to rest their legs. She played a big role in guarding Caitlin Clark as the Aces faced the Indiana Fever, forcing the franchise star to 15 points in Game 1, while scoring 10 points of her own. After Game 1 against the Valkyries, Hammon praised Loyd’s defensive effort against the Fever in the prior series. 

“I thought she was great. You know her ability to spread the floor. She’s very solid defensively. I think one thing that gets overlooked, and I wanted to give her her kudos in front of the team, but I’ll say it here too: the amount of screen assists that she gets never really shows up on a stat sheet.”

Loyd started Game 1, as the usual starter, Stephanie Talbot, was listed as out with a leg injury before the series finale against the Fever. Talbot has not been injured all season, but at this critical junction, losing her might be an issue. She has been essential for the Aces all season, starting 43 of the 44 games she has played. She averaged four points in 17.3 minutes each, but has been essential in guarding high-scoring opposition players and setting up screens for Aces scorers.

But starting Game 1 proved costly for Loyd. She suffered a left-leg injury early into the third quarter and left the court. After evaluation, she did not return on the night. With both players off the active roster so far, the Aces bench looks depleted, as Coach Hammon herself admitted in the post-game press conference.

The Aces’ historical performance without bench depth might prove to be a problem against the Valkyries, whose depth has been a major reason for their regular season success this season. 

Las Vegas Aces roster depth could cost them semifinal series

Becky Hammon is right to be concerned about the lack of roster depth as the Las Vegas Aces approach Game 2 against the Valkyries. With Loyd and Talbot both still dealing with injuries, the weight of the pressure falls completely on Wilson, Gray, and Young. And Game 1 against the Valkyries showed the Las Vegas Aces why Golden State held the highest defensive rating all regular season. 

Wilson, who scored 38 points in Game 1 and 36 points in Game 3 in the playoff series against the Fever, was held to 24 points. While this is usually a high number for most players, for Wilson, it was a downgrade from her usual efficient shooting. The Valkyries’ stifling defense did not allow Wilson a clear look at the basket, as she ended the night making only eight of the 21 shots she took from the field. She even missed both shots she took from three. 

While Gray and Young added 16 and 11 points each, they could not offset the Valkyries’ dominant bench scoring. Kaitlyn Chen came off the bench to play 22 minutes and added 11 points, while rookie center Aminata Gueye added another nine. In contrast, the entire Aces bench was able to score only seven points.

The Valkyries bench led the league in scoring as well as in assists (7.5 APG). They even ranked second in rebounding, at 12.8 RPG. As the regular season wound down, the Valkyries bench was rewarded for their efforts all season. Janelle Salaun, who has played for the Valkyries since 2025, was named the unanimous Sixth Player of the Year. 

Salaun has played 40 games for the Valkyries, and without having started a single game all regular season, she averaged 12.7 points, four rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. With a bench this strong, starters like Gabby Williams, Tiffany Hayes, and Veronica Burton have enough time to recoup their strength mid-game, and it gives HC Natalie Nakase reliable options.

The Valkyries slogan – “strength in numbers” – might be the deciding factor as both teams gear up for an important Game 2. Las Vegas Aces fans will be waiting with bated breath for the final update before the matchup, as ESPN has already given the Valkyries a 64.9% chance of winning.