The WNBA Finals kicked off Sunday (October 8) between the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty in Las Vegas, Nev. with the house workforce displaying off their champion type as they defend their title on this best-of-five collection. Whereas the primary half was aggressive and noticed the Liberty up by a handful, the Aces turned issues round within the second.
Coached by Becky Hammon, the Aces, led by guards Kelsey Plum, Jackie Younger, and Chelsea Grey, the Aces got here out the gate sluggish however managed to maintain the scoring of Liberty stars Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot below their typical output.
The play from the Aces trio stood out because the Liberty used a lot of their power making an attempt to comprise Aces energy ahead A’Ja Wilson, who scored 19 factors and hauled in 8 boards, permitting Younger to go off for 26 factors. Younger performed laborious all 94 ft and hindered the often productive Ionescu from a scoring explosion. Plum additionally scored 26, and Grey had 20 factors with a team-leading 9 assists.
On the opposite aspect of the ball, Breanna Stewart scored 21 with 9 rebounds, whereas Jonquel Jones had a double-double of 16 factors and 10. Ionescu scored 7 factors with 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello, main the workforce again to its first WNBA Finals look since 2002, harassed within the postgame press convention that her gamers must modify to the swarming protection of the Aces and reminded the reporters in tow that this isn’t typical New York basketball.
“We are able to clearly be taught loads from this and we will play higher,” Brondello mentioned. “That’s what we have now to recollect. We haven’t misplaced two in a row all season lengthy, and we’re going to know that we responded the suitable means. I belief these gamers.”
Due to the 2 marquee groups, the WNBA Finals attracted loads of star energy with LeBron James, Sheryl Swoopes, Mark Wahlberg, and Aces minority proprietor, Tom Brady all in attendance amongst others. The Brooklyn Nets additionally had a number of gamers in attendance akin to Ben Simmons and Mikal Bridges, proving that ladies’s basketball is rising in recognition within the States.
Recreation 2 of the WNBA Finals kicks off on Wednesday, October 11 in Las Vegas. The collection returns to New York on October 15.
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Picture: Getty
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