PHOENIX (Interstat) — The Golden State Valkyries will visit the Las Vegas Aces on Friday in Game 3 of a WNBA playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. Las Vegas is the designated home team. Golden State has won the first two games of the series and can take a 3-0 lead with another victory. Las Vegas will look to avoid falling into a deeper hole.

Golden State enters with a 35-13 record. The Valkyries won the most recent meeting 83-81, following a 71-60 victory. Tiffany Hayes is a player to watch for Golden State. In the 83-81 win, Hayes scored 21 points in 17 minutes and added two rebounds and two assists. She also had 18 points and four rebounds against Dallas and 21 points and four assists in another Dallas game during the recent stretch. Gabby Williams scored 20 points and Kayla Thornton added 16 in the most recent victory, giving Golden State additional scoring options around Hayes.

Las Vegas is 32-16. The Aces dropped the first two games of the series, including a two-point loss in the most recent meeting. A’ja Wilson remains the primary player to watch for Las Vegas. Wilson had 24 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one block in 36 minutes in the 83-81 loss. She also scored 24 points in the previous meeting. Wilson has posted several high-output performances, including 36 points and 10 rebounds against Indiana and 38 points and 16 rebounds against Indiana. Chelsea Gray added 19 points and six assists in the most recent game, while Jackie Young contributed 14 points and eight assists.

Golden State has won eight of its last 10 games. The Valkyries’ recent results include wins over Las Vegas, Dallas, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle. Las Vegas has won seven of its last 10 games. Wilson, Gray and Young have been among the Aces’ top producers in recent games. The matchup features two of the WNBA’s stronger teams, with Golden State holding the better regular-season record and Las Vegas possessing home designation for Game 3.

Las Vegas will need to contain Hayes on the perimeter and limit Golden State’s secondary scorers. Golden State will need to manage Wilson in the paint and prevent the Aces from finding rhythm from the outside. The game is the third in the playoff series and will be played at Mortgage Matchup Center.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Las Vegas Aces 93, Golden State Valkyries 88. Las Vegas has been installed as the pregame favorite with a spread of -4. The over/under for the game is 156.5.