After which there have been 4. After a primary spherical that resulted in sweeps in all collection, we now have superior to the semifinals.
Each contests are compelling, however the No. 1-seed New York Liberty (32-8) taking up the No. 4-seed Las Vegas Aces (27-13) needs to be essentially the most anticipated of the 2. The enjoyable begins on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 3 p.m. ET (ABC).
The Liberty have been the most effective staff within the WNBA all 12 months, however they’ve by no means received a WNBA championship. The Aces are on the other facet of that coin, with two titles in hand, in search of their third-straight. They defeated the Liberty within the 2023 WNBA Finals, however who will win this rematch now that the Aces aren’t within the driver’s seat?
How the Aces can win
A few playoff video games and, immediately, a season of mediocrity is erased. Chelsea Grey is making Level Gawd passes, Kelsey Plum seems to be like among the finest guards within the league and A’ja Wilson remains to be enjoying just like the unanimous MVP she is.
The Storm had been a good first-round opponent, however the Liberty might be a lot tougher to beat. The Aces know they’ll rely on Wilson, which implies their guard play might be pivotal.
Plum and Grey might want to have huge video games offensively and discover methods to make Sabrina Ionescu work for every thing she will get. Tiffany Hayes may also be necessary coming off the bench. She had an enormous 20-point efficiency in Sport 1 of the opening spherical. With play like that, Hayes can push Las Vegas over the hump if issues get tight towards New York.
How the Liberty can win
New York has persistently been the most effective staff all 12 months lengthy. So why does it really feel like this can be a 50/50 collection? Primarily, it’s simply historic paranoia, and though we all know the Aces are mortals, they haven’t appeared prefer it the final two seasons.
For the Liberty to knock off the Aces’ mystique, they’ll should get constant play from Jonquel Jones. Throughout the common season, she had a few weaker scoring performances versus Las Vegas; they want her to be a dependable risk from the submit. Ionescu has been sensational all 12 months, however that is her second. She will reveal progress and the power to rise to the problem to take down a titan. If the primary spherical is any indicator, she’s prepared. Towards the Dream, she went nuclear, scoring 36 factors to take out Atlanta.
This matchup has been most anticipated, and whatever the victor, it is going to be entertaining and result in high-level basketball.
No. 1-seed New York Liberty (32-8) vs. No. 4-seed Las Vegas Aces (27-13)
Sport 1: Las Vegas Aces at New York Liberty
When: Sunday, Sept. 29 at 3 p.m. ET
The place: Barclays Middle in Brooklyn, NY
Easy methods to watch: ABC
Sport 2: Las Vegas Aces at New York Liberty
When: Tuesday, Oct. 1 (time TBD)
The place: Barclays Middle in Brooklyn, NY
Easy methods to watch: TBD
Sport 3: New York Liberty at Las Vegas Aces
When: Friday, Oct. 4 at 9:30 p.m. ET
The place: Michelob ULTRA Area in Las Vegas, NV
Easy methods to watch: ESPN 2
Sport 4 (if crucial): New York Liberty at Las Vegas Aces
When: Sunday, Oct. 6 (time TBD)
The place: Michelob ULTRA Area in Las Vegas, NV
Easy methods to watch: TBD
Sport 5 (if crucial): Las Vegas Aces at Seattle Storm
When: Tuesday, Oct. 8 (time TBD)
The place: Barclays Middle in Brooklyn, NY
Easy methods to watch: ESPN 2
