New York Liberty's guard Sabrina Ionescu (No. 20) celebrates after her team secured a series-clinching win over the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, according to the Associated Press.
The New York Liberty pulled off a remarkable victory over the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, winning 76-62 in Game 4 to secure their place in the WNBA Finals. Sabrina Ionescu bounced back from a rare off night, scoring 22 points to lead her team. This win was especially sweet for the Liberty, as the Aces had dashed their championship hopes last year. Now, New York is back in the finals for the sixth time, but they are still chasing their first WNBA title.
New York's victory wasn’t just about Ionescu. Breanna Stewart added 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Jonquel Jones chipped in with 14 points, despite spending much of the game in foul trouble. Leonie Fiebich also contributed 11 points. On the defensive end, the Liberty effectively shut down the Aces, breaking Las Vegas’s record 12-game home playoff winning streak.
For the Aces, A'ja Wilson stood out, delivering a strong performance with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocked shots. Kelsey Plum added 17 points, and Tiffany Hayes contributed 11, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Liberty’s charge. The Aces were aiming for history, hoping to win their third consecutive title, something that hasn’t been achieved since the Houston Comets' streak from 1997 to 2000. This loss, however, brought their dreams to an end.
The Liberty have dominated the Aces this season, winning six of their seven matchups, including playoffs. Now, with home-court advantage, New York is eagerly awaiting their opponent, which will either be the Connecticut Sun or the Minnesota Lynx.
In the other semifinal, the Connecticut Sun kept their championship hopes alive by beating the Minnesota Lynx, 82-77, forcing a decisive Game 5 in their series. Alyssa Thomas had an impressive all-around game for the Sun, scoring 18 points, handing out 11 assists, and grabbing eight rebounds. Ty Harris led Connecticut with 20 points, giving them the boost they needed to stay in the hunt.
The deciding game between the Sun and Lynx will be held on Tuesday night in Minnesota. The winner will face the Liberty in the finals, which start Thursday in New York. Minnesota, led by Napheesa Collier’s 29 points and 13 rebounds, fought hard but couldn’t close out the series. The Lynx already have one championship this season after beating the Liberty in the Commissioner’s Cup earlier in the year. Both teams are looking to add another title to their resumes, but only one will move on to face New York.
