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The Aces win their second consecutive WNBA Championship

Heartbreaking loss for the Liberty. Congrats to the Aces on winning the 2023 WNBA Championship pic.twitter.com/aoUaOBF20T

— Sara Jane Gamelli (@SaraJGamelli) October 19, 2023

Game four of the WNBA Finals was intense, disappointing, and exciting all at the same time. New York Liberty fans were left heartbroken, while the Las Vegas Aces celebrated their triumph on New York's home court. In a low scoring affair, the Aces defeated the Liberty 70-69, which was a dogfight up until the final seconds.

With a one point victory, the Las Vegas Aces stormed the middle of the court in front of 16,000 plus New York Liberty fans. Having been there before, the Aces finally captured their second straight WNBA Championship. Las Vegas seized another trophy in what was the most watched game four in WNBA history. They did so without Chelsea Gray, Candace Parker, and Kiah Stokes, all out with foot injuries.

Through a rollercoaster of a season, the aces stated they've experienced adversity all season long. If there's one constant, it's been A'ja Wilson's brilliant play and determination to win.

You can really tell the Aces and A’ja Wilson are a tight group for real. It shows in all aspects. #wnba #WNBAFinals pic.twitter.com/CWSrdsdlsT

— Sara Jane Gamelli (@SaraJGamelli) October 19, 2023

"We kept the main thing, the main thing, and we remained focused through everything," told the press. "We weathered the storms, I think that's what I'm very happy about. They hit us with a big punch, and we came back harder."

Up 39-30 at halftime, New York never truly found their rhythm on either side of the ball. With the Aces starting Alysha Clark and Cayla George, the Liberty couldn't capitalize on the the loss of Gray and Stokes. No disrespect to Clark and George, but Chelsea Gray is not replaceable. Although Gray was sidelined on the bench, she remained vocal on the bench in leading her team. Don't let the Aces bench fool you, they are poised with professionals that were willing and ready to play.

Becky Hammon #wnba #wnba pic.twitter.com/AHnExHkeP3

— Sara Jane Gamelli (@SaraJGamelli) October 19, 2023

"This is probably the tightest group I've ever been around," said Aces coach Becky Hammon. "They're a special group, I don't know what else you can throw at them. All we did is buckle down and keep playing."

The New York Liberty were "highly disappointed"

The Liberty's ball movement wasn't fluid, and their shots simply weren't falling. Looking disheveled, New York shot just 26-72 (36.1 percent) from the field, and 9-26 (34.6 percent) from long range. Sabrina Ionescu finished with 13 points, and Betnijah Laney 15. The Most Valuable Player, Breanna Stewart finished with just 10 points and 14 rebounds on 3-17 (17.6 percent) shooting. Her 38 percent effective field-goal percentage was the lowest of any 10 game-game stretch in her career.

Despite such a successful season, and a franchise best 32-8 finish, the Liberty fell short of their championship desires.

Having experienced both winning and losing in the finals, Liberty guard Courtney Vandersloot stated their level of disappointment was "very high."

"It's hard to answer these questions right now because we're so disappointed, and it's such an emotional time," Vandersloot continued. "We're proud that we had the opportunity to play for a championship. It didn't go out way tonight. This is what we came here to do, we're trying to build a championship team. We are going to use this as a learning experience, you can only get better from here."

Vandersloot finished with a team high 19 points, 6 assists, and 7 rebounds on 50 % three-point shooting. Having struggled with her shot throughout the playoffs, Vandersloot very much kept the Liberty in the game tonight.

The New York Liberty's downfall has been losing leads in the third quarter, which is exactly what happened in game four. Las Vegas outscored New York 23-13, and held them to 25 percent shooting. Cayla George, an unlikely hero, made two key three pointers on four attempts. With the task of guarding Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart, George finished +1, 11 points, 3 steals, and four rebounds.

By the end of the third, the Aces were shooting 50 percent from the field, and 40 percent from three. A'ja Wilson made several shots over Jonquel Jones, who finished with just 6 points and 11 rebounds, in 33 minutes played.

It was a dogfight until the end

THE FINAL SECONDS THAT CROWNED THE @LVACES BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS pic.twitter.com/YhlV9rCzYb

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 19, 2023

Tied 64-64, the crowd remained intense and involved at the Barclay's Center. Down 70-64 with 1:12 to go, the Aces could taste another Championship victory. In a matter of seconds, guard Courtney Vandersloot made the most important three-pointer of the season, followed by steal and a Sabrina Ionescu made shot over Sydney Colson. Down 70-69 with 41.7 seconds remaining, Jonquel Jones had a momental block on A'ja Wilson, in which Courtney Vandersloot grabbed the unlikely defensive rebound.

At that moment, New York took a timeout with 8.8 seconds to go. With the season on the line, the Liberty had to score on the final posession. Alysha Clark on Stewart, the ball was passed to Betnijah Laney, guarded by Kelsey Plum, and onto Courtney Vandersloot. Less than 2 seconds left, Vandersloot badly missed a mid range shot which concluded the game. In a building that was once filled with an enormous amount of energy, it felt so lifeless.

Tune in to the #WNBAFinals Game 4 Post Game Presser https://t.co/3rhTYWDP7o

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 19, 2023

New York Liberty coach Sandy Brondello expressed her faith in putting the ball in the hands of Breanna Stewart. "I put the ball in the hands of the MVP because we trusted. It just didn't work out today. I'd still do it again, I still make that, that's the right call."

Alysha Clark, now a 3x WNBA Championship, dedicated the win to her late father. She had the game winning defensive stop against Stewart.

"He's been with me all season," Clark told Holly Rowe. "He's been by sixth man and I know he would be so happy right now. This is for him, this entire season, I showed up everyday because I know he loved watching me play."

Clark finished with 10 points, and 8 rebounds, on 4-7 shooting. Guards Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young combined for 23 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. The New York Liberty are still in search of their first WNBA Championship in franchise history.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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WNBA Finals - Game 4

Will the @nyliberty force a Game 5 or can the @LVAces defend their title and close out the series?

Find out tonight at 8pm/ET on ESPN as the #WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV continues pic.twitter.com/JyhUCuVtvi

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 18, 2023

The Liberty avoid elimination

Best out of five games, the New York Liberty found themselves in a 0-2 hole entering Sunday's matchup against the Las Vegas Aces.

The No. 1 seed Aces were undefeated in the playoffs, which changed in game three. The no. 2 seed Liberty changed up their defensive scheme, and hit their shots. It was a night and day difference compared to games one and two, in terms of energy displayed and gameplay.

New York secured a 87-73 must win victory over the Aces, in which every starter finished positive +/- on the floor. With fluid ball movement, the Liberty primarily used Sabrina Ionescu as the on ball distributor, who finished with 11 assists. Jonquel Jones continued her stellar play not only defensively, but offensively on the perimeter. Jones finished with a team hight 27 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks. Four of the Liberty starters finished with points in double figures, with the exception of Ionescu, who scored 9 points. Much different from the first two games, New York shot 33-63 (52.4 percent) from the field, and 13-30 (43.3 percent) from long range.

Defensively, the Liberty were brilliant. Off the gate, Sandy Brondello matched Breanna Stewart often on Chelsea Gray, and Jonquel Jones on A'ja Wilson. In the past, New York's inability to get stops on defense often left them struggling on offense. In game 3, the Liberty improved vastly on transition defense, and heavily guarded the perimeter. The Aces, the No. 1 team offensively, shot 23-69 (33.3 percent) from the floor, and 7-22 (31.8 percent) from long range.

No team has ever come back down 0-2

Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones continued to be a dynamic force on the defensive end. With five blocks combined, both were spectacular in trapping down below, and keeping up on pace on the outside. Aside Kelsey Plum with 29 points, A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young shot a combined 10-37 (27 percent) and 35 points. Aces guard Jackie Young had 26 and 24 points alone in games one and two. That should say a lot about the Liberty's grit and defense.

The Liberty looked much more like themselves in game 3. With another elimination game on the line, New York will have home court advantage for tonight's matchup. For Vegas, one more victory would seal their second consecutive WNBA Championship. With Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes out with injury, Becky Hammon will have the task of filling those roles tonight.

How to watch Game 4

In this article, I will break down the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, odds, and predictions. The matchup will begin at 8 p.m. ET, at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York. If you're betting on the WNBA and interested in watching, the game will air on ESPN.  For the best betting odds, stats and analysis, here is information to know.

WNBA Finals Odds Game 4: Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty

2023 WNBA Championship Odds

New York Liberty: +210

Las Vegas Aces: -290

WNBA Finals Remaining Schedule

Game 4 : Wed, Oct 18: Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty, 8 p.m. EDT, ESPN
Game 5 *: Fri, Oct 20: New York Liberty @ Las Vegas Aces, 9 p.m. EDT, ESPN

*If necessary

Season Statistics & Betting Trends

Las Vegas Aces

• LV Aces:?4-1 in?their last?5 games.
• 9-1 ?in their last?10 games.
• ATS Record: 21-19-0
• O/U Record: 24-16-0
• 2-3 ATS?in their last?5 games.
• 6-4 ATS?in their last?10 games.
• O/U?is 2-2-1 in the last?5 games.
• O/U:?5-4-1 in the last?10 games.
• 1st in Offensive Rating (113)
• 1st?in Offensive Rating in the Playoffs (110.5)
• 1st in Defensive Rating (97.7)
• 1st?in Defensive Rating in the Playoffs (93.3)
• 1st in Points Per Game (92.8)
• 2nd in Pace: 98.58
• Opponent Points Per Game: 80.3 (2nd)
• Three-Point Percentage: 37.2 % (2nd)
• Three-Point Percentage in the Playoffs:?37.4 % (3rd)
• Rebounds Per Game: 34.8 (5th)
• Rebounds Per Game in the Playoffs:?38.4(2nd)
• LV ATS won last 10 games:?Seattle (-20), Phoenix (-19), Chicago (-16, -17.5), Dallas (-10), New York (-4.5,-4.5),

The grind don't stop.#RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/qlp0AseXfl

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 17, 2023

New York Liberty

• New York Liberty: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
• 7-3 in their last?10 games.
• ATS Record: 19-21-0
• O/U Record: 23-17-0
• 2-3 ATS?in their last?5 games.
• 4-6 ATS?in their last?10 games.
• O/U?is?4-1 in the last?5 games.
• O/U: 9-1 in the last 10 games.
• 2nd in Offensive Rating (109.6)
• 3rd?in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (105.6)
• 3rd in Defensive Rating (99.4)
• 4th?in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (106.6)
• 2nd in Points Per Game (89.2)
• 5th in Pace: 96.56
• Opponent Points Per Game: 80.6 (4th)
• Three-Point Percentage: 37.4 (1st)
• Three-Point Percentage playoffs:?32.9 % (4th)
• Rebounds Per Game: 37.9 (2nd)
• Rebounds Per Game playoffs: 36.4 (5th)
• New York ATS won last 10 games:?Washington (-9.5), Connecticut (-4), Las Vegas (+7.5, +1.5)

“No retreat, no surrender” @sabrina_i20 & @SBrondello gave us mic’d up gold in the @nyliberty Game 3 win! pic.twitter.com/Gh0nN4Hl2r

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 17, 2023

New York Liberty -5.5 (-114)

The last time I picked the Liberty to cover the spread, they got crushed by 28 points. Now, game four is a much different story, and the Liberty will have the energy of their home crowd once again tonight.

You never liked to see injuries in any sport, especially on the biggest stage. What makes this matchup so special, is the monumental talent on both sides. With Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes out with foot injuries, it will be virtually impossible to replace both. Chelsea Gray is the heart and soul of the team, and the primary on ball distributor for the Aces. Averaging 15 points, 7.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in the series, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young will take over facilitating duties for Las Vegas. Kiah Stokes isn't much of a producer offensively, but she is a key player on defense and rebounds.

The Aces are plagued with injuries

The Aces will sill have a core trio of A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young, and Kelsey Plum. Through three playoff matchups against the Liberty, Wilson, Young, and Plum are averaging a combined 59.4 points combined. The Aces will have two voids to fill, and were ranked last in the season in bench points per game.

Becky Hammon will most likely rely on Cayla George and Sydney Colson, who averaged a combined 4.1 points in the regular season. If A'ja Wilson matches up with Breanna Stewart, George will have the task of guarding either Jones or Stewart. In the post season, she's averaged 0.3 points in 2.6 minutes of gameplay. Kierstan Bell will certainly see minutes at guard tonight as well.

Why New York will cover

The Liberty have all the momentum heading into game four, after playing in front of a record breaking 17,000 + fans last game. The loss of two players is crushing for an Aces team, who's been without Candace Parker since July. Unless the Liberty completely collapse, these will be two lopsided teams tonight. Not to take anything away from the Aces bench, they haven't been tasked with this matchup, and haven't played close to 40 minutes all playoffs.

Since it's the playoffs, I don't want to come outright and say this play is free. The Liberty will have a massive advantage with the injuries on the other side, and will certainly have the upside. With New York's adjustments on defense, they learned how to defend the guards, and even A'ja Wilson. With several improvements on both sides of the ball, I like New York +5.5 here.

Jonquel Jones over 17.5 Points (-134)

JJ put on show for the city with her 27 PT performance in game 3 pic.twitter.com/IHLTMVei2p

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 15, 2023

Season Stats?PPG:?11.3?| FG:?52.7 %?| 3 PT:?35.2 %?| FT:?86.3 %?| REB:?8.4?| AST:?1.8?| STL:?0.6 | BLK:?1.3

Playoff Stats:?PPG:?18.2?| FG:?57.3 %?| 3 PT:?33.3 %?| FT:?78.7 %?| REB:?11.7?| AST:?1.8?|STL:?0.7 |?BLK: 2.3

Playoff stats vs LV:?PPG:?21?| FG:?63.2 %?| 3 PT:?38.5 %?| FT:?76.9 %?| REB:?9.3?| AST:?1.3?| STL:?1 |?BLK: 2.7

Jonquel Jones has easily been the MVP for the Liberty in the second half of the season, and into the playoffs. An explosive player on both sides, Jones is averaging 18.2 points, 2.3 blocks, and 11.7 rebounds in nine playoff games. A player that can stretch the floor, Jones can hit the outside shot, and is shooting around 33 percent from long range. In three playoff matchups against the Aces, Jones is averaging an incredible 21 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2.7 blocks on 63 percent field goal and 38.5 percent three point shooting.

When the Liberty couldn't find any sort of offense the first two games, New York always had that spark from Jones. A master defensively, Jones has been a fierce staple in protecting the rim, specifically A'ja Wilson. Now that she's found her outside shot fluidly, The Jones matchup should be a nightmare for the Aces once again tonight. She's had points in double digits in all 9 playoff games, including 8 double-doubles. With the absense of Kiah Stokes, I expect Jonquel Jones to feast on the mismatches below.

Why this prop will hit

Jonquel Jones has scored over 17.5 points in 6 out of the last ten games, and three of the last five. With an elimination game on the line, look for Jonquel to put her body on the line, and play her best at the Barclays. If there's any prop I trust, It's Jonquel Jones over points.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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Breaking: Las Vegas Aces Kiah Stokes and Chelsea Gray will be out for Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, head coach Becky Hammon announced.

Both have foot injuries and are questionable for Game 5 (if necessary). pic.twitter.com/8x1YqRB0xi

— ESPN (@espn) October 17, 2023

The Aces are once again plagued by injuries

The Las Vegas Aces command a 2-1 series lead, and remain one win away from capturing their second consecutive WNBA Championship. The best-of-five, the Aces are once again hindered by injuries. This time, both Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes are suffering from foot injuries. Already missing Candace Parker with a foot fracture, the Aces are filled with the task of filling multiple voids on the biggest stage of the year. They've also been without Riquna Williams, who was arrested on domestic battery charges earlier this year.

Chelsea Gray, the 2022 Finals MVP, is the heart and soul of the Aces team. Nicknamed the "Point Gawd," Gray is one of the most prolific point guards to ever play the position. She's often the most vocal in timeouts, and can be seen drawing up plays for her team. Without her, Las Vegas will be missing their facilitator and the engine that makes the team run. She was seen with a boot on her left foot, along with a scooter at Tuesday's practice at the Barclays Center.

Chelsea Gray says her teammates will respond without her. ?@LVAces? pic.twitter.com/8ML6hvYSix

— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) October 17, 2023

Gray is certainly a leading factor in this Finals series. In three postseason matchups against the Liberty, Gray is averaging 15 points, 5 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.3 steals. An x-factor in games one and two, Gray is shooting 37.5 percent from three-point range through three games. In the first two matchups, Chelsea was facilitating like no other, and hitting incredibly high contested shots. Gray, originally hurt on a play guarding Breanna Stewart, was visibly seen in pain, hobbling on one foot to the locker room.

THE STEAL, THE DIME

Chelsea Gray is putting on a show in the #WNBAFinals pic.twitter.com/ynxyOA5ziY

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 12, 2023

Kiah Stokes has been Candace Parker's replacement since her injury in July. Although Stokes isn't a large presence on the offense, she remains an integral part of the defense. Stokes is averaging 2.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2 assists in the Finals matchups against New York. Not appearing injured in game three, Stokes stated she "can't really tell you what happened, but my foot kind of hurts."

Becky Hammon weighs in: "Next woman up"

"They will both be out for game 4," Becky Hammon said at Tuesday's practice. When asked about Stokes and Gray's status for game 5, Hammon stated that "it's questionable." Stokes was seen on crutches during Tuesday's practice in Brooklyn.

"They both have foot injuries," said Hammon. "It's the next woman up. Everybody's gonna get a crack, everybody's gonna get a shot, probably-- Everybody just has to be ready to go, locked in."

Hammon later joked she would stick Sydney Colson at the backpack position, and stick her on Jonquel Jones.

Aces will use a committee

Becky Hammon stated the Aces will run by committee after game three, although it's clear not one player can replace Gray. Las Vegas will most likely look to Sydney Colson and Cayla George to replace Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes. The Aces ranked last in the regular season in terms of bench points per game (13.5). Thin at multiple positions, Becky Hammon has primarily relied on a six player rotation.

The Aces typically run a three guard lineup, which will allow Kelsey Plum to step up at point guard.

Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young will run the point

"We just shuffle KP [Kelsey Plum] over and Jackie [Young] will get some duties," Hammon told the press after game three. " Maybe we see Syd [Colson]. We do it by committee. I don't think there's any one person that's going to step up and fill her [Chelsea Gray] shoes. It's going to be a next woman up type scenario. Not one person is going to replace her, just everybody steps up and does a little bit more."

The Aces have vocalized they have battled adversity, and it hasn't just been in the postseason. "We bounce back from adversity all year, " said Hammon after game 3. "You either stay down or you get up. I know this group will get up."

The Aces will matchup against the Liberty for Game 4 of the WNBA Finals on October 18 in Brooklyn.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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Liberty defeat the aces 87-73 in game 3#wnba pic.twitter.com/PvEzgYhqo3

— Sara Jane Gamelli (@SaraJGamelli) October 15, 2023

New York avoids elimination at home

The @nyliberty take Game 3 as they defeat the Aces, 87-73 #WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/67YnY6dzqE

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 15, 2023

Down 0-2 in the WNBA Finals, the New York Liberty knew they had one task on Sunday, and that was to win game 3. In front of their home crowd, they did so with grit, determination, and preposterous defense. With a 87-73 victory over the Aces, New York earned their first Finals win since September 1999, which was 24 years ago. Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello expressed the importance of not putting too much pressure on themselves, and letting emotions get the best of her team.

"It's all about action now," Brondello told the press. "It's not about emotions, and making sure we stay connected and committed---It's just us taking some pride, just go out there and play as hard as you can. Leave everything on the table, don't look back and say what if."

And with confidence, the Liberty did just that. New York started on a 11-2 run, in which Betnijah Laney tipped the ball in off a Breanna Stewart missed three. With the Barclays Center as loud as I've ever heard it, the Liberty were playing with poise. Unlike the first two games, New York were hitting their shots, including three-pointers made from Jonquel Jones. With the season on the line, New York switched up matchups, and improved vastly on transition defense.

No team has come back 0-2, “why not us?”

Sabrina Ionescu post game #WNBAFinals #LIGHTITUPNYL pic.twitter.com/A0WVtQep7x

— Sara Jane Gamelli (@SaraJGamelli) October 15, 2023

The Liberty found their shot again

In the first ten minutes, the Liberty forced the Aces to turn the ball over 4 times, in which they responded with 6 fast break points. Spacing, along with fluid ball movement, and shot selection were all determinants in game 3. Their 13 made three-pointers tie a franchise post season record.

All five Liberty starters finished positive +/- on the floor, compared to the Aces, all negative. With the shots falling, Betnijah Laney finished with 12 points (5-8), Breanna Stewart with 20 points (8-16), and Courtney Vandersloot with 12 points (5-10). Less hesitant to shoot this game, Vandersloot started to acquire her confidence back. New York finished the game with 87 points on 33-63 (52.4 percent) field goal shooting, and 8-16 (50 percent) from three-point range. The leading team in three-point percentage, the Liberty have struggled greatly beyond the perimeter in the playoffs.

Sabrina Ionescu was the ultimate facilitator

Sab with the no-look dime to Stewie pic.twitter.com/N74pVHkEG5

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 15, 2023

Admitting the Liberty felt "defeated" after the first two games, Sabrina Ionescu simply stated her team "believes in one another."

"It's really easy after those first two games in Vegas to be defeated," Ionescu continued. "To come out tonight, and not play for anything in particular. To be able to see our response, us come together, believe in one another."

No team has ever come back from a 0-2 deficit to win a Championship in WNBA history.

With their backs against the wall, Ionescu admitted the Liberty have that "understanding that no team has ever done what they are trying to do now." "Why not us? " said Ionescu. "We believe in one another, we continue to put one foot in front of another, and understand it's all part of the process. We gotta come and protect home court on Wednesday as well."

Aggressive early on the offensive end, Ionescu was a key factor in distributing the ball. Her no look dimes were crisp and No.20 passed up several shots, instead creating easier baskets for her teammates. Both Ionescu and Jones connected on several occasions, especially with the pick and roll. In 35 minutes, Ionescu finished with 9 points, 11 assists, and 2 blocks, on 3-9 (33 percent) field goal shooting. Having struggled on both ends of the ball, Sabrina played as efficient as we've ever seen her defensively, especially on Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young. In this series, New York's backcourt has vastly struggled against Aces guards Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and Kelsey Plum in the series.

Chelsea Gray suffered a foot injury

With Plum consistent on offensive this series, #10 had another 20 + point night. New York's defensive shift played a monumental role in the decrease in production between Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young. Two players who torched the Liberty through games one and two, combined for 19 points, on 6-21 (28 percent) field goal shooting. Even worse, the two guards shot a total 1-6 from three-point range. Halfway through the fourth quarter, Chelsea Gray suffered a foot injury, which will keep her out of contention for game four. You never like to see injuries, especially when it comes to the big stage.

New York changed their defensive approach

JJ GOT THAT DAWG IN ‘ER @jus242 pic.twitter.com/Imitz13JMk

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 15, 2023

The New York Liberty have been here before. Their defense has cranked it up, especially in game two of the regular season, and the Commissioners Cup. The defensive scheme New York used against Connecticut and Washington simply wasn't working against Vegas.

With the Aces having high production on both the weak and strong side of the ball, New York's zone defense created opportunities for the opposition. This time around, New York created traps, and constantly picked up around the perimeter and screens. The Liberty held the Aces to just 33.3 percent field goal, and 31.8 percent three point shooting. They had a game high 23 free-throw attempts, in which the Aces made 20.

Typically, we've seen Breanna Stewart matched up with A'ja Wilson and Alysha Clark off the bench. Games one and two, Kiah Stokes was responsible for guarding Jonquel Jones, and is an anchor defensively for Vegas. In this matchup, New York came out with a much different defensive scheme, often pairing Breanna Stewart on Chelsea Gray, and Jonquel Jones on A'ja Wilson. With two stretch bigs, both Stewart and Jones were able to keep up on the perimeter, as well as on the inside.

The Liberty held the Aces to 10 third point quarters, which is a post season low.

The Block party

The @nyliberty defense is strong @breannastewart with the BIG TIME block in the 3Q

ABC | #WNBAFinals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/3z2Eefh8QM

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 15, 2023

Buckets didn't come easy for Vegas in game 3. Knowing this was a "do or die" situation, New York essentially shut down their passing lanes, limiting the Aces to just 13 assists on 23 shot attempts. Defensively, New York had 8 blocks-- 3 from Jonquel Jones, 2 from Breanna Stewart, 2 from Sabrina Ionescu, and 1 from Courtney Vandersloot. Stewart on Gray forced her to take tough shots, many in which didn't fall. The Liberty knew how to trap Wilson on several occasions, which was their intent. Aside from Plum, the Aces had trouble generating their offense. New York limited A'ja Wilson to 16 points on 4-16 (25 percent) free-throw shooting, which is highly uncharacteristic for Wilson.

The Liberty's true x-factor

When Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb acquired Jonquel Jones, he knew she had extensive playoff experience. Yes, Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot, and Stefanie Dolson all have Championships. Jonquel Jones is in her second consecutive finals, and has more experience than any player on the team. Through the backend of the season and the playoffs, Jones has easily been the most reliable, dominant player for New York. She was the Commissioner's Cup MVP, and lately has shown how valuable she really is.

"Her teammates trust her, I trust her," said Coach Brondello.

"We pride ourselves on screening as post players," Jonquel Jones told the media. "That's one of the things that we talked about coming into these games that we can do better. Just making sure to hit them, make sure they felt us with the screens, and then rolling and getting open. "

I noticed Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones were setting much stronger screens for both Courtney Vandersloot and Sabrina Ionescu. This opened up the flow of offensive, and the ability to drive to the basket and facilitate.

Jonquel Jones has been ELITE

JJ put on show for the city with her 27 PT performance in game 3 pic.twitter.com/IHLTMVei2p

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 15, 2023

Through playoff 9 games, Jones is averaging 18.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks, on 57.3 percent field goal shooting. In the postseason, Jones leads in total rebounds (105), and Blocks (21). She's third in total points (162), behind A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. In three playoff matchups against the Aces, No. 35 is averaging 21 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks. A player that can stretch the floor, Jones is shooting an incredible 63.2 percent from the field, and nearly 40 percent from long-range. For an Aces lineup that plays small (three guards), Jones has been able to take advantage of the mismatches below. Jonquel finished with a team high 27 points 10-15 (66.7) percent shooting from the field. Just short of a another double-double, Jones had 3 blocks, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Jonquel Jones is playing on an elite level, and the duo of Jones and Stewart was spectacular defensively. Only averaging over just 1 made three-pointer a game, Jones found her stride, and was locked in last matchup.

If there's anyone I trust in the playoffs, It's Jonquel Jones. At 6 foot 7, Jones has been the glue that's kept the Liberty's season alive. Both Jones and Stewart will be the keys to protecting the rebounds, and dominating inside the paint.

The New York Liberty will matchup against the Las Vegas Aces for game 4 of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday. Again, the Liberty will be facing another elimination game.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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The No.1 seed Las Vegas Aces will travel to face the No. 2 seed New York Liberty for game three of the WNBA Finals Sunday afternoon.

The Las Vegas Aces remain undefeated, and cruised to a 2-0 over the New York Liberty in the WNBA Finals. The reigning champions, led by Becky Hammon, look to be the first team to win consecutive titles since the 2002 Los Angeles Sparks. Over two games, the Aces have completely dominated the series in several statistical categories.

With a 45 point differential, Las Vegas leads New York in rebounds, assists, and steals. With monumental performances by their core four, the Aces are shooting an astounding 53.7 percent from then field, and 43.1 percent from long range. They are the first team in history to shoot 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from three in consecutive finals games.

The New York Liberty will have home court advantage tomorrow, and game four if necessary. No team has ever come back 0-2 in the finals to win the series, and the chances are slim for New York. The Liberty won the regular season series 3-1, and finished a franchise best 32-8 during the regular season. The Aces finished a 34-6, the best start in WNBA history.

How to watch Game 3

In this article, I will break down the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, odds, and predictions. The matchup will begin at 3 p.m. ET, at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York. If you're betting on the WNBA and interested in watching, the game will air on?ESPN. ?For the best betting odds, stats and analysis, here is information to know.

WNBA Finals Odds Game 3: Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty

2023 WNBA Championship Odds

WNBA Finals Remaining Schedule

Game 3: Sun, Oct 15: Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty, 3 p.m. EDT, ABC
Game 4 *: Wed, Oct 18: Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty, 8 p.m. EDT, ESPN
Game 5 *: Fri, Oct 20: New York Liberty @ Las Vegas Aces, 9 p.m. EDT, ESPN

*If necessary

Season Statistics & Betting Trends

Las Vegas Aces

• LV Aces: 5-0 in their last 5 games.
• 10-0 in their last 10 games.
• ATS Record: 21-19-0
• O/U Record: 24-16-0
• 3-2 ATS in their last 5 games.
• 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games.
• O/U is 3-1-1 in the last 5 games.
• O/U: 6-3-1 in the last 10 games.
• 1st in Offensive Rating (113)
• 3rd in Offensive Rating in the Playoffs (113)
• 1st in Defensive Rating (97.7)
• 1st in Defensive Rating in the Playoffs (91)
• 1st in Points Per Game (92.8)
• 2nd in Pace: 98.58
• Opponent Points Per Game: 80.3 (2nd)
• Three-Point Percentage: 37.2 % (2nd)
• Three-Point Percentage in the Playoffs: 38.1 % (3rd)
• Rebounds Per Game: 34.8 (5th)
• Rebounds Per Game in the Playoffs: 39 (2nd)
• LV ATS won last 10 games: Seattle (-20), Phoenix (-19), Chicago (-16, -17.5), Dallas (-10), New York (-4.5,-4.5)

https://t.co/RIOl2ZuVcR

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 13, 2023

New York Liberty

• New York Liberty: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
• 6-4 in their last 10 games.
• ATS Record: 19-21-0
• O/U Record: 23-17-0
• 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.
• 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games.
• O/U is 5-0 in the last 5 games.
• O/U: 9-1 in the last 10 games.
• 2nd in Offensive Rating (109.6)
• 3rd in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (105.1)
• 3rd in Defensive Rating (99.4)
• 4th in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (108.4)
• 2nd in Points Per Game (89.2)
• 5th in Pace: 96.56
• Opponent Points Per Game: 80.6 (4th)
• Three-Point Percentage: 37.4 (1st)
• Three-Point Percentage playoffs: 31.5% (5th)
• Rebounds Per Game: 37.9 (2nd)
• Rebounds Per Game playoffs: 36.6 (5th)
• New York ATS won last 10 games: Washington (-9.5), Connecticut (-4)

Home. pic.twitter.com/VmWwkdOmbr

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 14, 2023

Over 172.5 total points

With game three on Sunday, our experts will provide you with the best predictions, analysis, and statistics.

The Las Vegas Aces will take on the New York Liberty in the Big Apple on Sunday. Despite losing the first two matchups against Vegas, the over totals hit in both games. As much as I want to take New York +3 at home, I am much more confident in the point total.

In the regular season, the Aces had a totals record 24-16-0, and the Liberty 23-17-0. The over is 7-3 in their last ten matchups, including the Finals. With matchups against Connecticut and Washington, New York went over on totals in 8 of 9 games, including five straight games. For the Aces, they hit over totals in two games against New York, and have a 3-3-1 record in the postseason.

The best record in August, and since the All-Star break, the Liberty are playing unimpressive and uncharacteristic . Through 40 regular season games, both Las Vegas and New York were the top two offensive teams, as well as defensively. Both squads were top two in three point percentage, field goal, percentage, points scored, assists, and free-throw percentage. Even with the Liberty playing at their worst, the over has hit every time.

The Liberty will have a fighting chance at home for game three, after averaging just 78 points a game on 40.7 percent field goal shooting. With the over undefeated in the last five games, the Liberty are also 6-0 in their last six against Western Conference Teams. The over is 4-1 in their last five home games, and and 3-1 in their last four playoff games at home. The Aces have a 19-7 record on the road, favoring the over.

Why over points will hit

With the Aces playing as well as they have, not one team has been able to defeat them in the playoffs. In two home playoff matches against New York, the Aces averaged 101.5 points, on 53.7 percent field goal shooting. For the Liberty, it's been quite a different story.

In a must win game, New York will have to step it up on both sides of the ball. With their offense struggling greatly, the Liberty have still managed to nearly score 80 points. With Vegas dropping 99 and 104 points on the Liberty, I expect a slight decline in offensive numbers. The Aces have three players who averaged 20 plus points in the first two games, and I'm sure plenty of offense will be there.

Overall, I expect more from New York offensively, especially from Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart. A much anticipated high energy crowd at the Barclays, I expect this squad to bounce back, at least offensively. With such a short spread, New York has lost each game by 17 points or more. After two games, none of which were tight, I'll stick with the over for game three.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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The Las Vegas Aces are ELITE

The @LVAces set a new WNBA Finals 1Qscoring record with 38 PTS #WNBAFinals | @YouTubeTV | #PhantomCam pic.twitter.com/zXteyNft6z

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 12, 2023

No Candace Parker? No problem for the Aces.

Unable to regroup after a devastating game one loss, the Liberty looked unrecognizable as the Aces torched New York in game two of the WNBA Finals. Las Vegas started the game on a 27-7 run, and finished with a WNBA Finals record 38 points in the first quarter. The Aces defeated the Liberty 104-76, bringing them one step closer to another WNBA Championship. After dropping two consecutive losses for the first time this season, the Liberty are on the brink of elimination.

Through the first ten minutes, the Aces shot 14-20 on 70 percent field goal, and 6-10, 60 percent three-point shooting. It all started with Kelsey Plums step back three-pointer over Sabrina Ionescu, and ended with Chelsea Gray's mid range shot. The Liberty often looked disheveled on defense, allowing Kiah Stokes to shoot a wide open three-pointers in the corner. Stokes, primarily a defensive juggernaut for the Aces, had 5 points alone in the first, and 8 total. She's averaged only 2.2 points in the regular season.

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The Liberty couldn't punch first

New York looked lifeless, and missed their first three shots to start the first quarter. Slow in transition defense, Las Vegas was able to known down three pointers, and attack inside. With a 19-2 lead, the Aces were able to capitlize on several possession where New York couldn't hit their shots. The Liberty finished the first quarter with 19 points on 30 percent field goal, and 20 percent three-point shooting. Breanna Stewart led the way with 7 points and 3 rebounds.

Speaking of transition defense, Coach Brondello noticed some deja vu in game two. "We talked about transition defense," Brondello continued. "No one was matched up with anyone. Our guards struggled out there tonight, their guards could do whatever they wanted."

New York hardly looked like the Liberty team that finished a franchise best 32-8 to end the season. Their offensive and defensive schemes were out of rhythm, leaving them unable to bounce back from such a large deficit. "I think it's disappointing, said Breanna Stewart of defeat. " We still have a lot of basketball to be played. This is the Finals and there's no reason why we shouldn't be ready to go from the start of the game to the start of the third quarter. As frustrating as it is, we still have an opportunity."

Jonquel Jones takes over the second quarter

Ballin' at its finest, @jus242 is gettin' buckets #WNBAFinals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/DQQlrEwTO5

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 12, 2023

New York had a collosal second quarter, in which they outscored Las Vegas 28-13. The offense primarily flowed through Jonquel Jones, who put up 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Jones finished with a team high 22 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks. Outside of Jonquel, New York's offense looked relatively stagnant, and comatose. New York's backcourt continued to struggle, with Ionescu and Vandersloot shooting a combined 1-9. Jones utilized her size and mismatches, in which she accounted for 64 percent of the Liberty's offense in the second quarter.

"We haven't taken steps forward, no we haven't shown it," said Liberty coach Sandy Brondello. "We're disappointed, very disappointed because we're way better team than what we showed. We're better, We're better than this. The challenge is to go home and to win on Sunday."

With fluid ball movement, the Aces often caught the Liberty collapsing inside the paint, which opened up opportunities on the outside. Chelsea Gray was incredibly accurate, hitting several improbably shots before the shot clock expired. Gray, finished with 14 points and 11 assists on the night, which marks her second on the All-Time Finals Assists leaderboard.

A'ja Wilson is playing at an MVP level

A'ja Wilson had a MONSTER performance in game 2 of the WNBA Finals#WNBATwitter pic.twitter.com/20U9blasn3

— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) October 12, 2023

Defensive Player of the year and 2x WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson scored a team high 26 points and 15 rebounds. Jackie Young had another monumental game, finishing with 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Their core four, Wilson, Young, Plum, and Gray combined for 95 points, hardly missing any shots. The Aces are the only team in WNBA history to shoot at least 50 percent from the field, and 40 percent on three-pointers in consecutive games. That in itself should show the level of eliteness on this team. In fact, they are the only team in history to have three players score 20 points in two finals games.

is continuing to prove how elite she really is. She led the team in Points, Rebounds, and Blocks, for the second time in her Finals Career. She joins her opponent Jonquel Jones, as well as Lisa Lesley, as the only players to accomplish that stat line. In prime season form, Wilson was an automatic bucket from mid range last night.

Defended The @_ajawilson22: 26 PTS // 15 REB // 63% FG@JackieYoung3: 24 PTS // 8 REB // 4 AST // 56% FG@Kelseyplum10: 23 PTS // 8 AST // 3 STL // 5 3PM@cgray209: 14 PTS // 6 REB // 11 AST // 43% FG@kstokes41: 8 PTS // 7 REB // 2 3PM#RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/6kXhQ1QO4h

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 12, 2023

The Las Vegas Aces continued their dominance through the third quarter. Outscoring the Liberty 28-13, New York shot just 31.2 percent from the field. Both Young and Wilson combined for 21 points, which both players compiled several "and ones" at the line. Young especially used her size advantage with Sabrina Ionescu when driving to the basket.

"They are the real deal, said Hammon. They're the real deal. I could really go down the whole list. Their competitiveness and their fight for each other. They're a real team, they're a real team."

In an offensive showdown, the Aces finished the night on 52.9 percent field goal shooting, and 44.8 percent from long range. Their players each had points in double figures, and the lead ballooned to 32 points. Unable to stop the bleeding, the Liberty simple couldn't play to the standards of the Aces. Las Vegas is the first team in WNBA history to average 100 points, 40 rebounds, and 30 assists in a single finals game.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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Tonight, is game two of the WNBA Finals between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces. With a game one victory, the Aces will look to take a series commanding 2-0 lead. In a tough matchup on the road, the Liberty will face an Aces team who are undefeated in the postseason. With 32 All-Star selections combined in the two teams, there are plenty of player prop bets to look at for tonight. Here, you will find the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, player prop bets and predictions for tonight.

Jackie Young under 19 Points

26 PTS
5 REBS
4 ASTS
3 STLS

Jackie Young FLEXED on the New York Liberty pic.twitter.com/akvZlhCNCO

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 8, 2023

Season Stats?PPG:?17.6?| FG:?52.3 %?| 3 PT:?44.9 %?| FT:?86.7 %?| REB:?4?| AST:?3.8?| STL:?1.3?| BLK:?0.1

Playoff Stats:?PPG:?17?| FG:?39.7 %?| 3 PT:?45.9 %?| FT:?88.5 %?| REB:?6.2?| AST:?4.8?|STL:?2 |?BLK: 0.2

Season Stats vs New York:?PPG:?17.8?| FG:?58.5 %?| 3 PT:?57.9 %?| FT:?100 %?| REB: 3?| AST:?4?| STL:?0.8 |?BLK:0

Jackie Young was a star in game one

Jackie Young stole the spotlight in game one of the the WNBA Finals. Young, 26, had a Playoff-Career High 26 points on 60 percent field goal, and 62.5 percent three-point shooting. Not only did she put on a show, Young became just the fifth player to have 25 points and five made three pointers in WNBA history. Drafted first overall by the Aces in 2019, Jackie Young has developed into a sniper beyond the perimeter. Shooting over 44 percent is absurd, but 62 percent? Her performance in game one was brilliant.

No. 0 has morphed into one of the best finishers in the league, along with her stellar shooting. I do think she will come back down to earth in game two. With three other All-Stars on the Aces, the probability of Young reliving her improbable game one performance is rather low. One of the most consistent players in the league, Young is averaging just over 17 points per game in the playoffs, similar to the regular season. In four regular season matchups against New York, the guard averaged 17.8 points on 57.9 three point shooting.

If you're betting on this prop, over 19 points hit just one time in the playoffs, and that was against the Liberty last game. Over points hit just two times in ten games, and one in five games. In fact, this prop hit just over 30 percent this season, and two of eight games in July.

Why Jackie Young will score under 19 points

Ironically, Young had her most efficient scoring games on the road rather than at home. On the road, the guard averaged just over 18 points a game, compared to 16.5 at home. In fact, Young had her least productive games scoring games coming off rest days. In nine games on two days rest, Jackie averaged a season low 15.2 points on 45.1 percent field goal shooting. Similarly, Young only averages roughly 14.5 points on two days rest this postseason.

In five regular season matchups against the Liberty, including the Commissioners Cup, Jackie Young scored over 19 points in just one game. If anything, I like Jackie Young over rebounds tonight rather than points. Post game, the Liberty stated the guards [Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum] had too many looks at the basket. Plum, along with Young, scored 29 points on 19 field goal attempts. With Sabrina Ionescu mostly guarding Young last matchup, look for head coach Sandy Brondello to stop the bleeding tonight.

The Finals is the best out of five, and coach Becky Hammon will need every ounce of energy from her six player rotation. Look for Jackie to take a step back tonight in terms of points scored.

Breanna Stewart O 21 Points

Stew York City pic.twitter.com/f0eXDZJQk5

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 8, 2023

Season Stats?PPG:?23?| FG:?46.5 %?| 3 PT:?35.5 %?| FT:?85.1 %?| REB:?9.3?| AST:?3.8?| STL:?1.5?| BLK:?1.5

Playoff Stats:?PPG:?20?| FG:?36.5 %?| 3 PT:?21.2 %?| FT:?91.7 %?| REB:?9?| AST:?2.7?|STL:?1 |?BLK: 2.4

Season Stats vs Las Vegas:?PPG:?18?| FG:?35.6 %?| 3 PT:?22.2 %?| FT:?87.5 %?| REB:?7.5?| AST:?4.8?| STL:?1.8 |?BLK: 2.3

Breanna Stewarts is not a stranger to the finals

Liberty forward Breanna Stewart was named MVP for a reason. A 2x WNBA Champion and 4x NCAA Champion, Stewart shines in the brightest moments. Stewart undeniably struggled this post season, specifically against the Washington Mystics and the Connecticut Sun. In some of her least efficient shooting games, Stewart often finished with over 20 points scored.

In game one of the WNBA Finals, Stewie [Stewart] led New York with 21 points and 9 rebounds on 8-19 and 1-4 (25 percent) three-point shooting. Breanna Stewart scored over 21.5 points three of the last five games, including game one, and two wins over Connecticut. Hitting over 55 percent this season, over 21.5 points scored hit six of the last 10 games. Although Breanna Stewart scored over points just once in four regular season matchups, there's no stage brighter to shine than the WNBA Finals.

I mentioned before that Stewart tends to hit her scoring props even on a terrible shooting night. For example, No. 30 finished with 27 points in game two against Washington on 9-25 field goal shooting. With her tall, slender frame, Stewart excels at drawing fouls, and had eight free-throw attempts that matchup.

Stewart, the MVP, averaged just over 23 points per game this season. In four matchups against the Aces, the Liberty start averaged 18 points on 35.6 field goal percentage. On the road, Breanna was limited to just 14.5 points in two games in Vegas. Conversely, she averaged 22.6 points on 45.2 field goal shooting on two days of rest.

Why Breanna Stewart will score over 21 points tonight

They often say the regular season isn't an entire projection of the playoffs, which is somewhat true in Breanna Stewarts case. In seven playoff games, she's had improved games on the road, averaging 24.3 points on 48.3 percent shooting. In those matchups, No. 30 is averaging nearly 40 minutes a game, and 19.6 field goal attempts per game. Over 21 points seems like a steal for a player averaging close to full playing time and nearly 20 shot attempts per game.

In seven postseason games, Stewart ranks second in minutes played (271) and first in field goal attempts (137). Behind A'ja Wilson, she ranks second in free-throw attempts, with 36 in the playoffs. Although the Liberty are comprised of a magnitude of talent, look for Breanna Stewart to be on the court at all times tonight.

Breanna Stewart should have another tough matchup against defensive player of the year, A'ja Wilson tonight. If and when Wilson will get a rest, Alysha Clark will have the honor of guarding Stewie. If she can hit her notorious mid range shots, and get to the line, I have full confidence this prop will hit tonight.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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WNBA Finals Odds Game 2: New York Liberty @ Las Vegas Aces

2023 WNBA Championship Odds

WNBA Finals Schedule

Game 2: Wed, Oct 11: New York Liberty @ Las Vegas Aces, 9 p.m. EDT, ESPN
Game 3: Sun, Oct 15: Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty, 3 p.m. EDT, ABC
Game 4 *: Wed, Oct 18: Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty, 8 p.m. EDT, ESPN
Game 5 *: Fri, Oct 20: New York Liberty @ Las Vegas Aces, 9 p.m. EDT, ESPN

*If necessary

The Aces strike first

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The first half of game one of the WNBA Finals was an absolutely dog fight. The New York Liberty outscored the Las Vegas Aces 25-22 in the first quarter, and commanded a three point lead at half time. On a 15-6 run in the first, the Liberty controlled the rebounds, along with points in the paint. For New York, Jonquel Jones scored 12 first half points, along with nine rebounds. Marine Johannès, an unlikely hero, scored 14 first half points on 4-5(80 percent) three-point shooting. Jones and Sabrina Ionescu were limited to just 7 points combined in the half, in which New York shot 11 percent from three. Ionescu played extremely well against Vegas all season, and is a vital factor on the offensive for New York. Johannes hasn't had a large role in the postseason, however she plays incredible agains the Aces.

New York kept things close through the first half

The Las Vegas Aces only gained momentum as time passed, in which they outscored the Liberty 26-16 in the third quarter. Led by Jackie Young with 12 points, Las Vegas stayed discliplined on the rebounds and defense. Not one Liberty player scored in double figures, nor did the team have one made three pointer. While the Aces shot 60 percent from the field, and over 40 percent from long range, the Liberty struggled. After three lead changes, Las Vegas took their energy into the final quarter.

In the second half, the Aces outscored the Liberty 53-33, in which New York couldn't answer on the defensive end. Vegas out rebounded their opposition 19-13, and controlled paint points, 24-12. In the third and fourth quarters, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and Kelsey Plum combined for 38 points, 4 steals, 9 assists, and 9 rebounds. With black jersey's surrounding the basket, Vegas did an excellent job of securing the defensive rebounds, and capitalized on offense. The Aces did an excellent job gathering the fouls at the rim, finishing 11-13 at the free-throw line second half. Overall, Young and Plum simply couldn't be stopped in the paint.

The Aces shined in game one

Game one was an all around dominant game by the Aces. In an offensive showing, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young combined for 72 total points. Their core four, which includes , scored 91 points total on 32-58 (55 percent) field goal shooting. Former No. 1 overall pick Kelsey Plum attempted 19 shots, which is higher than her norm. In the regular season, Plum, Gray and Young averaged a combined 48.9 points, more than 23 points less than game one.

The Liberty couldn't find their flow of their offense through the second half, and struggled immensely on defense. With Breanna Stewart leading the way with 21 points, Betnijah Laney and Sabrina Ionescu were held to a combined 18 points. All five of New York's starters were negative +/- on the court, and Jonquel Jones was again limited to second half points. For a team that captured the best win loss record post All-Star Break, New York looked unrecognizable on both sides of the ball. It will be crucial for New York to involve Laney, as well as Sabrina, two core players of this team.

Where and how to watch the game

In this article, I will break down the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, odds, player prop bets, and predictions. The matchup will begin at 9 p.m. ET, at Michelob ULTRA Arena, located in Las Vegas, Nevada. If you're betting on the WNBA and interested in watching, the game will air on ESPN.  For the best betting odds, stats and analysis, here is information to know.

Liberty +5 (-110)

Similar to game one, the New York Liberty are the underdogs by five points. They will matchup against the Las Vegas Aces, who once again have home court advantage for game two. Aces -5.5 is a strong play, along with the outright money line. New York has never lost consecutive games in a row, and I expect this game to be a lot closer of a matchup. With a majority of the public betting on the Aces money line, it's hard to fade that, especially with their recent game play.

New York is 3-2 against the spread against Vegas in their last five games, and the spread is split 5-5 over the last ten. There are a combined 32 all-star selections among both teams. Therefore, it'a hard to imagine another blow out for the Aces. New York has plenty of talent and depth to keep up the Vegas, now they just need to excecute tonight.

New York won the Commisioner's Cup in Vegas

The Liberty are excellent executing out the gate, and are notorious for losing leads in the second half of games. Let's face it, both teams were at the top in several statistical categories with the best win/loss records. With the Aces undefeated in their last ten, and the Liberty 1-4 against the spread, I could see why the public is highly in favor of Las Vegas.

Statistics aside, New York won the Commissioners Cup on the road against Vegas, and covered the +7.5 spread. For New York, it's doable, and here's the reason why. Over five regular season matchups, including the Cup, New York has a 36 point differential lead over the Aces. Divide that by five games, thats an average seven points per game. In four matchups excluding the Cup, the Liberty still hold a 24 point differential over Vegas. Over four games, that an average of six points.

Why the Liberty will cover the spread

With the Aces undefeated, the Liberty were tested in their previous matchups between Connecticut and Washington. Although tonight won't be an easy task, New York and Las Vegas finished the regular season and the top two teams in offensive and defense rating. In four season matchups, New York averaged 87.3 points on 38.7 percent three point shooting. Having led the Aces in rebounds, controlling the boards, tempo, and inside scoring will be key tonight.

The Liberty were 6-1 on the season, and 1-0 in the playoffs off two days rest. Statistically, the Liberty have performed their best based on two days of rest. In that time span, New York is averaging 92 points on 50 percent field goal shooting in the playoffs. Much to their advantage, the Aces have performed their worst off two days rest this postseason. Vegas only averages 75.5 points on 40 percent field goal shooting. Only 2-5 against the spread this postseason, the Liberty are due to cover here. Never been the underdogs in back to back games, New York will look to even up the series tonight.

Season Statistics & Betting Trends

Las Vegas Aces

• LV Aces: 5-0 in their last 5 games.
• 10-0 in their last 10 games.
• ATS Record: 21-19-0
• O/U Record: 24-16-0
• 3-2 ATS in their last 5 games.
• 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games.
• O/U is 2-2-1 in the last 5 games.
• O/U: 5-4-1 in the last 10 games.
• 1st in Offensive Rating (113)
• 3rd in Offensive Rating in the Playoffs (109.7)
• 1st in Defensive Rating (97.7)
• 1st in Defensive Rating in the Playoffs (90.5)
• 1st in Points Per Game (92.8)
• 2nd in Pace: 98.58
• Opponent Points Per Game: 80.3 (2nd)
• Three-Point Percentage: 37.2 % (2nd)
• Three-Point Percentage in the Playoffs: 36.6 % (3rd)
• Rebounds Per Game: 34.8 (5th)
• Rebounds Per Game in the Playoffs: 38.8(2nd)
• LV ATS won last 10 games: Seattle (-20), Phoenix (-19), Chicago (-16, -17.5), Dallas (-10), New York (-4.5)

One. More. Sleep.

Game Two.

ESPN#RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/gt1bGM4010

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 11, 2023

New York Liberty

• New York Liberty: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
• 7-3 in their last 10 games.
• ATS Record: 19-21-0
• O/U Record: 23-17-0
• 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.
• 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games.
• O/U is 4-1 in the last 5 games.
• O/U: 9-1 in the last 10 games.
• 2nd in Offensive Rating (109.6)
• 3rd in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (106.7)
• 3rd in Defensive Rating (99.4)
• 4th in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (104.9)
• 2nd in Points Per Game (89.2)
• 5th in Pace: 96.56
• Opponent Points Per Game: 80.6 (4th)
• Three-Point Percentage: 37.4 (1st)
• Three-Point Percentage playoffs: 33.2% (5th)
• Rebounds Per Game: 37.9 (2nd)
• Rebounds Per Game playoffs: 36.9 (5th)
• New York ATS won last 10 games: Washington (-9.5), Connecticut (-4)

Game 2.

@LVAces
9 PM/ET
Michelob Ultra Arena
@espn #SEAFOAMSZN | #LIGHTITUPNYL pic.twitter.com/EYINwNpFqo

— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 11, 2023

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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THE LAS VEGAS ACES DEFEND HOME COURT AND TAKE GAME 1 pic.twitter.com/YY4hiQQXuS

— ESPN (@espn) October 8, 2023

The Liberty had the lead through halftime

The New York Liberty's second half offense looked uncharacteristic, while the Las Vegas Aces had one of the most dominant performances of the postseason. With the regular season series split, excluding the Commissioners Cup, Aces guard Alysha Clark recognized the playoffs are a different experience, in which both teams are "two completely different teams right now." Clark finished with 8 points, 1 steal, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists.

The Aces are the reigning 2022 WNBA Champions, while the Liberty haven't appeared in the Finals since 2002. While Las Vegas kept their championship core, the Liberty acquired three stars in the offseason, Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, and Courtney Vandersloot.

Two top teams on offense and defense, the Aces and Liberty equally shot 44.4 percent from the three. In fact, New York had a consistent three-point lead through the first into the half. Through two quarters, both sides were evenly matched, both shooting over 40 percent from three, and nearly 50 percent from the field. For New York, Jonquel Jones had an incredible first half, with 12 points and 9 rebounds. Jones finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, which marks her seventh consecutive double-double this postseason. For the Aces, Jackie Young, A'ja Wilson, and Kelsey plum each had 12, 10, and 14 points though the half.

Aces head coach Becky Hammon stated the team gave themselves a "D" grade in the first quarter. When asked about her team's classification, "I would say C-minus," "said Hammon. "I didn't think they were that bad in the first half, but they turn it around to an A [grade]--I thought they played a pretty good first half, didn't like our defense in the [first half]. We just kind of amped up defense, locked in, and just tried to say solid."

The Aces had a monumental third quarter

AND-1 FOR JY0

The @LVAces are on a roll to end the 3Q

ABC | #WNBAFinals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/NjNpTFP7Xq

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 8, 2023

The Aces did exactly what Hammon said. They executed on defense, and exploited New York's offensive weaknesses. In the second and third quarter, Vegas held the Liberty to just 1-9 (11 percent) three-point shooting, and 14-34 (41.2 percent) from the field. Besides Breanna Stewart with 11 second half points, no Liberty player saw numbers in double digits. New York had control of the boards in the first twenty minutes, which the Aces negated in the final half. In the final twenty minutes, the Aces outrebounded the Liberty 19-13. Along with A'ja Wilsons nine second half points, Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum, and Chelsea Gray combined for 38 points in the second part of the meeting. The Aces took control of the paint, with several of their guards penetrating to the rim. New York was held to just 12 points in the paint in the final two quarters.

In a sellout crowd of over 10,000 fans, The Aces went on a 14-4 run in the third quarter, in which they extended to a 20-8 run in the fourth quarter. The Liberty, once up by three at the half, were outscored 53-33 in the second half of the matchup. Unable to answer on the defensive end, New York conceded 27 fourth quarter points to Vegas. All five of the Aces starters, including Alysha Clark, finished positive +/- on the court. With emotions tempered, Aces Head Coach Becky Hammon had to be physically restrained by her players after several questionable calls.

Jackie Young had a career night

?????????????? ?????????? ????????

Playoff career high for @JackieYoung3!

26 PTS
5 REB
4 AST
3 STL
5 3PM#RaiseTheStakes // #WNBAFinals pic.twitter.com/c5jmkJv2pb

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 8, 2023

Aces Guard Jackie Young was drafted first overall out of Notre Dame by the Aces in the 2019 draft. Originally not the finest three-point shooter, Young has risen to the top, and became the Aces deadliest weapon in game one. In 37 minutes played, Young scored a playoff career high 26 points on 5-8 (60 percent) from long distance. The guard added four assists, five rebounds, and three steals. No. 0 is just the fifth player in WNBA Finals history to average over 25 points and five made three pointers.

Young continued to be the catalyst of the Aces offense through the final two quarters. New York switching from man to zone defense, Jackie Young couldn't be tamed. Through the second half of the matchup, Young scored 14 points on 5-7 field goal shooting (71 percent). All three of her steals came in the back end of the game.

Less than a minute into the first quarter, Jackie Young pulled a deep 25-foot three point shot over Sabrina Ionescu. Four minutes later, Young drilled another three over Ionescu, this time utilizing the strong screen set by Kiah Stokes. Defensively, she held Ionescu to just seven points on 2-7 and 1-5 three-point shooting.

?????? ???????? pic.twitter.com/AycJQ7WMlT

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 8, 2023

"She's been impressive all year defensively," Becky Hammon told the press post-game. "Should've have been on one of those teams. She's somebody who going into the season-- I wanted her, you know kind of baby Bron [Lebron James] mode. She's [Young] really taken the challenge of getting downhill. She's strong, [Young] absorbs a lot of contact." Speaking of Lebron James, the "King" was attendance for game one of the Finals.

The Aces trio of guards shined

Four-of-a-Kind

Four Aces scored in double digits to secure the W.@JackieYoung3: 26 PTS // 5 REB // 4 AST // 3 STL // 5 3PM@Kelseyplum10: 26 PTS // 5 REB // 53% FG@cgray209: 20 PTS // 6 REB // 9 AST // 2 BLK // 3 3PM@_ajawilson22: 19 PTS // 8 REB // 2 STL // 3 BLK //… pic.twitter.com/DUpaeFC5hk

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 8, 2023

Jackie Young wasn't the only player to have a stellar night for the Aces. Guard Kelsey Plum finished with 25 points, on 10-19 (52.6 percent) field goal shooting, and 1-7 (14 percent) from long range. There were several occasions where Plum was able to drive and find the open lay in. 2022 Finals MVP Chelsea Gray added 20 points on 6-13 (46 percent) field goal, and 3-5 (60 percent) three-point shooting. Gray dished out 9 of the Aces 21 assists. The trio of guards finished with a combined 73 points, 2 blocks, 4 steals, 16 rebounds, and 14 assists. Plum, Young, and Gray all finished the regular season top 15 at their position and points scored. Young lead all guards in field goal percentage (52.3).

"It was a really nice contribution," Hammon said of Young, Gray, and Plum. "The three of them, our trio of guards, I thought were pretty ridiculous overall." Hammon mentioned "Jackie is just scratching the surface of how great she could be."

Defensive Player of the year stated Jackie Young "is the baby sister she never wanted." "I love her to death, and I'm going to make sure I am pulling that confidence out of her, Jackie is a little shy. " Wilson mentioned "eyebrows" were raised when the Aces drafted Young first overall.

Sisters

"I love her to death and I'm going to make sure that I am pulling that confidence out of her... Because when you see that, you get the best Jackie." — @_ajawilson22 on Jackie

"She really instills that confidence in me. She's like my big sister. She's always… pic.twitter.com/8kXHa8E4tU

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 9, 2023

The Liberty need to improve defensively

Liberty head Coach Sandy Brondello weighed in the Aces guard's performance post-game. "Well, we didn't do a great job of stopping them, obviously," said Brondello. "They're great players, and they were all getting into the paint. Jackie [Young] obviously was making a lot of threes. I think their movement got us out of position a little." Brondello mentioned the one-on-one defense, and the Aces got "the upper hand" on this game.

Coach Brondello recognized the Liberty need to improve defensively. Through 40 minutes, Las Vegas finished with 99 points, on 35-64 (54.7 percent) field goal shooting, and 9-11 (40.1 percent) from long range. On the guards, Brondello stated, "We've got to make them a little bit harder than what they were. I mean they had too many open layups at the rim."

The Liberty get early offensive support from the "Wizard"

The Las Vegas Aces typically run a six-player lineup, which includes , Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Kiah Stokes, and Alysha Clark. The New York Liberty have slightly more depth, which includes Marine Johannès and Kayla Thornton off the bench. Through 40 regular season games, both the Liberty and Aces ranked near last in bench points. In seven post season games, New York averages the second lowest bench points (seven), compared to the Aces ten. From playing man and zone defense, Sandy Brondello entered guard Marine Johannès in the game early. Through the playoffs, Johannès averages 3.2 points on 31.8 field goal and 29.4 three-point percentage. There' one team the France guard excels against, and that's the Las Vegas Aces.

Marine Johannès is a sniper from long range

In twenty minutes, Johannès scored an early 14 first half points. The guard shot the ball effectively, 5-6 (83 percent) from the field, and 4-5 (80 percent) from downtown. Nicknamed the "Wizard," Johannès provided a spark off the Liberty bench, especially with Courtney Vandersloot struggling. On several instances, No. 23 utilized screens, hitting contested three pointers off one leg. In a Rythm, Johannès was able to create her own shot, again hitting off balance. Similar to the Commissioners Cup, the guard was ready and poised for transition three-pointers. In four regular season games against the Aces, Johannès averaged 6 points on 56.3 percent field goal, and 50 percent three-point shooting. In New York's Commissioners Cup Victory, Johannès scored 17 points on 5-7 three-point shooting.

"Apparently, Johannès really likes to play against us, " said Hammon post-game. "She hits tough ones. Like I'm just a huge fan, other than when she's playing us."

"Marine came out as Marine," said Liberty coach Brondello. " She's had some good games against this team, and she was making shots. " Johannès was limited to zero second half points, in which Brondello credits their defense and rotation.

WNBA Finals Schedule

Game 2: Wed, Oct 11: New York Liberty @ Las Vegas Aces, 9 p.m. EDT, ESPN
Game 3: Sun, Oct 15: Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty, 3 p.m. EDT, ABC
Game 4 *: Wed, Oct 18: Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty, 8 p.m. EDT, ESPN
Game 5 *: Fri, Oct 20: New York Liberty @ Las Vegas Aces, 9 p.m. EDT, ESPN

The Las Vegas Aces will matchup against the New York Liberty on Wednesday for game two of the WNBA Finals. Best of five games, the Aces will look to stay undefeated in the postseason. For New York, they've never lost two consecutive games, and will look to even up the series.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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In an inevitable, much anticipated WNBA Finals between the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty, there are several key players to keep an eye on. What makes this series so exciting and unique is the level of talent on both rosters. In the finals, we will see three current and former MVPs, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and A'ja Wilson. Out of those players, both Stewart and Wilson are 2x WNBA Most Valuable Players.

With the Aces headed back to their second consecutive Finals, this matchup will include two finals MVPs, Breanna Stewart (Seattle) and Chelsea Gray. Four of the Aces starters were selected as All-Stars, A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young. For the Liberty, each of their five starters have been named an All-Star in their career, including Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Betnijah Laney, Courtney Vandersloot, and Sabrina Ionescu.

After rewriting the NCAA record books, Kelsey Plum was drafted No. 1 in the 2017 WNBA draft.

First-round results https://t.co/FfcxEPXa9Q pic.twitter.com/ATIYWYwU18

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 14, 2017

Between these accomplished teams, the Liberty starting five and Aces core four have a combined 32 All-Star appearances. Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart join A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young as former first overall draft picks. In fact, Kelsey Plum was selected first overall by the San Antionio Stars in 2017. In 2018, the Stars moved to Las Vegas and became the Aces.

Liberty Key Players

Betnijah Laney was a force in the Semi-Finals

Game 2: 20 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST
Game 3: 20 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST
Game 4: 21 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST

@EmJ_not23 pic.twitter.com/XJqNTZOrEd

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 1, 2023

There are two key players for the New York Liberty in this series, Betnijah Laney and Jonquel Jones. The New York Liberty defense will also be essential.

A member of the Liberty since 2021, Laney has embraced her role around several stars. As the season progressed, so did her play and grit. Known for her defensive prowess, Laney was named to the All-Defensive second team. Becoming a confident scorer over time, Laney is usually tasked with guarding the best player on the court. A defensive juggernaut in the series against the Aces, Laney averaged 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.

In four games, the forward shot 50 percent from the field, and 41.2 percent from the three. Laney, who was held to three points in Game one versus Connecticut, proved her value in the next three games. In six postseason games, No. 44 is averaging 15 points, 5.2 rebounds, and three assists. She's shooting a remarkable 48.2 percent from the floor, and 43 percent from long range. Though the box score often doesn't reflect the entire story, Laney will be the ultimate x factor on both sides of the ball. The Aces have a powerful guard trio, in addition to A'ja Wilson. Betnijah will be one of the players, aside from Breanna Stewart and Jones to step up on the defensive end.

Jonquel Jones is a double-double machine

New year, same result

Jonquel Jones dropped 25 points in the win to eliminate her former team pic.twitter.com/Qou9EQeU45

— espnW (@espnW) October 1, 2023

Jonquel Jones is a former MVP for a reason. Traded to the Liberty this offseason, No. 35 found her stride, specifically after the All-Star break. Named Commissioners Cup MVP, Jones was a vital part of New York's game two win against Washington. When the Liberty couldn't hit their shots, the offense flowed through Jones. Jones grabbed a critical rebound, and hit two free throws, saving the Liberty.

Using her size and strength, the forward was able to score inside the paint, as well as run the pick and roll with Stewart. Post All-Star break, Jones averaged 12.2 points, and 10.3 rebounds, on 52 percent field goal shooting. In six postseason games, Jones is averaging 16.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks. She set WNBA history with six consecutive double doubles. Jones leads the entire playoffs in total rebounds.

It will be crucial for Jones to stay out of foul trouble. While only averaging 9.3 points against the Aces, No. 35 totaled close to ten boards per game. Look for the Kiah Stokes matchup with Jones, as she is a defensive presence for the Aces. If the Aces limit the Liberty in perimeter scoring, the offense must flow through Jones.

Liberty Defense

In two wins against the Aces, New York's defense held to 18 points in two games, including the Commissioner's Cup. Over those two games, Wilson was held to 4-24 shooting, which is rare for the Aces star. Limiting her looks will be vital to win the series. Over the playoffs, Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart are averaging five blocks per game, and are a strong front court duo. With the Aces small guard lineup, New York will be forced to pick up on screens and heavily guard the perimeter. Having two rim protectors for the Liberty will be essential for defense, as well as paint presence on the offensive end.

The New York Liberty played zone defense this postseason over 40 times, compared to 88 in the regular season. New York ranked third in defensive rating this season, and limited opponents to 80 points per game. With the Aces running a six-player rotation, Kayla Thornton will be pivotal for New York's defense. Don't let the box score fool you, Thronton is a 3&D guard, who can also shoot the ball.

Aces Key Players

We still think about this @cgray209 pass.

pic.twitter.com/1m3UqKzCBc

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 4, 2023

As much as I want to say this will be the battle between Stewart and Wilson, Kiah Stokes, Alysha Clark, and will be key for the Aces. In four matchups, both Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson were held to under 20 points per game. With a six-player rotation, Clark will be key off the bench, especially on the defensive end against Stewart. If the guards are struggling on the perimeter, look for Clark to be open on the corner, especially if New York decides to switch to a zone defense.

In five playoff matchups, Clark is averaging 8 points, and 4 rebounds. No. 7 is shooting over 40 percent from deep, and 53.6 percent from the field. Despite Parker out with injuries, Stokes has been a defensive presence, although hesitant to shoot at times. Stokes will have the primary responsibility of guarding Jonquel Jones. The center has averaged 8.6 rebounds and nearly 1.5 steals in five playoff games.

Stewart started to show signs of life in game four against Connecticut. She's struggled primarily on the offensive end in the postseason, which shows how deeply talented New York is. Stewart shot 22 percent from the three-point against the Aces and averaged 18 points in four games. Even worse, No. 30 averaged 35.6 percent from the floor.

Chelsea Gray was the 2022 Finals MVP for a reason. In four games against New York, Gray averaged 16.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1.8 steals. It will be crucial for Gray to distribute the ball and make plays for her teammates. Shooting over 60 percent in last year's playoffs, look for the guard to find those notorious mid-range jumpers.

A'ja Wilson vs. Breanna Stewart

ACES. LIBERTY.

THE WNBA FINALS ARE SET pic.twitter.com/qJoFdeS5XX

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 1, 2023

There's no question all eyes will be on and Breanna Stewart. Stewart edged out Wilson and Alyssa Thomas for MVP, while Wilson was named defensive player of the year. Regardless of Stewarts struggles in the postseason, she's the best player in the world, along with A'ja Wilson. Both players underperformed in four regular season meetings. Stewart averaged 18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 2.5 blocks. Limited to 22 percent three-point shooting, No. 30 saw a significant decrease in her production on the road in Vegas. In two matchups on the road, the MVP averaged only 14 points a game, and 6.4 rebounds on 30 percent shooting. While Stewart didn't have the best outings against Vegas, she thrives in big moments. In the regular season, Stewart was second in points, fourth in blocks, and third in rebounds. When she struggles on offense, Stewart capitalizes on the defensive end.

A'ja Wilson had a historic season, along with Breanna Stewart. The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year averaged 17.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks against the Liberty this season. Her three consecutive 30-point games are the most in playoff history and had the most points through four playoff games. With Wilson held to 4-24, including the Commissioners Cup, look for her and Stewart to battle all series long.

Keys for the Liberty

Rebounding and inside scoring will be key for the Liberty this series. They are second in the playoffs in rebounding percentage, and second chance points. In four meetings, excluding the Commissioners Cup, New York outrebounded by only 8 boards, and dominated on the defensive boards. In games two and four, New York did an excellent job of controlling the rebounds, and well as scoring in the paint. This postseason, the Liberty average 38.3 points in the paint, and will face the top defense in the league, the Aces.

While Las Vegas are at the top defensively, New York led all teams in the regular season in assists per game. Loaded with talent, this Liberty team has excellent ball movement, and improved their shot selections. With Courtney Vandersloot as the floor general, fluid movement and looks will be key.

The Aces are elite when it comes to guarding the perimeter, and Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu thrives in the spotlight. Over four games, Ionescu shot 52.9 percent from three, and 52.6 percent from the field. With strong screens, No. 20 will pull, even with the slightest amount of room.

Overall, the Liberty thrive on momentum and confidence. Slowing down A'ja Wilson is necessary, and it will be essential to disrupt the flow of offense. It will be important to establish a lead early, and force the Aces to scramble, even on their home court.

Keys for the Aces

Much like the Liberty, rebounds and paint presence will be imperative in all games. In their two victories against the Liberty, they controlled the paint. The Aces play at a faster pace than the Liberty, and controlling the tempo will be extremely important. With rumors swirling Candace Parker was at practice, the Aces could have a bolster to their front court.

With Becky Hammon utlizing a six player rotation, the Aces are in shape, and used to playing a high number of minutes. In their third finals appearance, the Aces need to utilize their home court advantage, a place where they only lost one in the regular season.

There's one area the Aces dominate it, and that's experience as a team. The New York Liberty are headed into the finals with three new additions in their starting lineup. For the Aces, they need to take advantage of their already established presence and chemistry together.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and a Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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A day before the Commissioner's Cup, Aces guard Chelsea Gray reiterated she didn't feel the Aces and the Liberty were rivals. "You, saying it's a rivalry now, we've only played each other, twice, and not in a playoff matchup, " Gray told reporters. "When you want to speak about rivalries, I think that it's longer stages for that."

Monday's game draws recent record viewership and attendance at the Barclays.

Since that statement, New York defeated Las Vegas in the WNBA Commissioner's Cup, and won the regular season series 3-2. On top of that, the Liberty and Aces remain two of the top seeded teams in the league. On Monday night, the two clubs matched up for the fifth and final encounter of the regular season. With Sandy Brondello's squad taking the victory, both sides performed in front of a record-sellout crowd of 11,615 at the Barclay's Center. According to ESPN, Monday's game was the "most-watched WNBA Regular Season game on ESPN2 in five years." With that said, the viewership peaked at roughly 357,000 viewers, and averaged around 328,000 (ESPN).

Prior to tip off, Liberty star Breanna Stewart emphasized the importance of home games and fans. "I can't believe it's our third home game this month," Stewart told the media. "It will be nice to be back in front of our fans."

At the post-game press conference, Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu reflected on the record attendance, and how impactful the fans have been on the team. " They've [the fans] been everything all season long. To be with this team for the last couple of years, and be able to see the growth of the crowd every single year — it's just progressed in the right direction, " said Ionescu.

Sellout crowd at the Barclays

For the Liberty, it's their second game where they've had sellout crowds at home against the Aces. In their second meeting, the two teams played in front of a crowd of 11,418 fans in Brooklyn. The WNBA's growing popularity has contributed to increased attendance of games, along with viewership. According to the NBA, by the All-Star break, WNBA Merchandise sales have increased by 78 percent, and overall viewership is up 67 percent from 2022.

"For us to come into this game knowing we were going to have a sellout—  it makes us want to play that much for them. When we go on those runs, the crowd erupts, the building's electric, and it just fires us up."

We love to see it https://t.co/zdl5Vh3KQD

— WNBA (@WNBA) August 30, 2023

Based off those numbers, it's intriguing if Gray would have a different perspective regarding the possible rivalry. Although these organizations haven't met in the playoffs, they have three elements in common; talent, the desire to win, and two exceptional coaches.

At 28-7, New York remains a game and a half back of Las Vegas for the No. 1 seed in the WNBA. The Liberty are loaded with talent and hold a league best .824-win percentage since the all-star break. Prior to the game, Becky Hammons squad [the Aces] were coming of a 78-62 loss against the Mystics, and a grueling road stretch. Even with the triumph, Las Vegas leads the league in net rating, and in both defensive and offensive ratings. Both New York and Vegas hold the best win percentages in the league and have two of the most prolific offenses. Over four head-to-head matchups, excluding the Commissioners Cup, New York has an overall point differential of +17.

A growing rivalry

Although both teams have never faced each other in the postseason, it certainly seems like a brewing matchup between both teams. Liberty guard, Sabrina Ionescu wasn't wrong about the electric crowd at the Barclays. Despite being down early on, New York went on a 20-8 run starting in the beginning quarter and commanded a 22-19 lead by the end of the first. Regardless of the Aces stellar defense comprised of a three-guard lineup, Ionescu broke down their defensive scheme. With a few driving layups, complimented by three-pointers, Sabrina showed no hesitation. In fact, with 8.9 seconds left to go in the first half, Ionescu utilized screen, and drained a long three in front of Stokes.

After the Aces loss to the Mystics, Hammon stated that "the Aces haven't found time to practice throughout their hectic schedule." (Danny Webster, Las Vegas Sun). Ionescu, well rested, assuredly took advantage of the oppositions demanding road schedule. Through the first quarter, the Oregon alum had 12 points, on 66.7 percent three-point shooting. By the end of regulation, Ionescu finished with 25 points, 2 rebound, 2 assists, and multiple steals. Although Breanna Stewart's shots weren't falling, and was held to 6 points, the Liberty prevailed in the first half. Jonquel Jones acquired three fouls by the second quarter and was limited to 18 total minutes. By halftime, New York commanded a 47-35 lead, in which they outscored Vegas, 25-16 in the second quarter.

For the Aces, All-Star had a tough matchup with Stewart, although she scored 15 points in the first half.

Things got heated and words were exchanged

Sabrina Ionescu's success against the Aces didn't come without drama. Words were exchanged after a foul occurred, followed by a flagrant foul on Jonquel Jones. With Kayla Thornton thrown in the middle, Chelsey Gray, of the Aces, was visibly upset. The physical play of Chelsea Gray and Sabrina Ionescu did not go unnoticed. In fact, in multiple occasions, both expressed frustration on no foul calls.

By the end of the fourth quarter, the Aces went on a 10-2 run, in which Jackie Young finished with 24 points, and Chelsey Gray with 16. With the Liberty playing tight defense and switches on the perimeter, it opened several mid-range shots for A'ja Wilson, who finished with 23 points.

The Liberty outshined the Aces

Despite lack of production from Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart in the first half, the Liberty's defense shined, and Sandy Brondello relied on her depth. Followed by 17 points, Betnijah Laney played strong defense, especially on Chelsey Gray. Ultimately, New York beat them on the boards 43-31, and led with dominance in the paint. Overall, their forced turnovers turned into 17 fast break points for New York. By the end of regulation, New York finished the night shooting 30.3 percent from downtown, and 45.3 percent from the field.

As far as their control in the paint, Sabrina Ionescu commented on what adjustments she made to break down the opposition. "Now I'm just going in a lot more strongly, determined to get to the basket. Understanding if I can apply pressure and get into the paint, it opens up the floor for everyone."

For the Liberty, Laney, Stewart, Ionescu, and Vandersloot finished with points in double figures. Vandersloot finished with her 31st career game with 10 assists and 15 points, which is the most in history. For the floor general, No. 22 was able to find her teammates all night, in addition to several athletic lay ins.

Breanna Stewart is all about trusting the process

Although off to a slow start, Breanna Stewart found her trajectory in the second half. With 14 second half points, the Liberty star was absurd on the defensive end. Matched up with fellow MVP Candidate A'ja Wilson, Stewart had 3 steals and 2 blocks. With the early shots not plunging, Stewart adapted her game, and finished with 7 assists.

Post game, Stewart, 29, opened up about the importance of trusting the process when it comes to development and greatness.

"We make sure that every time we're together, we make sure that we continue to fulfill our potential and understand that and trust the process, " said Stewart. " I guess it's a corny line, but that's what we did — we trusted the process and we'll continue to do that, because everyone on this team has a role."

At the post-game press conference, coach Sandy Brondello stated why Stewart is so good, even when she's not scoring. "That's just a stature of who she is," said Brondello. "It's not all about scoring big—  [Stewie] can do everything. Shes going against the best player on the other team. She's rotating, she's rebounding, she's running, creating for others," Brondello told the press. "I thought she played really poised and gives us so much because she demands so much attention- so it really does open for other people as well."

Playoffs approaching

With five games left in the regular season, the New York Liberty have a vigorous schedule against Connecticut, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Washington. With the Commissioner's Cup in hand, the Liberty fight for the No.1 Seed with Vegas. Even though another matchup against the Aces isn't promised, one concept is for certain, the New York Liberty want to bring their first championship to New York. If both teams win their respected divisions, this will be a battle until the end. With two of the most complete and talented teams in the league, the New York and Las Vegas rivalry has just begun.

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Sara Jane is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, Journalist, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics.

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