Breanna Stewart had almost a year to reflect on the 2023 WNBA Finals. The series ended with her New York Liberty losing to the Las Vegas Aces. In a critical moment, Stewart chose to pass instead of shoot, leading to a disappointing end for her team.
Leading up to that moment, Stewart struggled against the Aces. Despite being the leading scorer for the Liberty in the regular season, she fell short in every game of the series. This performance lingered in Stewart’s mind as she took time to reflect on it for nearly a year.
After using Game 1 of the semifinals to make a statement, Stewart was able to move on from last year’s disappointment. She demonstrated her dominance on the court, leading her team to a victory with an impressive 34-point performance.
“Personally, I just wanted to come out and set the tone to be aggressive,” Stewart remarked.
Both teams have maintained their rosters from last year’s Finals. However, they have evolved in their playing styles and chemistry since then. The Liberty has developed into a cohesive unit, while the Aces faced challenges throughout the season.
Las Vegas struggled defensively against the Liberty, allowing Stewart and her teammates to capitalize on mismatches. The Aces could not keep up with the Liberty’s size and pace, resulting in a convincing win for New York.
“They just kicked our ass in every area of the game,” Aces coach Hammon admitted.
While the victory may not erase the pain of last year’s loss, it marks a positive step forward for the Liberty.
