Liberty Defeat Aces to Advance to WNBA Finals
Top-Seeded Liberty Secure Championship Spot
Sabrina Ionescu rebounded from a rare off game to score 22 points, leading the New York Liberty to a 76-62 victory over the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday afternoon. The win secures the Liberty’s spot in the WNBA Finals, where they will face either the Connecticut Sun or Minnesota Lynx.
Home-Court Advantage for Liberty
The top-seeded Liberty will have home-court advantage in the championship series, seeking their first WNBA title in franchise history. This is the Liberty’s sixth trip to the finals, but they are still searching for their first championship.
Turning the Tables
The Liberty have been the league’s best team this season, and they turned the tables on the Aces, who ended their championship hopes last year. The Liberty have gone 6-1 against Las Vegas this season, including the playoffs.
Aces’ Title Hopes Dashed
The Aces were hoping to make more WNBA history, seeking to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001-02. They were also trying to become the first club to capture three successive championships since the Houston Comets took four straight in 1997-2000.
Liberty’s Key Players
In addition to Ionescu’s 22 points, Breanna Stewart totaled 19 points and 14 rebounds, Jonquel Jones scored 14 points despite being in foul trouble most of the game, and Leonie Fiebich finished with 11 points.
Aces’ Strong Performance
For Las Vegas, A’ja Wilson had 19 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocked shots, Kelsey Plum scored 17 points, and Tiffany Hayes had 11 points.
Ionescu’s Strong Comeback
Ionescu showed almost right away that this wouldn’t be a repeat of Game 3 for her, where she was held to four points on 1-of-7 shooting. She finished the first quarter with 12 points, making all four shots that included three 3s.
Final Period Dominance
The Liberty led by just two points entering the fourth quarter but then outscored Las Vegas 23-11 in the final period to pull away.
Injury Update
Aces center Kiah Stokes missed her second game in a row due to a concussion late in Game 2.
Conclusion
The Liberty’s victory marks their sixth trip to the WNBA Finals, and they will be seeking their first championship title. The team’s dominant performance in the final period sealed the win, and Ionescu’s strong comeback was a key factor in their success.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who scored 22 points for the Liberty in their win over the Aces?
A: Sabrina Ionescu
Q: How many times have the Liberty made it to the WNBA Finals?
A: Six times
Q: Will the Liberty have home-court advantage in the championship series?
A: Yes
Q: Who did the Aces miss due to injury in Game 4?
A: Kiah Stokes
