After winning last year’s WNBA title over New York, the Las Vegas Aces mocked Liberty’s Breanna Stewart from their championship parade stage, frustrated that Stewart was voted MVP a season ago over their star, A’Ja Wilson.
Take a stab at one of the all-time greats at your own risk.
Stewart was the best player on the court for a long time Sunday, dropping 34 points on 12-of-19 shooting with five rebounds against the Aces, sparking the Liberty to an 83-73 Game 1 win at home in their semifinal series opener.
New York leads the best-of-five series 1-0, with Game 2 on Tuesday in Brooklyn.
“Unfortunately, I’ve had a lot of time to think about last year’s postseason…” Stewart said postgame. “How can I handle things collectively better?… Last time was not my proudest, but I will continue to be better now.”
Stewart showed off her positional play in this game, something few if any other WNBA stars can match. Usually a big who plays the 4/5, Stewart played this game in more of a point-forward role on the outside starting the offense and draining 3s. The Aces had no answer.
It wasn’t all Stewart. Sabrina Ionescu scored 21, including three 3-pointers that helped change the game.
Jonquel Jones matched up well with the Aces Wilson inside, scoring 13 points with a dozen rebounds. With Stewart more on the perimeter, Liberty was able to isolate Jones in places she wants the ball and it showed.
Kelsey Plum, who was a real problem for the Liberty in the Final of last season, scored 22 to lead Las Vegas. Wilson added 19 points with six rebounds and five assists, while Jackie Young scored 17.
This felt like a playoff game in New York with Spike Lee taking a bow – and jawing at Plum at points – and Tracy Morgan in the building.
New York came out pressing the ball out high, trying to slow Aces speed, not letting them get into their offense.
The Aces handled the pressure and shot 47.1% in the first quarter, but the Liberty offense caught fire behind Stewart’s 11 first-quarter points, it shot 68.8% and went on an 8-0 run at one point to take an 11- point lead. Las Vegas chipped away at that lead, but it was still 28-21 after one quarter and New York seemed in control.
Las Vegas responded to the defensive pressure in the second quarter, going on a 7-0 run of its own to make it a two-point game at one point. Stewart ended that run with an and-1 of his own and New York responded with an 8-0 run of its own, pushing the lead back out to as many as 12. That lead was 48-38 at the half, and the wildest. stat from the first 20 minutes was that the Aces were -17 with their MVP Wilson on the court.
Early in the third, New York stretched its lead to 18, but Las Vegas responded like a champ with a 12-0 run — fueled by Liberty turnovers — to make it a game again. But the Liberty answered – and that would be the theme of the game. Every time the Aces made a push, the Liberty pushed back harder. New York’s improved depth this season showed.
The pressure is on the defending champions now – go down 0-2 to this Liberty team on Tuesday in a best-of-five series and that will be too big a mountain to climb. Las Vegas must respond like champions and win.
Breanna Stewart will be ready for them.
