With their backs in opposition to the wall, the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces responded, maintaining hopes of a three-peat alive.
On Friday, the Aces defeated the New York Liberty, 95-81, staving off elimination in Sport 3. Going through a sweep on their residence ground, Las Vegas made a number of key changes, which helped them reside to struggle one other day.
The Aces buckled down on the defensive finish, holding New York to simply 38.8 % capturing from the ground. In the meantime, they quieted the conductor of the Liberty’s offensive assault, Sabrina Ionescu, who was held to solely 4 factors (1-of-7) regardless of averaging 22.5 factors by the primary two video games of the sequence, and he or she did not rating her first level in Sport 3 till the fourth quarter.
Likewise, Las Vegas dominated underneath the basket after struggling to take action all through the sequence. The Aces scored solely 24 factors within the paint in Sport 2 however had 20 within the first half alone on Friday, outpacing the Liberty, 42-28 over 4 quarters.
The primary half was a decent, back-and-forth battle that featured 18 lead modifications and did not see both crew lead by greater than 4 factors. Nonetheless, issues modified drastically after halftime.
The Aces took management of Sport 3 within the third quarter, outscoring New York 21-6 to leap forward 73-55 heading into the ultimate stanza. From there, Las Vegas cruised to victory.
Offensively, 2024 unanimous MVP A’ja Wilson took cost. The Aces star posted her twentieth profession playoff double-double, recording 19 factors (8-of-14) with 14 rebounds and three assists.
In the meantime, Jackie Younger and newly crowned Sixth Participant of the 12 months Tiffany Hayes additionally performed a pivotal function for the Aces. Younger had 24 factors (10-of-18), including 4 three-pointers, six rebounds and 4 assists, whereas Hayes completed with 11 factors (4-of-7), three rebounds and two assists off the bench.
The Aces nonetheless face an uphill battle, as no crew in WNBA historical past has overcome a 0-2 deficit, however Friday’s victory was a superb first step. Las Vegas will look to drive a winner-take-all matchup after they host the Liberty for Sport 4 on Sunday.
