Tag: New York Liberty

Valkyries defense locks down Liberty, Temi Fagbenle and Kate Martin lead the way on offense in dominant 66-58 win over the New York Liberty

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Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle (13) celebrates her basket against the New York Liberty forward Leonie Fiebich (13) at Chase Center in San Francisco on Tue Sep 2, 2025 (Bay Area News Group photo)

By Lincoln Juarez

SAN FRANCISCO – A second quarter run fuels the Valkyries fourth-straight win and inches them closer to securing a playoff spot in their first season.

On Tuesday night, the Golden State Valkyries hosted the New York Liberty in front of a roaring Chase Center crowd. Sitting 2.5 games back of the Liberty for fifth place in the WNBA standings, this was a big game for the Valkyries to gain some ground in the standings and prove they can match up against the powerful teams in the league. 

In their last meeting, the Liberty came into Ballhalla snuck out a win in a close three-point game, 81-78. 

In the two meetings prior to that in late May, New York overpowered the Valkyries in back to back games in the big apple by scores of 95-67 and 82-77. Tuesday night was a different story as the Valkyries stormed their way to a decisive victory. 

After a slow start, the Golden State offense started to land some shots. Just over four and a half minutes in, Janelle Salaün gave the Valkyries their first lead since the opening bucket. 

The two teams went back and forth trading baskets through the remainder of the first quarter. The Liberty led 18-14 after the first. 

It was all Valkyries in the second, out-scoring New York 26-8 in the quarter. 

Kate Martin led the Valkyries in points at the half with 11 going 3-6 from behind the arch. Sue played a huge role in the big second quarter run that blew the game open. 

Postgame Martin praised the defense, acknowledging the great all around game they played on that side of the floor that allowed the offense to take over the game. 

Head coach Natalie Nakase also credited the defense from Tuesday night, pointing to the communication as the main reason for success. “I think our communication has been elite the last 3 games”, said coach Nakase also noting that Golden State knew “we couldn’t make any mistakes on the defensive end”. 

On the offensive side, four Valkyries tallied double-digit points (Salaün, Fagbenle, Charles, and Martin). The scoring came from up and down the lineup and Golden State put their teamwork and camaraderie on display in their 66-58 win, defeating the Liberty for the first time ever after going 0-3 in their first three games against them. 

The Valkyries look on to Thursday when they host the Dallas Wings with a potential opportunity to clinch a playoff berth. It would be quite the scene if they were able to do it at home in front of their raucous fans at Chase Center.  

At this point it seems like it’s not a matter of if, but when the Valkyries will clinch that playoff spot and become the first team in WNBA history to make the playoffs in their first season. 

Wings vs. Valkyries, Thursday night at Ballhalla. Tip-off at 7:00pm. 

Aces Beat Liberty For Fifth Win In a Row 83-77

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Las Vegas Aces center A’Ja Wilson (22) is jacked over her basket after getting fouled against the New York Liberty forward Kennedy Burke (left) at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Wed Aug 14, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

LAS VEGAS–The Las Vegas Aces (19-14) won their fifth win in a row beating the New York Liberty (21-12) 83-77 Wednesday night at Michelob ULTRA Arena . They trailed for much of the game but really turned this game around in the fourth quarter.

They got the calls they needed in that fourth quarter and drew a lot of fouls to nail this win down. A’Ja Wilson had another double double with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Jewell Loyd had the team high with 21 points. The Aces hit 15 free throws in the final quarter.

Game recap: The Aces got a nice start taking as much as a six-point lead in the first quarter. The Liberty took a six point lead late in the quarter and led after the first ten minutes of play 24-20.

The Aces took back the lead in the second quarter when Lloyd hit an open three for a 25-24 advantage and the war between the two teams was on. The Aces began to heat up going on a 9-2 run early in the quarter taking a 30-26 lead.

The Liberty lead the league in points from beyond the arc hitting four so far in this game, the Aces keeping pace also hitting four. At the half the Liberty had taken a 43-40 lead when Leonie Fiebich hit New York’s fifth three of the game with seconds left on the clock in the second quarter.

The Liberty had one player in double digits after two quarters, Emma Meesseman with 12 points. The Aces Wilson had 11 points and six rebounds in the half and Chelsea Gray also had 11 points.

Off the bench, Lloyd was on the verge of double digits with nine points. Las Vegas’ Jackie Young had a slow start and the team would need more from her in the second half. On the sidelines head coach Becky Hammon was heard telling the team to slow down.

Las Vegas would not beat New York playing in a hurry and they needed to keep the Liberty out of the paint. New York was shooting at nearly 53% and had scored 26 points in the paint. The Aces had only scored 12 points in the paint in a very competitive game.

Mid-way through the third quarter, the Liberty took their largest lead of the night 54-47. Lloyd made her fifth of eight threes taking up residence in the corner. Young was really struggling in this game with only three points through almost three quarters.

Despite trailing, Las Vegas was coming up with some great interior defense in an effort to squelch the New York points in the paint. With 2:06 left in the third, Young really rose to the occasion hitting a three to tie up this game at 58 plus a free throw was awarded giving Las Vegas a 59-58 lead.

After three quarters it was about as tight a game that one could imagine with New York clinging to a 63-61 lead. Young had a great late third quarter hitting eight points joining Wilson and Gray with 11 points. Loyd was having a great game leading the team scoring with 18 points.

Las Vegas was able to get some stops to start the fourth quarter trailing by a single point 64-65. Chelsea Gray drew a foul giving the Aces a 66-65 lead. Wilson had a double double early in the fourth with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

With four minutes left in the game it was dead even at 72 apiece. With 2 1/2 left in the game the Aces had a 78-74 lead. A’Ja Wilson does what she does so well and that is draw fouls. She made some critical free throws to extend their lead out to 81-77 with under a minute.

The Aces took the 81-77 lead into the final 19 seconds of the game. The Liberty fouled Jackie Young who took the lead out to 83-77. The final was 83-77 and the Aces had their fifth win in a row beating the second place Liberty. It was an outstanding win for Las Vegas.

The team got the stops they needed to win this game in the fourth quarter. Loyd finished with the team high of 21 points. She was a huge part of this win. The Aces are hitting their stride at just the right time this season.

Wilson had a double double with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Young sure turned her game around finishing with 15 points and five rebounds. Gray had 13 points.

Game notes: Wednesday night the Aces beat the Liberty to continue their climb up in the standings. Going into Wednesday night’s game the Aces were holding onto fifth place and New York was in second place.

Las Vegas was also playing another game at Michelob ULTRA Arena to another sell-out crowd and more home court support, a real advantage. The Liberty had to fight off a late flight arrival or rather an early Wednesday morning arrival in Las Vegas.

The Aces will now travel to Phoenix for a matchup with the Mercury. They will be looking for a sixth win in a row with the tipoff scheduled for Friday night at 7:00 PM.

Late Rally Falls Short as Valkyries Drop Thriller to Liberty, 81–78

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New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu is defended by Golden State Valkyrie’s Veronica Burton during the second quarter of a WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Scott Strazzante/ San Francisco Chronicle)

By: Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.- The opening quarter of the Golden State Valkyries vs. New York Liberty game was hard-fought, with Breanna Stewart and Tiffany Hayes putting up the most impressive performances. With 12 points on 5 of 9 field goals, including 1 of 2 from beyond the arc, Stewart developed as an aggressive player for New York. Although she didn’t have much help from her teammates in the first stretch, her early rhythm kept the Liberty offensively going. Yet Kennedy Burke, who came off the bench, provided New York with much-needed energy by scoring 8 points on a flawless 3-for-3 shooting effort, including 2 of 2 from deep range

On the other hand, Hayes went 3-of-6 from the field and made 2-of-4 from beyond the arc to match Stewart’s effort with 12 of her own. Her choice of shots and ability to create space during transitions provided the Valkyries with a much-needed attacking lift. Hayes taking it to the rack is how the team’s effort got going. 

However, Hayes wasn’t the only one who had an effect. The defensive tone was set by her and Kayla Thornton, who put constant pressure that made New York appear tough and stopped their rhythm. The Liberty shot just 11 of 23 overall and a poor 4-of-13 from three-point range in the first quarter, as they struggled to keep up with Golden State’s tenacity and pace early in the game.

Even as Breanna Stewart started to establish her dominance, the Valkyries relied on their aggressive defense to break Liberty’s rhythm in the second quarter. Despite their difficulties from beyond the arc, Stewart kept New York within striking distance by scoring nine more points in the quarter, increasing her first-half total to 21 on 8 of 14 shooting.

Golden State responded with tough defense and well-balanced team play. Backcourt pressure from Kayla Thornton and Tiffany Hayes continued to push the Liberty into hurried shots and disrupted plays. Despite only shooting 15 of 37 from the field in the first half, the Valkyries made up for it with hustling plays and hard work on the glass, grabbing 19 rebounds and grabbing crucial second-chance shots.

However, by halftime, the Liberty were only 5 of 18 from three-point range and 18 of 46 from the field. Their interior presence kept them in the game, as they scored 26 of their first-half points in the paint despite their poor outside shooting. Even though their perimeter threats struggled to convert, they were able to effectively crash the lane due to their size and length across the lineup.

The Valkyries had a certain change of mind when they left halftime: defensive energy. In order to add more hustle and intensity to the perimeter, head coach Natalie Nakase started guard Kate Martin, and it paid off right away. With players continuously switching positions, getting hands in passing lanes, and running back in transition, Golden State’s defense was notably more active. Four steals during the quarter were the product of their effort, which created fast-break possibilities and held the Liberty attack.

Laeticia Amihere, Kayla Thornton, and Kate Martin all took advantage of those momentum plays, combining to make several crucial baskets that resulted from transition and second-effort hustling. The Valkyries played with a feeling of urgency that allowed them to momentarily recover control of the game, whether it was diving for loose balls or finishing through contact on the break.

However, New York’s Marine Johannès turned the tide just as Golden State appeared to take the lead. The shooter stunned the crowd by making three straight three-pointers in the third quarter, giving the Liberty a late-quarter lead. Johannès’ quick release and off-ball movement proved too much to contain during that stretch, reminding everyone that occasionally excellent offense wins over outstanding defense, even if the Valkyries’ defense had played strong defense the whole quarter.

With both teams exchanging big shots and changes in momentum, the fourth quarter was a back-and-forth contest. In the last period, Golden State Kate Martin made three critical three-pointers to get the Valkyries within striking distance, continuing her second-half surge. Martin finished with a career-high 21 points, going 4-of-10 from beyond the arc and showing composure in crucial situations after only scoring 7 points in the first three quarters.

Her late actions, however, were unable to lift the Valkyries to a higher level.

Kennedy Burke, who stepped up when it mattered most, responded for New York with a consistent scoring effort. Burke finished with 20 points, shooting 6-of-14 from the field and 4-of-9 from three, after scoring 11 points early in the game. Her poise and well-timed buckets allowed the Liberty to withstand the Valkyries’ charge. Also, Sabrina Ionescu converted seven free throws in the final two minutes and made a key steal with 26 seconds left, even though she was shut down by Valkyrie’s defense going 1-11 on the floor, and 1-7 shooting threes. Lastly, Breanna Stewart also finished with a double-double, 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Golden State had late-game opportunities, but the 81-78 defeat was sealed by a few missed shots and New York’s dominance of the last possessions. After another tough and competitive performance, the loss puts the Valkyries at 0-3 in the season series against the Liberty.

The Valkyries will look to bounce back quickly as they return to action on Friday night when they host the Chicago Sky at 7 p.m. Still searching for consistency and a breakthrough win in close matchups, Golden State will aim to turn lessons from this hard-fought loss into momentum heading into the weekend.

Aces Self Destruct In Fourth Quarter Losing Game Four to New York 76-62; Vegas knocked out in three of four games

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Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) knocks the ball out of the hand of New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (22) during game 4 of the WNBA Playoffs at Barclay Center in Brooklyn on Sun Oct 6, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

There will be no three-peat for the Las Vegas Aces (1-3) in this year’s post-season. They fought hard through three quarters of basketball trailing by a single basket for much of the game but came unglued in the fourth quarter.

The New York Liberty (3-1) poured it on in the final quarter winning the game 76-62 a testament of why they are the best team in the WNBA. They were unstoppable in the fourth quarter. The bright spot for the Aces was the three time MVP A’ja Wilson who has done what no players has ever done in the WNBA.

There will be a new champion this season. It all starts at Barclay Center Thursday night with the Liberty taking on the winner of the Lynx/Sun matchup who played on Sunday.

Game recap: The start from Sabrina Ionescu will be monumental and she delivered in the opening quarter. With under three minutes left in the first quarter she had already scored 12 points.

This came as no surprise after her lackluster performance in game three. She is a huge part of this offense and you will rarely see a game where she fails to score at all through three quarters. She came out with a vengeance in the opening quarter finishing with the 12 points.

The Liberty began to take a measurable lead in the quarter leading by as much as eight points but the Aces came roaring back after New York went on a 10-0 run to start the quarter. After the first ten minutes of play the Liberty had a 23-19 lead. Despite the slow start, the Aces had made up for lost ground.

Mid-way through the second quarter, this game began to go sideways for the Aces. Las Vegas only had one turnover but they had begun to miss shots and the Liberty were driving the paint successfully making layups. New York took a 37-27 lead at 5:41.

Las Vegas had a fight on their hands and they were already over the limit with a half a quarter remaining until halftime. With under four minutes left in the half, the Aces were chipping away at New York’s lead in a crazy physical game trailing by two points 39-37 with a minute and a half left in the second quarter. At 1:08 left in the half the Aces trailed by a single point 39-38.

At the half New York had a 41-38 lead and Las Vegas had put the stops on Ionescu who did not score a single point in the second quarter. The Aces would need a lot more of that in the second half. This game would be won on defense.

The only Las Vegas player with double digits was Kelsey Plum with 12 and A’ja Wilson was on the cusp with nine points and five rebounds. The team would need a big second half from Jackie Young. Las Vegas only had two turnovers in the first half which was outstanding especially against a team with the defense that New York has. The heart and determination of this team led by A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray makes Las Vegas a very dangerous team; this game was absolutely still up for grabs.

The New York Liberty had both Breanna Stewart and Ionescu in double digits. Stewart with 15 points and Ionescu with 12. This game had been all New York however, the Aces only trailed by a basket.

A wild third quarter got underway and while the Aces were close they did trail most of the quarter 51-49 with under a minutes left on the clock. As the clock ran out Jackie Young hit a three giving the Aces their first lead of the second half but it was determined that the clock ran out prior to Young’s shot.

Las Vegas still trailed but it was by a single basket 53-51 going into the fourth quarter. The Las Vegas defense continued to contain Ionescu only allowing her three points in the third quarter. Plum did not score for Las Vegas either in the third.

New York began to extend their slim lead as the fourth quarter got underway taking a 57-51 lead. This was not the way Las Vegas wanted to start the final quarter of this game. The Liberty had out-rebounded the Aces almost 2 to 1.

New York had 39 rebounds and the Aces 21. There was still a lot of time left on the clock but Las Vegas needed to tighten up their defense and get their offense back on track. It just did not happen. Chelsea Gray had five fouls and Jonquel Jones and Leonie Fiebich had four fouls apiece for the Liberty.

New York set the pace in the fourth quarter while the Aces were struggling offensively trailing 64-53, the Liberty’s largest lead of the game. An Aces time-out was called with 5:45 left in the game.

Jackie Young continued to struggle unable to hit any thing in the fourth quarter and the Aces were running out of time. The Las Vegas was 1 of 11 in the fourth quarter with four minutes left in the game. The Aces lost this game in the fourth quarter with the Liberty outscoring them 23-11 in a blow-out. The final was 76-62. There would be a new champion crowned this year.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon the Aces met the Liberty in game four of their series getting knocked out the 3-1. Las Vegas failed to play unblemished basketball and couldn’t keep their three peat hopes alive. The Aces will saw a more determined group in game four, and the Aces made mistakes against New York in game four.

The Aces needed to protect the ball the way they did in game three but the Liberty were able to take crucial shots and the Aces had trouble on defense. They needed the defense they had in game 3 and they didn’t get solid offense on Sunday. This was far more a difficult game to control than it was last Friday night although the first half of that game was close throughout. It sure was a battle. No team had come back after trailing 0-2 in a series.

Las Vegas had a miserable fourth quarter after playing so close in the first three quarters. Their offense fell apart and the Liberty took full advantage offensively and defensively. The Aces could not hit a thing in the fourth quarter and as the clock ran out their dreams of a three peat also ran out. Regardless, they had an amazing season after a very slow start and they have a lot to be proud of.

10-0 New York run

Aces Beat Liberty For First Time This Season 95-81; Vegas cuts New York’s lead to one; Aces can tie series Sunday

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Las Vegas Aces guard Tiffany Hayes (15) is fouled by the New York Liberty forward Nyara Sabally (8) in game 3 of the WNBA Playoffs at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

With grit and determination, the Las Vegas Aces (1-2) beat the New York Liberty (2-1) for the first time this year. This game was a win big or go home for Las Vegas trailing 0-2 and the Aces starters could not have picked a better time to turn things around.

Playing at home was a plus but it was the defense, the lack of turnovers and some brilliant offense that won this game. The first half was back and forth with 18 lead changes but the second half was a different story with the Aces totally dominating winning the game 95-81.

All four of the Vegas starters had double digits and A’ja Wilson had another double double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. The Aces were protecting the ball well Friday night with only six turnovers through three quarters.

Game recap: It was a wild first half of basketball with 18 lead changes the most in WNBA playoff history. The Aces led after the first ten minutes of play 26-23 in a close contest. Another back and forth quarter ensued with the both teams scoring 26 points in the second.

Las Vegas led at halftime 52-49 with the promise of two more crazy quarters before this game was all said and done. The Aces had contained Sabrina Ionescu who had not scored at all in the first half. The Liberty’s Jonquel Jones was in a bit of trouble with three fouls.

Mid-way through the third quarter, New York was forced to call a time-out when Las Vegas led 61-53. The Liberty missed 12 shots in a row in the quarter and Jones had her fourth foul. Las Vegas really got going in the quarter leading 66-53 with 2:51 left in the third quarter.

The Liberty were committing some uncharacteristic fouls and turnovers. The Aces had a 13-0 run going with 1:31 left in the quarter leading 73-53 and Las Vegas had taking control of the third.

They outscored the Liberty 21-6 in the quarter and New York had gone eight minutes without scoring. The Aces took a 73-55 lead into the fourth quarter. Ionescu had still not scored and with Jones in danger of fouling out, New York had a lot of work to do and it seemed unlikely that Las Vegas was slowing down in any way.

The Aces did not back off leading by 25 points at one point in the final quarter. The final was 95-81 Aces. With under three minutes left in the game the starters took the bench. Jackie Young had the team high with 24 points.

Kelsey Plum was on point with 20 points and A’ja Wilson finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds. The Las Vegas defense was lights out and kept the Liberty out of the paint. The Aces totally contained Sabrina Ionescu allowing only four points from the talented guard.

Game notes: Friday night, the Aces faced a win or go home situation as they beat the Liberty in game three and are now 1-2 with the win. It is a major long shot but if any team in the league is capable of not only winning Friday night but taking the series it is the Las Vegas Aces.

With unanimous MVP of the season A’Ja Wilson on board and a great supporting cast in Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young plus Tiffany Hayes off the bench who just won the WNBA 6th person of the year award this team will fight to the end.

It’s a lot of pressure and every one of these players brought their A game in this all-important daunting task. They got some solid defense and it all started with Jackie Young who is one of the strongest guards in the league.

Plum, Young and Gray are a great combo providing defense that were all clicking in game 3. The unfortunate truth is that all three were not clicking in games one and two. Of the three, Gray has struggled and has been strangely sloppy.

The Liberty have clogged the paint a favorite location of A’ja Wilson and the missed layups in games one and two had head coach Becky Hammon enraged on the sidelines. The bottom line is that Las Vegas met the Liberty five times this season and they lost all five games this was different on Friday they beat New York for the first time all season.

Sunday afternoon, the Aces will be looking for a win in game four and tying up this series. Sunday’s matchups gets underway at 2:30 ET. The Las Vegas Aces are not done yet.

Liberty Dashes Hopes of an Aces Three-Peat Winning Game Two 88-84 Taking a 2-0 Series Lead

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New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart drives on the Las Vegas Aces Chelsea Gray (12) in the first half of game 2 in the WNBA Playoffs at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn on Tue Oct 1, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Las Vegas Aces (0-2) fought hard in game two of their best of five series against the New York Liberty (2-0) and came so very close losing 88-84. The Liberty have an amazing defense that gave the Aces trouble all night long.

A’ja Wilson finished with 24 points but Kelsey Plum never really got on track hitting a couple of three’s for 6 points in this game. In game three the Aces will need all hands on deck if they are to make a comeback in the series. It’s a lot of pressure on the entire team but it is the only way they will have any chance at all.

The Aces took on the New York Liberty in an all-important game two. The Aces went down 0-2 and lost on New York’s home court which was not ideal heading home to Las Vegas for game three.

Game recap: The Aces got a good start leading for most of the opening ten minutes. The largest lead for Las Vegas was an eight point lead 27-19 in the final minute of the quarter. The Aces held a 27-22 lead going into the second quarter.

Two minutes into the second quarter Las Vegas was forced to take a time-out after their lead shrunk to a single point 27-26. The Liberty began to match the Aces shot for shot and three minutes into the quarter coach Becky Hammon took a second time-out very unhappy with her team’s offense.

The Aces continued missing layups and the Liberty’s defense was making things awfully difficult for Las Vegas clogging up the paint and forcing shots from outside. With under three minutes left in the half, the game was tied at 37.

The Aces were getting stops but not taking advantage of those stops. After leading briefly in the final two minutes of the half, the Aces let the Liberty take over the game. New York led after two quarters 46-40. They had outscored the Aces 24-13 in the second quarter.

Sabrina Ionescu really got into her stride in the second half of the second quarter. New York really kept the wraps on A’ja WIlson holding her to six points in the half and Kelsey Plum was also struggling with a single three point shot in the half.

The Liberty had scored 20 points on 11 Aces turnovers. In game one, the Aces missed 16 layups and you just cannot continue to do this against the best team in the league. The biggest challenge the Aces would have in the second half would be getting the ball to A’ja Wilson.

The third quarter was a close one with the Liberty outscoring the Aces by a single point 23-22. Las Vegas had one quarter left in this game to even up the series trailing 69-62. At 8:54 in the fourth quarter Las Vegas was trailing 66-69 but let it slip away a minute later as the Liberty extended their lead 74-66. With more than five minutes left in the game Las Vegas was within reach trailing by two points 72-74 forcing the Liberty to take a time-out.

With two minutes left in the game, Las Vegas continued to trail but remained within a point 78-79. With 90 seconds left on the clock this game was tied at 81. This game was going down to the wire and the Aces just couldn’t get over the top.

It came down to an Ace possession with ten seconds left on the clock trailing by two points 82-84. Chelsea Gray fouled Sabrina Ionescu, she made both free throws and that was the game 88-84. Breanna Stewart also made two free throws when fouled by Tiffany Hayes making both free throws to end the game.

The Las Vegas Aces are in deep trouble as they head back to Las Vegas trailing 0-2. While there is still that outside possibility that they can tie up the series it will be a huge mountain to climb. It will all start with game three Friday night which gets underway at 6:30 PM PT at Michelob ULTRA Arena.

Liberty Prove Too Hot to Handle In Game One of Series As Aces Fall 87-77

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New York Liberty guard Courtney Vandersloot drives on the Las Vegas Aces forward Alysha Clark (left) in game 1 of the WNBA playoffs at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Sun Sep 29, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Las Vegas Aces (27-13) got within two points of the New York Liberty (32-8) in the second quarter but that’s as close as they would get falling in the first game of their best of five series 87-77.

A’Ja Wilson finished the game with 21 points but it was Kelsey Plum with the team high scoring 24 points. The Aces have the unenviable task of trying to contain Breanna Stewart throughout this series. Stewart finished with 34 points.

Game recap: The New York Liberty got right down to business in the opening quarter leading after the first ten minutes of play 28-21. As the clock began to wind down on the second quarter the Liberty began to push their lead out after leading by only two points at the five minute mark.

New York led by ten points 46-34 with 1:10 left in the first half going on a 9-0 run. At halftime the Liberty had maintained their ten point lead 48-38 and Las Vegas had a lot of work to do in the second half. They were missing far too many shots and they had to find a way to contain Breanna Stewart who finished the first half with 20 points.

This is the series that one would expect to see in the finals. The struggles that the Aces had in the first part of the season had a lot to do with how these matchups look today. Las Vegas is known to be a second half team and they will need to show up in this one.

Stealing a game in New York is exactly what the Aces will be looking to do. Plum succeeded in the first half making quick decisions because of the defensive pressure that the Liberty were bringing. Las Vegas had some catching up to do in the third quarter but they have the talent to do just that.

New York continued to extend their lead in the third quarter and Las Vegas continued with spotty shooting. At 7:43 the Liberty led 55-40 and New York was dictating the pace of this game continuing to pile on the points. At 5:46 they led 62-44 totally dominating the Aces.

Plum continued her intensive play verbally sparring with Spike Lee who shouted at her from the sidelines only getting her even more heated up. Play took a turn with Las Vegas going on a 12-0 run pulling to within six points after trailing by 18.

Las Vegas just did not have the defensive answer for Stewart and this was glaring throughout the game. As the third quarter came to an end the Aces had cut the Liberty’s 18 point lead in half. New York was up nine 71-62 going into the fourth quarter.

With 28 points, Stewart sat out the start of the fourth quarter with four fouls. The Liberty continued to clog up the paint and Las Vegas was struggling to be able to make those inside shots that have made them so successful.

New York was hitting from inside, from outside, making ridiculous long shots. There was no stopping them today. The Liberty took full advantage of the turnovers, missed shots and defensive ineffectiveness that the Aces brought winning the first game of the series 87-77.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon the Aces lost the first game in their best of a five game series against the Liberty in what promises to be a incredibly intense, competitive and exciting series. The reigning champions Aces could be pushed to the brink in this series if the Liberty put up a tough battle throughout.

If the Aces want to win another title, they will have to beat the best and right now the Liberty are the number one team in basketball. The New York starting roster is loaded with Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and they are primed and have tested the Aces.

On the other hand the Aces starting roster are no pushover with the amazing A’Ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young and Chelseas Gray. Las Vegas also has Alysha Clark and Tiffany Hayes who have been invaluable off the bench. This is going to be one crazy series.

While this is only the beginning, the Aces have a lot to figure out going into game two. Putting the stops on Stewart (34 points) and Ionescu (21 points) will be a tough call. When the Aces went on runs, the Liberty put a stop to it every time.

New York is hungry for their first championship and you can see it in their play. Game two is scheduled to tipoff in New York Tuesday evening the time still to be determined.

Aces Win First Game With Fever 86-75; Vegas-Indiana tip off Friday for game 2

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The Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) takes a jump shot against the Indiana Fevers guard Caitlin Clark (22) and forward Aliyah Boston (7) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Wed Sep 11, 2024 (Las Vegas Aces photo)

By Barbara Mason

With A’Ja Wilson back on the court the Las Vegas Aces (22-13) had the resources needed to beat a tough Indiana Fever team(19-17) 86-75 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. This is the first of two games with the Fever, the second to be played Friday night also in Indiana. Wilson finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds for a double double despite not being at 100 percent.

It is no secret how well the Indiana Fever have been playing and this will really test the Aces. Caitlin Clark has been playing some really nice ball averaging over 19 points a game. Las Vegas will have to contain her which will be the key to a win over the Fever.

The game was close in the opening quarter and the Aces took a slim 20-18 lead. Las Vegas began to distance themselves in the second quarter leading 30-23 mid-way through the quarter at 5:34. With under a minute left in the half, the Aces had established a 41-32 lead.

At the half, Wilson had scored 12 points with eight rebounds. Alysha Clark and Tiffany Hayes were having a great game off the bench each with nine points in the first half. Both Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young had really slow starts. Young only had two points in the first two quarters and Plum had a single point.

Caitlan Clark had eight points and the high score in the half for Indiana was Kelsey Mitchell with 11 points. There was some star power in attendance with country super-star Darius Rucker taking in the game.

Tyrese Halliburton and Myles Turner were also on hand. Women’s basketball has taken the country by storm and we see celebs across the country supporting this exciting sport that attracts more and more followers with every season. Wednesday night’s game was the 14th sellout at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this season.

The Fever came into the third quarter with renewed effort and trailed by a single point mid-way through the quarter 48-49. Las Vegas would push the lead back out leading after three quarters 64-57. This had been an extremely long quarter with the refs going to replay three times in the quarter in fact Las Vegas head coach Becky Hammon was called for a technical for arguing with the officials.

The Fever threatened to rally numerous times in the fourth quarter but Las Vegas continued to push the lead back. Indiana was going nowhere and they were playing hard and pulling to within six points at 6:48 72-66.

With the Aces leading 80-73 and 3:20 left on the clock, this game was hardly over. Las Vegas hung in the game and when the dust had settled, the Aces had beaten Indiana by the score of 86-75.

It was a terrific effort from Wilson with 27 points and 12 rebounds for yet another double double and not being at 100 percent. With a day off Thursday the hopes are that she will continue to completely heal heading into the playoffs.

Chelsea Gray finished with 11 points. The Aces had some great work off the bench with Clark scoring 14 points and Hayes with 12. Plum came around in the second half finishing with nine points. They had held Clark to 16 point in this game.

Game notes: Wednesday night the Aces took on the Fever in the first of two back-to-back games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Sunday, the Aces lost a close game to the New York Liberty coming up just short 75-71without their “Ace” A’Ja Wilson who missed the game with an ankle injury.

Wilson had not missed a game in years and while she is not at 100 percent the hopes are that she will be as close as possible going into the playoffs. She did wear a boot on the sidelines on Sunday but her MRI came back clean, great news, and this was just a precaution. It will be good to see her back on the court.

Friday night the Aces will play the Fever one more time with tipoff scheduled for 4:30 PM PT. This first game was very close throughout until the final minutes. Game two could prove to be even tougher.

Aces Come Up Just Short In Absence of A’Ja Wilson Losing to Liberty 75-71

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New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) takes the ball against the Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) at Barclay Center in Brooklyn on Sun Sep 8, 2024 (Las Vegas Aces photos)

By Barbara Mason

The Las Vegas Aces (22-13) came oh so close to beating the New York Liberty (29-6) despite the absence of the injured A’Ja Wilson. The Aces had trailed by as much as 20 points in the third quarter but turned this game around.

The Liberty won this game and this year’s series 75-71. The Aces Kelsey Plum had a great game scoring 25 points. Despite the loss, the was a sort of win for Las Vegas coming this close without their full starting roster. Some huge stars attended the game with Stephen Curry, Klay Thomas and Devin Booker on hand.

Game recap: It was a well-played first quarter of basketball from both teams. The Liberty after trailing by as much as eight points had a two point lead 26-24 after the first ten minutes of play. For the first time in a long time, the team was without A’Ja Wilson on the floor.

The last time she missed a game was back on August 3, 2019. A right lower leg injury suffered in their game against the Sun last Friday night sidelined her for Sunday’s game. Her 32 point per game average will be missed and this will be a tough one for Las Vegas.

After a very close first quarter, the Liberty began to flex their muscle extending their first quarter lead to 37-28 with an 8-0 run and 6:02 left in the second quarter. The Aces were missing a number of layups and against a team the caliber of the Liberty you cannot miss. The five turnovers in the second quarter did nothing to further their cause. At the half, the Liberty had established a 45-33 lead with a big-time second quarter.

At the half Kelsey Plum had ten points and Jackie Young had eight points for the Aces. The Liberty had taken over the points in the paint outscoring the Aces 20-8. This is where A’Ja Wilson excels. In the first quarter Las Vegas had eight assists setting up some great success from downtown but in the second quarter only one assist and the three’s began to fail.

The third quarter got underway with another Ace turnover. Las Vegas also trailed significantly when it came to rebounds. The Liberty had out-rebounded the Aces in the first half 22-12. Throughout the quarter the Liberty continued to push their lead and after three, they led 64-51.

New York’s Breanna Stewart had 21 points after three quarters and Jonquel Jones had 13. The Aces had very few offensive rebounds so far in this game with one quarter left. The starting roster of the Liberty is a collection of superstars making them pretty much unstoppable.

They are a well-oiled machine offensively and defensively. Las Vegas had a great start but unfortunately that began to wane throughout the second and third quarters. The confidence that they started the game with just disappeared, it went AWOL.

With under seven minutes left in the game, the Aces had pulled to within three points. The defending champions had rallied in the absence of A’Ja Wilson pulling it all together giving the Liberty a whole lot to worry about.

With under four minutes left in the game, Las Vegas made it a one point game trailing 65-66. This game had turned into a real nail-biter and with under two minutes the Liberty were clinging onto the lead 70-68.

With 1:54 left in the game, Las Vegas took the lead 71-70. This was the Aces first lead since the first quarter. This game began to mirror their last game with the Sun where they trailed for most of the game and won it all in the final minute of play.

With 37 ticks left on the clock the Liberty had a one point lead 72-71. Unfortunately this game did not play out like their last game but they made an amazing comeback after trailing by as much as 20 points in the third quarter. Coming this close in the absence of Wilson was a win in itself for Las Vegas despite losing this game 75-71. They won the fourth quarter 20-11.

Game notes: With five games left in the 2024 season the Aces dropped a key game to the New York Liberty. They have been faced with some very challenging matchups. They beat the Connecticut Sun Friday night 72-67 and Sunday they faced the number one team in the WNBA, the Liberty and battled to a 75-71 loss in Brooklyn.

Their schedule does not get any easier facing the Indiana Fever twice playing them next Wednesday and Friday night. It is a really tough upcoming schedule but if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. The loss is a tough one against the Liberty but this Aces team is looking to move on in their next game against the Fever.

The Aces will remain on the road for their next game Wednesday night taking on Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. They will meet again in a second matchup on Friday night in Las Vegas. Tipoff Wednesday night is scheduled for 4:00 PM. It is not known if A’Ja Wilson will play in Indiana. The takeaway is that the Aces need Wilson healthy and at full strength for the upcoming playoffs.

Aces Back On Winning Track Getting Past Dream 83-72

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Las Vegas Aces guard Tiffany Hayes (15) drives on the Atlanta Dream at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Fri Aug 30. 2024 (Las Vegas Aces photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Atlanta Dream got close numerous times throughout the game but the Las Vegas Aces hung tight winning the game 83-72. A’Ja Wilson had another stellar game with 15 rebounds and 26 points. Tiffany Hayes also had a terrific game with 10 rebounds and 20 points. Kelsey Plum chipped in 16 points.

Game recap: The Aces won both the first and the second quarters of this game. They led after the first ten minutes of play 22-18. The Dream played a very competitive second quarter although the Aces did win it 22-20.

Las Vegas led at halftime 44-38 and going into the second half of play this game was hardly decided. The Aces have in the past really turned it on in the second half, especially the fourth quarter although it did not go their way in their last game against the Wings. They were looking to close out this game in the second half.

Atlanta continued to fight hard in the third quarter and got as close as four points in the early minutes of the quarter. The Dream kept challenging throughout the quarter but the Aces stubbornly hung onto the lead and after three quarters had a 65-58 lead. A’Ja Wilson already had a double double with 13 rebounds and 20 points.

At 6:34 in the fourth quarter, the Aces had established a 73-64 lead. Atlanta called a time out when Las Vegas began to extend their lead and showed no signs of letting down. The Dream had a lot of work to do with little time left in the game. With 2:11 left in the game, the Aces were distancing themselves from the Dream leading 79-67. Las Vegas closed out this game winning by the score of 83-72.

The high for the Dream was Allisha Gray who finished with nine rebounds and 17 points. They had three players in double digits but they could not match A’Ja Wilson and company.

Game notes: After a disappointing loss to the Dallas Wings Tuesday night in a tight game 93-90, the Las Vegas Aces were looking to bounce back Friday night against the Dream. The Aces are currently fighting to move up in the standings; they are in fifth place right now. They are a half game behind the fourth place Seattle Storm. The Storm were defeated by the New York Liberty Friday night 98-85 allowing to the Aces to move within a half game on the Storm.

Sunday the Aces will take on the Mercury in Phoenix. The Mercury will be a tough game for the Aces. They come in with a 16-16 record and could really cause some problems for the Aces. The Aces are still not playing their best ball yet although they did play a better game Friday night. Tipoff for the game is scheduled for 1:00 PM.