Practically a 12 months after they watched the Las Vegas Aces rejoice on their very own courtroom, 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 crew than final 12 months’s. They had been extra skilled. They had been individually higher (see: Sabrina Ionescu). They had been even taller (see: Leonie Fiebich).
Now, additionally they maintain a 1-0 sequence lead in opposition to the two-time defending champions.
Every part started — and ended — with Breanna Stewart on this one. Stewart completed the sport with 34 factors on 12-19 taking pictures, 20 of which got here within the first half.
“I’m simply making an attempt to make use of my versatility in quite a lot of methods,” Stewart informed Holly Rowe on the 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 efficiency in opposition to the Dream to submit 21 factors and 5 assists in opposition to the Aces.
For the Aces, A’ja Wilson completed with 21 factors (9-16 taking pictures), 6 rebounds and 5 assists, battling with Jonquel Jones within the submit for a lot of the evening.
Kelsey Plum led the way in which with 24 factors on 9-17 taking pictures, and had a monster third quarter to maintain the Aces in it — scoring 12 consecutive factors for Las Vegas.
Plum’s efficiency was important in hold Las Vegas in it, however the remainder of the guard forged underperformed. Tiffany Hayes completed with simply 2 factors on 0-2 taking pictures, Chelsea Grey with simply 4 factors on 2-7 taking pictures, and Jackie Younger with 17 factors on 6-16 taking pictures.
“There’s little doubt that Jackie [Young], Kelsey [Plum], Chelsea [Gray] and Tip [Tiffany Hayes] must play properly on this sequence for us to win,” 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 Sabrina Ionescu, who continued to discover a groove from past the arc, making 3 of 6 from deep.
“She’s all the time evening, in and evening out, accountable for the opposite crew’s finest perimeter participant, which is exhausting,” Hammon mentioned pregame of Younger. “The fatigue stuff actually all comes into play with taking pictures 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.
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 house crowd on the Michelob ULTRA Heart.
