BROOKLYN — The New York Liberty host the Las Vegas Aces for Sport 2 of the WNBA semi-finals on Tuesday evening, in a rematch of final 12 months’s finals. It’s one of many two remaining sequence on this 12 months’s playoffs, and it’s a pivotal recreation that may decide whether or not Las Vegas can tie issues up earlier than heading house.
Final outing, in Sport 1, the Liberty defeated the Aces 87-77, powered by 34 factors from Breanna Stewart and 21 factors from Sabrina Ionescu. The Liberty led by double-figures for a lot of the best way and had been in a position to no less than considerably comprise A’ja Wilson, who nonetheless completed with 21 factors however scored practically 6 factors lower than her common season common.
In flip, New York now holds a 1-0 lead within the sequence, and has the chance to increase that additional at 7:30pm ET on Tuesday. No WNBA workforce has ever come again from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five sequence — so this recreation is as essential because it will get for Las Vegas.
The Aces are the two-time defending champions for a purpose, and they’re going to possible have a response to a lackluster Sport 1 outing. There’s quite a bit to enhance on and it’s potential that the Liberty merely received’t play in addition to they did within the sequence opener.
However, if Las Vegas needs to even this sequence and , listed here are 5 issues that may (most definitely) must occur.
The Aces must shoot higher from three-point vary
Given the sheer degree of expertise and weapons on the Liberty aspect, the margin of error for the Aces is razor-thin. In Sport 1, Las Vegas shot simply 7-25 from three-point vary, good for 28% from behind the arc. Kelsey Plum had greater than half of these makes — she hit 4-8 from downtown — however Las Vegas goes to want to see higher capturing throughout the board to remain in it. New York shot 8-19 from three in Sport 1 (42.1%).
Tiffany Hayes shall be key in making up the deficit — Hayes shot 40.2% from downtown this season, however went 0/2 in Sport 1. Chelsea Grey and Jackie Younger didn’t have their finest capturing seasons (33.8% and 33.7%, respectively), however each have the power to get scorching regardless of combining for 2-10 from in Sport 1. On Sunday, the simple ones weren’t falling, and that’s going to have to vary for Las Vegas to have an opportunity.
A’ja Wilson and the remainder of the solid must comprise Breanna Stewart (someway)
Breanna Stewart had her manner in Sport 1, placing up 34 factors on 12-19 capturing. The Aces are going to need to make life tougher for the two-time MVP in Sport 2, and the troublesome factor is that A’ja Wilson, their finest defender, has her palms full with Jonquel Jones. Jones posted 13 factors and 12 rebounds in Sport 1, and the previous MVP can definitely do injury if slowing her down isn’t prioritized. However, Stewart obtained manner too many straightforward appears within the opener — factors in transition, wide-open threes, baskets on mismatches. Las Vegas goes to need to take these away.
Las Vegas will must be a lot better on the glass — or transition protection — or each
Aces head coach Becky Hammon acknowledged after Sport 1 that her workforce misplaced each the battle on the glass and was outran in transition. The Liberty out-rebounded the Aces 31-22, and scored 16 quick break factors to the Aces’ 6.
One — or each — of these issues goes to have to vary in Sport 2. A’ja Wilson grabbed extra rebounds than any participant within the WNBA this season, however had a season-low 6 boards in Sport 1. Not one Aces participant racked up greater than 6 rebounds.
Addressing that would contain lineup modifications — we didn’t see Megan Gustafson or Queen Egbo in Sport 1, and each might present some much-needed measurement in opposition to the Liberty’s size. It might additionally simply be some extent of emphasis throughout the board — Jackie Younger and Kelsey Plum every completed with simply 2 rebounds, and Chelsea Grey with 3. Anticipate the Aces to come back out extra aggressive on the glass from the leap.
Classic Chelsea Grey will (in all probability) must make her return
In 26 minutes of motion, Aces level guard Chelsea Grey completed with 4 factors and 1 help. That’s not going to chop it. Grey must be extra aggressive and extra concerned, and we’ve already seen how she will be able to affect video games when she’s at her finest (see: 2022 Finals MVP).
Kelsey Plum stated after the primary spherical sequence in opposition to the Seattle Storm that Chelsea Grey was again to her common self — and that’ll must be the case in opposition to New York right here in Sport 2.
“Lots of people put up numbers — and that’s no fault of them. However Chelsea impacts profitable,” Plum stated. “Ask any participant within the league, any high-level participant, I assure they need Chelsea Grey on their workforce with 5 minutes left.”
Kelsey Plum with excessive reward for Chelsea Grey postgame:
“Lots of people put up numbers — and that’s no fault of them. However Chelsea impacts profitable. Ask any participant within the league, any high-level participant, I assure they need Chelsea Grey on their workforce with 5 minutes left.” pic.twitter.com/P0pLW1a7Z7
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) September 25, 2024
Grey has proven flashes of brilliance this postseason — she averaged 14 factors and eight assists within the first spherical — and she is going to possible want to say herself on this one. Las Vegas has pulled collectively loads of wins this 12 months with Chelsea Grey serving as extra of a task participant, however the actuality is that this workforce’s ceiling is completely different when Grey resides as much as her ‘Level Gawd’ nickname.
A’ja Wilson ought to assert herself as one of the best participant on the ground
Wilson was the unanimous MVP for a purpose this previous 12 months, averaging 26.9 factors, 11.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 1.8 steals. She had a number of 40+ level outings, and posted career-highs in practically each class. And, whereas she’s been stable in these playoffs, she nonetheless has one other gear she will be able to go to. She’s averaged 22 factors and 9 rebounds in three postseason video games to date — and shot a really respectable 50% from the sphere — however we haven’t seen a big-time efficiency like Stewie’s in Sport 1, or Napheesa Collier’s 38- and 42-point outings in opposition to the Mercury. Wilson is clearly succesful, and tonight can be an incredible begin.
This Liberty workforce has been one of the best all season lengthy for a purpose, so it’ll be troublesome for any workforce to defeat them in a five-game sequence. Becky Hammon stated Sport 2 was “do-or-die”, and whereas it’s not fairly an elimination recreation, the truth that no workforce has ever come again from an 0-2 gap is purpose sufficient to deal with it as such. It’s going to take quite a bit for Las Vegas to drag off a win — however this Aces workforce has proven repeatedly it shouldn’t be counted out.
