After dominating the first two games of the series in Las Vegas, A’ja Wilson and the Aces suffered much more for Game 3, played on the floor of the Dallas Wings.
Their particularly anticipated and surrounded superstar (13 points at 4/10, 13 rebounds but 9 turnovers!), Becky Hammon’s players were never able to find an offensive rhythm in a match dominated by defenses. Fortunately, Las Vegas also knows how to defend and that’s what allowed the team to win (64-61).
However, when Arike Ogunbowale scored on the counter-attack to bring Dallas’ advantage to +8 (53-61) in the last five minutes, everyone thought we were heading for a Game 4 in this semi-final. .
Except that the Wings will no longer score a point in the match, leaving Las Vegas to regain control to triumph. It is therefore finally a “sweep” for the reigning champions, more than ever launched towards the double, while they reach the final of the WNBA championship for the third time in four years.
More than a victory for the Liberty
Completely different scenario in the other semi-final since the Connecticut Sun, who had nevertheless regained home advantage against the New York Liberty, sank from the start of the match.
While Breanna Stewart (25 points, 11 rebounds) was much more skillful than in the first two games, Alyssa Thomas and her teammates lost a lot of ball at the start of the game, allowing New York to quickly take off. After ten minutes, there was already +21 (37-16) for Liberty…
In a game much more suited to their style of play, the absence of Rebecca Allen and her defensive impact not having helped Connecticut, Sandy Brondello’s players were therefore able to manage their lead, Breanna Stewart giving a boost when the Sun fell back below ten points at the end of the third quarter.
Enough to allow Marine Johannès to also recover more playing time (17 minutes) and score her first 3-point basket since the start of the playoffs.
With this success (92-81), despite the almost triple-double from Alyssa Thomas (23 points, 14 assists, 9 rebounds), New York therefore regains home advantage and now leads 2-1 in the series. More than a success and the Liberty players will meet the Aces in the final for the big final duel between the two best teams of the season.
