The Las Vegas Aces, the reigning two-time WNBA champions, find themselves in uncharted territory after a tough Game 2 loss to the New York Liberty on Tuesday. With the 88-84 defeat at Barclays Center, the Aces are now just one loss away from elimination. For a team with such a dominant record, this is a precarious position. No defending champion has ever been in this spot, and no WNBA team has ever come back from a 0-2 deficit to win a best-of-five series. However, if there’s any team that might defy the odds, it could be the Las Vegas Aces. After all, they’ve made a habit of rewriting history.
The pressure is certainly on the Aces as they prepare for Game 3 back on their home court in Las Vegas. It’s easy to think their backs are against the wall, but let’s not forget that even though the odds are stacked against them, sports are often unpredictable, and this series is still far from over. For WNBA fans, the excitement is building. Can the Aces pull off the comeback, or will the Liberty continue their dominant run?
This series is a thrilling rematch of the 2023 WNBA Finals, where the Aces took down the Liberty in a 3-1 series win. That championship-sealing Game 4 was a nail-biting 70-69 victory in Brooklyn, but things have changed since then. Las Vegas hasn’t been able to get past New York this season, losing five games in a row to the Liberty. That losing streak ties the franchise record for consecutive losses against the same opponent. For a team that’s been as dominant as the Aces, that’s a big deal. Meanwhile, the Liberty’s five straight wins over the Aces set a new franchise record for the most consecutive victories against a single opponent in a season. It seems like the tides have shifted.
If you're looking for reasons to believe the Aces can still turn this around, there's hope in numbers. The Aces may be down 0-2, but they’ve only lost these two games by a combined 14 points. That’s a narrow margin, especially compared to other 2-0 series leads in WNBA history. In fact, only four of the 18 previous best-of-five series featured a combined margin that small. It’s also worth noting that in the NBA, teams have come back from a 0-2 deficit in best-of-five series six times, according to ESPN Research. With a 5.6% win rate for those comebacks (6-102), it might just be time for a similar WNBA miracle. Las Vegas could be the team to make that happen.
New York, on the other hand, is riding high. They’re the top seed in the league, and they’ve never been this close to a WNBA title. The Liberty have been to the Finals five times but have never clinched a championship. Now, leading 2-0 in the series, they’re on the cusp of making history. In WNBA playoff history, teams leading 2-0 in a best-of-five series are a perfect 18-0. Could this be the year the Liberty finally break through and take home the title?
There’s no denying that this series has been closely contested, especially Game 2. The Liberty won the opener convincingly, but Game 2 was a different story. It was more competitive, with both teams fighting tooth and nail. The Aces played well for most of the game, but it was the second quarter that proved to be their downfall. Liberty coach Sandy Brondello pointed out that New York’s performance in the second quarter was what made the difference. “I liked the second quarter,” Brondello said. That’s when New York took control, outscoring Las Vegas 24-13. Breanna Stewart, the two-time MVP, led the charge, either scoring or assisting on 13 of those points. It was a strategic move to use Stewart as more of a facilitator, and it paid off—she finished the game with eight assists. The Liberty had five different players score in that second quarter, and Sabrina Ionescu caught fire with two huge three-pointers in the final moments of the half.
Sabrina Ionescu, in particular, has been a revelation in the playoffs. When the Liberty’s superteam came together before the 2023 season, much of the attention was on their new star-studded lineup, which included Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Courtney Vandersloot. But Ionescu has emerged as the true leader of the team in the postseason. Her performance in Game 2 was nothing short of spectacular. She led the Liberty with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, making her the only player in Liberty history to record multiple postseason games with 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. But what really stood out was her dominance in the fourth quarter. Ionescu either scored or assisted on 16 of New York’s 19 points in the final quarter, proving that when the Liberty needed her the most, she delivered.
This series has all the makings of a classic, and we’re only two games in. The action continues on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) as the series shifts back to Las Vegas for Game 3. With their season on the line, the Aces will have to dig deep and find a way to stop this Liberty juggernaut. The atmosphere is sure to be electric, and fans will be on the edge of their seats to see if Las Vegas can extend the series or if New York will close it out and punch their ticket to the Finals.
As we look forward to Game 3, here are a few key things to watch for:
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Can the Aces bounce back?: Las Vegas has been a powerhouse all season, but they’re up against the wall now. How will they respond with their season hanging in the balance? Look for stars like A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum to step up in a big way.
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Will Sabrina Ionescu continue her dominance?: Ionescu has been on fire, especially in the fourth quarter of Game 2. Can she maintain this high level of play and lead the Liberty to their first championship?
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The battle of MVPs: Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson are two of the biggest names in the league, and their performances will be crucial in determining the outcome of this series. Stewart’s playmaking in Game 2 was key, but Wilson will need to elevate her game if the Aces are to stay alive.
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Home-court advantage: With the series shifting to Las Vegas, will the Aces get a boost from playing in front of their home crowd? The energy in the building could be the spark they need to turn the series around.
Whatever happens, this series has already provided plenty of drama, and there’s sure to be more to come. Whether the Liberty seal the deal or the Aces mount a historic comeback, WNBA fans are in for a treat. So, buckle up—Game 3 is going to be must-watch basketball!
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