Today marks the eagerly awaited rematch between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces. Unlike last year, the winner of this clash will not claim the WNBA title but will instead secure a ticket to the WNBA Finals. The Aces aim for a historic three-peat, while the Liberty strive for their first-ever WNBA Championship.
Both teams face a formidable challenge. The Liberty, eager to dethrone the Aces, have a regular season record to back them up, having defeated the Aces 3-0 in their season series. However, Coach Sandy Brondello emphasizes that regular season victories mean nothing in the playoffs.
“Throw it out. I’m not even watching it. It doesn’t mean anything to me. This year we’re a different team, we’ve learned but we know it’s gonna be a tough series, it’s the semifinals of the WNBA," she stated when asked if she'd reviewed film from their previous matchups.
(Coach Sandy, Post-Practice video)
Sunday’s game marks the Liberty’s fifth all-time postseason meeting against Las Vegas and their first matchup of the 2024 semifinals. Historically, the Liberty have struggled against the Aces in the postseason, holding a 1-3 record.
The anticipation for this game is reminiscent of the NCAAW basketball clash between Iowa and LSU two seasons ago. Both teams, each with a superstar and a strong supporting cast, dominated women’s college basketball. In 2023, LSU's Angeles Reese led her team to a championship victory over Caitlin Clark’s Iowa, only for Iowa to achieve payback in the Elite 8 the following season.
Last year, the Liberty and Aces were at the center of record-breaking WNBA viewership. With both teams retaining their core players, many anticipated a finals rematch. While the Liberty improved and secured the top seed, the Aces dropped to fourth after finishing first the previous year. Now, the two teams meet in the semifinals, with the Liberty poised to potentially spoil the Aces' three-peat aspirations.
The Liberty last faced the Aces in the postseason on October 18th, during Game 4 of the 2023 WNBA Finals, where the Aces clinched the series with a 70-69 victory. Throughout this regular season, the Liberty have showcased defensive dominance, a key factor they will need to rely on to outlast the Aces. Notably, New York limited the Aces to just eight points in the second quarter on August 17th, marking the lowest-scoring quarter for the Aces since August 6th, 2023.
With home court advantage throughout the playoffs, the Liberty, boasting a top seed record of 32-8, will look to leverage their fan support. Breanna Stewart emphasized the significance of home court, saying,
"Home court advantage is something that I’ve really wanted this entire season because I know how difficult it is to play here. When the going gets tough, we have our fans behind us to give us that extra support and motivation we need…”
(Stewie Post-Practice)
Sabrina Ionescu, fresh off a 36-point performance in Atlanta, will need to maintain her aggressive play against the Aces. Reflecting on the matchup, she remarked, “For us it’s understanding how much we improved from last year to this year, and ways we can continue to use our depth and all of our weapons to be the best that we can.”
(Sabrina Post-Practice)
This year's Liberty team is undoubtedly stronger than last year’s, with a deeper bench and improved chemistry. They are ready to embark on their quest for a championship.
The Liberty will face the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, September 29, at 3 PM at the Barclays Center.
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