Aces Stay Alive with a Dominant Game 3 Performance Over Liberty
The Las Vegas Aces showed their championship DNA in Game 3 against the New York Liberty, delivering a statement win to keep their season alive. After being on the brink of elimination, the defending champions came out firing on all cylinders, pulling off a convincing 95-81 victory. Coach Becky Hammon's team finally displayed the intensity and focus she had been calling for, particularly after their sluggish and disappointing Game 2 performance.
In this crucial matchup, the Aces' three starting guards—Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum, and Chelsea Gray—were in sync for the first time this series. Young led the charge with 24 points, Plum added 20, and Gray contributed 10 points along with seven assists. It was a much-needed comprehensive performance from the backcourt that helped them break away from the Liberty in the second half.
Also Read:- Seamus Casey Shines in New Jersey Devils' Global Series Debut
- VinFast VF 6 Shines at Better Choice Awards 2024, Winning "Best First-Time Car"
The first two quarters were a hard-fought battle, with a WNBA playoff-record 18 lead changes. However, the Aces exploded in the third quarter, outscoring the Liberty by a significant margin and building a lead that proved insurmountable. Coach Hammon called it "the most complete game of the season," a testament to the balanced effort that had been missing earlier in the series.
Defensively, Las Vegas was equally impressive. They effectively shut down Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu, holding her scoreless for the first three quarters and limiting her to just four points overall—her lowest output of the season. The Aces also flipped the script in the paint, outscoring the Liberty 42-28 inside, after having been dominated there in the first two games.
Despite a strong 19-point effort from Breanna Stewart, New York struggled to find a rhythm against the Aces' swarming defense. Hammon’s squad seemed to finally lock in, cutting down on turnovers and playing with the edge that had been absent at times throughout the playoffs.
The win breathes new life into the Aces, though they still face a steep climb to complete the comeback, down 2-1 in the best-of-five series. But for now, the defending champs have shown they aren’t ready to relinquish their title just yet, and they’ll return to the court with momentum for Game 4. As Jackie Young said, “We was waiting on that,”—and indeed, it feels like Las Vegas might have rediscovered their championship swagger just in time.
Read More:
0 Comments