The Las Vegas Aces and reigning league MVP A’ja Wilson are in unfamiliar territory, facing potential elimination after a tough loss to the New York Liberty. On Tuesday night, the Liberty secured a nail-biting 88-84 win in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series, placing them on the verge of a return to the WNBA Finals.
Despite a strong effort from Wilson, who put up 24 points and seven rebounds, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Liberty, who were powered by the combined efforts of Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu. The win gave the Liberty a commanding 2-0 lead in the series, putting them in a prime position to knock out the defending champions. WNBA teams leading 2-0 in a series have gone on to win 18-0 in postseason history.
Stewart, who dominated Game 1 with 34 points, contributed 15 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds in Game 2, orchestrating the offense through the first three quarters. However, it was Ionescu who took control when it mattered most, scoring 11 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter. With just under two minutes to play, the Aces tied the game for the first time since the second quarter, thanks to a clutch 3-pointer from Alysha Clark.
Ionescu responded immediately with a contested 15-foot jumper, putting the Liberty back in the lead. In the final moments, the Liberty won a critical challenge after the ball went out of bounds off Aces guard Kelsey Plum, securing possession with 10.5 seconds left. Ionescu then iced the game with free throws, sealing the four-point victory.
The Aces got off to a much better start than in Game 1, leading after the first quarter behind 10 points from Chelsea Gray. However, the Liberty surged back in the second quarter with a 9-0 run and held a six-point lead at halftime. Despite Las Vegas cutting the deficit to four by the end of the third quarter, their final push fell just short.
Jackie Young is putting on a show! 😤
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 2, 2024
9 PTS in the 3Q, bringing her total to 15 PTS on the night
LVA-NYL on ESPN2 | #WNBAPlayoffs presented by @Google pic.twitter.com/olCQWISoj5
In addition to Wilson’s 24 points, Jackie Young added 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists for the Aces, while Gray finished with 14 points and seven assists. Stewart and Ionescu led the Liberty with a combined 39 points, while Jonquel Jones chipped in 14 points and eight rebounds. Courtney Vandersloot contributed 12 points off the bench for New York.
With Game 3 set for Friday night in Las Vegas, the Aces face an uphill battle to avoid elimination and keep their dream of a three-peat alive. Meanwhile, the Liberty are one win away from advancing to the WNBA Finals in their quest for the franchise’s first championship.