Practically a yr after they watched the Las Vegas Aces have fun on their very own court docket, the New York Liberty started to actual their revenge, coming away with an 87-77 win to take Recreation 1 of the WNBA semi-finals.
From the beginning, Breanna Stewart and the Liberty despatched a transparent message: this was a special Liberty group than final yr’s. They had been extra skilled. They had been individually higher (see: Sabrina Ionescu). They had been even taller (see: Leonie Fiebich). And so they desperately needed to rectify final yr’s Finals efficiency (see: Breanna Stewart).
Now, they maintain a 1-0 collection lead in opposition to the two-time defending champion Aces.
In Sunday afternoon’s match-up, every little thing started — and ended — with Breanna Stewart. Stewart completed the sport with 34 factors on 12-19 capturing, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and a pair of steals.
“I’m simply making an attempt to make use of my versatility in a variety of methods,” Stewart informed Holly Rowe after a 20-point first half. “I’m making an attempt to set the bar for myself and proceed to be nice.”
Then, there was Sabrina Ionescu, who adopted a 36-point explosion in opposition to the Atlanta Dream to submit 21 factors and 5 assists in opposition to Recreation 1 in opposition to the Aces.
For the Aces, A’ja Wilson completed with 21 factors (9-16 capturing), 6 rebounds and 5 assists, battling with Jonquel Jones within the submit for a lot of the night time. The 6 rebounds are tied for a season low for Wilson.
“She nonetheless ended up with 21, however general, we did an excellent job on her,” Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello mentioned postgame. “She needed to work for all these factors that she bought.”
“We’re taking part in to our scouting report very well,” Stewart added.
Kelsey Plum led the way in which with 24 factors on 9-17 capturing, and had a monster third quarter to maintain the Aces in it — scoring 12 consecutive factors for Las Vegas.
However, each time the Aces made a push, the Liberty responded.
“We dealt with their runs very well,” Ionescu mentioned.
Plum’s efficiency was vital in maintain Las Vegas within the combine within the second half — they fell behind by as many as 18 — however the remainder of the guard solid underperformed, no less than to the requirements which might be seemingly required for Las Vegas to tug off the win on this collection.
Tiffany Hayes completed with simply 2 factors on 0-2 capturing, Chelsea Grey with simply 4 factors on 2-7 capturing, and Jackie Younger with 17 factors on 6-16 capturing.
“There’s little doubt that Jackie [Young], Kelsey [Plum], Chelsea [Gray] and Tip [Tiffany Hayes] have to play nicely on this collection for us to win,” Aces head coach Becky Hammon mentioned forward of Recreation 1.
Younger was aggressive however continued to wrestle together with her shot, hitting 2-7 from past the arc. On the defensive finish, she was tasked with containing Ionescu, who continued to discover a groove from past the arc, making 3 of 6 from deep.
“She’s at all times — night time in and night time out — liable for the opposite group’s greatest perimeter participant, which is exhausting,” Hammon mentioned pregame of Younger. “The fatigue stuff actually all comes into play with capturing and explosiveness to the rim.”
After the sport, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu each addressed the raucous Barcaly’s Heart crowd.
“Present up, we’d like you guys,” Sabrina Ionescu yelled as she walked off the ground, urging the same stage of vitality for Tuesday’s Recreation 2.
It’s just one win, nevertheless it’s a welcome signal for the Liberty.
“We’re hungry,” Stewart mentioned in her walk-off interview. “We simply need to proceed to be higher.”
Subsequent Up
The Liberty will host the Aces once more on Tuesday, October first at Barclay’s Heart. Then, sport motion heads again to Las Vegas, the place the Aces will get a chance to play in entrance of their dwelling crowd on the Michelob ULTRA Heart.
