The New York Liberty, boasting the best regular season record in the league, secured a decisive 76-62 victory over the Las Vegas Aces on June 6. This triumph brought their series record to 3-1, propelling them into the championship finals and avenging last year’s finals loss.
Star shooter Sabrina Ionescu led the charge with an impressive performance, hitting 5 of 8 from three-point range to finish the game with 22 points and 7 rebounds. Fellow key player Breanna Stewart contributed significantly as well, posting 19 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks, together thwarting the Aces’ hopes for a three-peat.
“I think the Aces made us a better team,” Ionescu reflected after the game. Last season, in a closely contested finals, the Aces narrowly defeated the Liberty by just one point in Game 4, making them the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2002, despite a depleted roster.
For the Aces, star player A’ja Wilson finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks, though it wasn’t enough to extend their incredible home playoff winning streak to 13 games, nor achieve a historic three-peat like the now-defunct Houston Comets, who dominated the league from 1997 to 2000 with four consecutive championships.
In another matchup on June 6, the Connecticut Sun defeated the Minnesota Lynx by 10 points, leveling their series at 2-2 and setting the stage for a decisive Game 5 to determine who will vie for the championship.
This marks the sixth trip to the finals for the New York Liberty, but they have fallen short in all five previous attempts. With a formidable roster this year, they are determined to secure the franchise’s first championship title.
