It’s do-or-die time for the Las Vegas Aces.
Or was that the other night during Game 2?
After dropping Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals to the top-seeded New York Liberty, Vegas coach Becky Hammon told reporters Game 2 was a “must win.”
But that didn’t happen, as the Liberty again defended their home court.
Now it’s Game 3 in Vegas and the Aces have a very tall task in front of them: No team in the history of the WNBA playoffs has come back from an 0-2 deficit in a five-game series. And if the two-time defending league champions continue to give up wide-open layups, the chances of rewriting the record books do not look good.
A’ja Wilson has been her usual spectacular self, but needs her guards to step up. Meanwhile, can anyone slow down New York guard Sabrina Ionescu?
If the Aces win tonight, Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday.
Follow along for news and highlights from Game 3:
ANALYSIS: Caitlin Clark’s record-setting rookie year is over. How much better can she get?
MORE: How many points did Caitlin Clark score in her rookie season? See all her stats
Jonquel Jones foul trouble
Jonquel Jones is headed to the sideline after picking up her third foul in the second quarter. Jones was called for her second foul of the game with 4:12 remaining in the half, and five seconds later, she picked up her third. With 4:07 remaining in the second quarter, Jones was called for swiping A’ja Wilson in the face while attempting to contest Wilson’s layup. Jones has five points, three rebounds and one block so far.
Courtney Vandersloot stats
The Liberty’s 13th-year guard is making her presence felt during the first half against the Aces. At the four-minute mark of the second quarter, Courtney Vandersloot has six points, three rebounds and two assists in just eight minutes off the bench. The game is deadlocked at 40-40.
Chelsea Gray highlight-reel pass
Chelsea Gray’s nickname is the “point gawd” – and passes like this show why her teammates (and her competitors) are so complimentary of her play. The All-Star and Olympian already has four assists and, most importantly, no turnovers in this back-and-forth contest.
Liberty-Aces score after 1st quarter
Las Vegas has the early 26-23 lead after the first quarter. The Aces came out with a sense of urgency. 2024 WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson quickly scored seven points. Jackie Young added 10 first-quarter points, four rebounds and two assists, with the Aces shooting 50% from the field (10 of 20) and the 3-point line. (4 of 8). Sixth player of the Year Tiffany Hayes has seven points off the bench.
The Liberty withstood each punch the Aces threw. Breanna Stewart has a team-high seven points, while Jonquel Jones added five. The Liberty are shooting 43.1% (7 of 16) from the field and 42.9% from three (3 of 7).
WNBA playoff schedule
Sunday, Oct. 6
Game 4: Minnesota at Connecticut, TBAGame 4: New York at Las Vegas, TBA (if necessary)
Tuesday, Oct. 8
Game 5: Connecticut at Minnesota, TBA (if neccesary)Game 5: Las Vegas at New York, TBA (if necessary)
WNBA Finals
Game 1: Thursday, Oct. 10Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 13Game 3: Wednesday. Oct. 16Game 4: Friday, Oct. 18 (if necessary)Game 5: Sunday, Oct. 20 (if necessary)
Luka Doncic at Liberty-Aces game
A handful of NBA dignitaries are in Michelob ULTRA Arena tonight. The Dallas Mavericks are holding their training camp in Las Vegas, and players Luka Doncic and Derek Lively II are courtside next to coach Jason Kidd – and just a few seats down from the New York Liberty bench.
They don’t appear to be cheering for either the Aces or the Liberty, but they’ve already exchanged some “did-you-see-that?” looks with each other after players from each team have connected on some tough shots.
When is Liberty at Aces Game 3?
The WNBA semifinal is scheduled for Friday in Paradise, Nevada.
What time is Liberty at Aces Game 3?
Opening tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET.
Where is Liberty at Aces Game 3?
The game will be played at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Paradise, Nevada.
How to watch Liberty at Aces Game 3
Game 3 of the best-of-five series will be on ESPN2. It can also be streamed on Fubo.
How to stream Liberty at Aces Game 3
Game 3 can be streamed on Fubo. In addition to local TV markets, the Liberty-Aces game also will be available on demand upon its conclusion on WNBA League Pass. Fans can get the WNBA League Pass by downloading the WNBA app.
Lynx-Sun final score
The Minnesota Lynx are up 2-1 over the Connecticut Sun after taking Game 3 90-81 on the road. Napheesa Collier led the charge with a double-double – 26 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and one block. Courtney Williams added 14 points and the bench added 16 points. All but one Lynx starter finished the night in double digits.
The Sun came within seven points of the Lynx with 1:20 remaining in the contest, but Minnesota answered right back and rattled off four consecutive points en route to road win.
It was the story of the night. The Sun elevated their shooting throughout the game, but couldn’t slow down the Lynx’s offense. Minnesota shot 57.4% from the field, compared to the Sun’s 41.1%. It didn’t help that Connecticut struggled from beyond the arc and shot 15% from 3-pointers (3 of 20).
Kelsey Plum stats
The Las Vegas Aces guard is looking to bounce back from a six-point performance in Game 2 against the New York Liberty. Plum scored 24 points in Game 1, which included a 4-for-8 mark from beyond the arc. During the regular season, Plum averaged 17.8 points, 4.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 2.6 rebounds per game.
WNBA playoff bracket
First round
Sunday, Sept. 22:
Game 1: New York 83, Atlanta 69 Game 1: Connecticut 93, Indiana 69 Game 1: Minnesota 102, Phoenix 95 Game 1: Las Vegas 78, Seattle 67
Tuesday, Sept. 24:
Game 2: New York 91, Atlanta 82, Liberty win series 2-0 Game 2: Las Vegas 83, Seattle 76, Aces win series 2-0
Wednesday, Sept. 25
Game 2: Connecticut 87, Indiana 81, Sun win series 2-0 Game 2: Minnesota 101, Phoenix 88, Lynx win series 2-0
Semifinals
Las Vegas Aces vs. New York Liberty
Game 1, Sept. 29: New York 87, Las Vegas 77 Game 2, Oct. 1: New York 88, Las Vegas 84, Liberty lead series 2-0 Game 3, Oct. 4: New York at Las Vegas, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2 Game 4*, Oct. 6: New York at Las Vegas, 3 p.m. ET, ABC Game 5*, Oct. 8: Las Vegas at New York, TBD, ESPN2
Connecticut Sun vs. Minnesota Lynx
Game 1, Sept. 29: Connecticut 73, Minnesota 70 Game 2, Oct. 1: Minnesota 77, Connecticut 70 Game 3, Oct. 4: Minnesota 90, Connecticut 81, Lynx lead series 2-1 Game 4, Oct. 6: Minnesota at Connecticut, TBD Game 5*, Oct. 8: Connecticut at Minnesota, TBD, ESPN2 (* – If necessary; all times Eastern)
Sun’s DeWanna Bonner No. 2 all-time playoff points
DeWanna Bonner is adding to her playoff legend. The Connecticut Sun star passed Candace Parker (1,149 points) to become second all-time in playoff points with a total of 1,150 points and counting. Phoenix Mercury’s Diana Taurasi, Bonner’s former teammate, is No. 1 on the list with 1,486 all-time playoff points. Bonner passed Parker in the third quarter of Game 3 vs. the Lynx, during which she has 13 points and eight rebounds so far.
Aces starting lineup
Chelsea GrayKelsey PlumJackie YoungAlysha ClarkA’ja Wilson
Liberty starting lineup
Sabrina IonescuLeonie FiebichBetnijah Laney-HamiltonBreanna StewartJonquel Jones
Lynx-Sun score after 3rd quarter
The Connecticut Sun came within eight points of the Minnesota Lynx, before the Lynx went on a 9-3 run to extend their lead back to double digits and close the third quarter up 68-54.
The Sun’s Marina Mabrey started to heat up and scored seven of her 11 points (5 of 15 from the field) to start the third, but she continued to struggle from beyond the arc (0 of 6). Collectively, the Sun are shooting 13.3% (2 of 15) on 3-pointers and have missed their past nine 3-point attempts.
Napheesa Collier is nearing a double-double with 18 points and seven rebounds. Courtney Williams has 14 points and six rebounds.
WNBA playoff format
The first round of the WNBA playoffs is a best-of-three series. The semifinals of the WNBA playoffs is a best-of-five series. The WNBA Finals are a best-of-five series.
Aces’ Tiffany Hayes named WNBA sixth player of the year
The Las Vegas Aces are on the brink of elimination. Not only do they have the 2024 WNBA MVP – A’ja Wilson – on their side, the Aces also have the sixth player of the year. Tiffany Hayes earned the honor Friday ahead of Game 3 between the Aces and Liberty. The feat is extra special for Hayes, considering she was retired at the beginning of the 2024 WNBA season. The Aces signed Hayes out of retirement in late May and she went on to average 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists this season.
“I love y’all. I’m really glad that I came here. I’ve been having the best time of my life,” Hayes said after Aces head coach Becky Hammon announced her award. “It’s our award.”
Kiah Stokes out for Aces
The already struggling Aces were dealt a tough hand earlier this week when they learned that 6-foot-3 center Kiah Stokes would be unavailable for Game 3.
Stokes collided with Liberty forward Jonquel Jones late in the third quarter of Game 2 as both went after a rebound. They knocked heads, and Stokes fell hard to the ground. She was down for a few minutes, and had to be helped to the locker room. She did not return to action in Game 2, and is officially in concussion protocol for the time being.
Stokes, who started 29 regular-season games this year, averages only 1.4 points, but she’s an important piece defensively for the Aces, particularly against a Liberty team that has considerable size inside with 6-foot-6 Jones and 6-foot-4 Breanna Stewart.
Aces vs. Liberty is matchup of sixth woman of the year
Game 3 between the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces will feature a matchup of some of the biggest superstars in the WNBA – and some of the league’s best subs.
While Aces guard Tiffany Hayes was named Sixth Woman of the Year, earning 38 of 67 first-place votes, the runner-up was Liberty rookie Leonie Fiebich, who finished with 21 votes.
Fiebich, a 24-year-old rookie from Germany, has been stellar for the Liberty this year and become a regular closer for New York. She averaged 6.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals in the regular season, and played with the German national team in the Paris Olympics. She was named to the WNBA All
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