In Las Vegas, Sabrina Ionescu bounced back from a rare off game to score 22 points as the Liberty defeated the Aces, 76-62, to secure a spot in the WNBA Finals. The Liberty, seeded first, will have home-court advantage in the championship series and will face either the Connecticut Sun or Minnesota Lynx, who will play Game 5 on Tuesday.
This marks the Liberty’s sixth trip to the Finals, with the franchise still vying for its first title. Breanna Stewart, who contributed 19 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and four blocked shots, emphasized that the team is not content with just reaching the Finals.
Entering the fourth quarter with a narrow 53-51 lead, the Liberty outscored the Aces 16-2 to secure a commanding 69-53 lead with 3:38 remaining. The Liberty, fueled by last year’s loss to the Aces in the playoffs, have been on a mission this season, boasting a 6-1 record against Las Vegas.
Reflecting on the journey to the Finals, Ionescu acknowledged the impact of the Aces in pushing the Liberty to become a better team. The Aces’ celebrations after last season’s victory served as motivation for the Liberty to seek redemption in this year’s playoffs.
The Aces, who were vying for a third consecutive championship, fell short against the hungry Liberty team. A’ja Wilson, who recorded 19 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocked shots for the Aces, acknowledged the challenges of being the defending champions.
Sun force Game 5
Connecticut’s Ty Harris and Alyssa Thomas led the Sun to a 92-82 victory over Minnesota, forcing a decisive Game 5 in their semifinal series. The winner of Game 5 will go on to face the Liberty in the WNBA Finals, set to commence at Barclays Center on Thursday. Napheesa Collier’s impressive performance with 29 points and 13 rebounds was not enough to lift the Lynx over the Sun.
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