In a thrilling matchup, the New York Liberty secured a crucial 88-84 victory over the Las Vegas Aces, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five semifinal series. The stage is set for a dramatic Game 3 in Las Vegas, where the reigning champions will fight to stay alive.
Sabrina Ionescu shone bright, scoring 24 points to propel the Liberty to victory. With the game tied at 81, Ionescu sank a clutch jumper with 1:15 remaining, giving her team a two-point edge. The Aces refused to back down, but Ionescu’s precision from the free-throw line ultimately sealed the win.
A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 24 points, while Jackie Young chipped in 17. Breanna Stewart contributed 15 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds to the Liberty’s cause. The Aces’ Chelsea Gray bounced back from a disappointing Game 1, scoring 10 points in the first quarter to give her team an early advantage.
The Liberty rallied behind Ionescu’s hot hand, taking a 46-40 lead into halftime. The sellout crowd, featuring celebrities Carmelo Anthony, Alicia Keys, Robin Roberts, Colin Kaepernick, and Gayle King, was electric throughout the contest.
In a worrying development for the Aces, center Kiah Stokes suffered a potential concussion with 9.5 seconds left in the third quarter. The team will be hoping for a speedy recovery as they look to turn the series around.
History is against the Aces, as no team has overcome a 2-0 deficit to win a best-of-five playoff series in WNBA postseason history. The Liberty, meanwhile, are one step closer to their first WNBA title.
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