There will be no “Three-peat” for the Las Vegas Aces! Beaten in the final last season, the New York Liberty players took their revenge by winning Game 4 on hostile ground to end the series (3-1) with a clear victory, 76-62.
“They've been the better team all year, let's be honest. Their group deserved it, and that’s been the case all year”, summarized Becky Hammonlucid coach of the Aces. “We can't win every year, it doesn't work like that, and that's what makes the beauty of sport: the work, the involvement, the investment, the desire to play hard and the determination always end up paying in the end. And New Yokr has shown great will and determination all year long. We had a lot of room last year. I’m sure they heard it, and it’s up to them to be able to do it this year.”
Sabrina Ionescu unleashed
New York set the tone from the start, relying in particular on a supercharged Sabrina Ionescu, with 12 of the first 19 points scored by her team including three 3-point arrows (11-19).
The Gray-Plum tandem responded from afar at the start of the second quarter, then leaving it to A'Ja Wilson to bring the Aces to -1 shortly before the break (38-39). The Liberty continued to lead after the locker room until the start of the fourth quarter, when the Liberty took off.
Sandy Brondello's protégés indeed attacked the period with a scathing 16-2 concluded by 3-pointers from Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones (53-67). Las Vegas never recovered, ultimately losing 76-62 for the third time in four games.
Behind Sabrina Ionescu's 22 points, Breanna Stewart was once again imperial with her 19 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists. Double NBA champion with the Seattle Storm in 2018 and 2020, she warned that this time, we must go to the end: “ We made it to the Finals last year, and we haven't done anything yet“.
So the job is not yet finished. It now remains to be seen who from Connecticut or Minnesota will join New York in the final, the two teams are currently at 2-2 after Connecticut's success last night.
