Aces rally past Liberty to become WNBA’s first repeat champion in 21 years

Oct. 19 (UPI) — The Las Vegas Aces made history by winning Game 4 of the WNBA Finals against the New York Liberty, becoming the league’s first repeat champion in 21 years. A’ja Wilson, who was named Finals MVP, dominated the game with 24 points and 16 rebounds, leading her team to a narrow 70-69 victory at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Despite playing without starters Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes, the Aces managed to outperform the Liberty, shooting 41.8% compared to their opponent’s 36.1%. They also dominated in the paint, outscoring the Liberty 44 to 24. The Aces showcased their resilience by overcoming a 12-point deficit early in the game.

“This is what it’s all about,” Wilson expressed to reporters. “To have your name etched in history with other teams. We never gave up. This is a moment we need to celebrate. Not a lot of people get a chance to do it.”

In the first quarter, the Liberty went on a 16-2 run to take a 21-11 lead. Despite the Aces responding with an 8-2 run in the second quarter, the Liberty finished the half with an 39-30 advantage.

The Aces turned the tide in the third quarter, propelled by Sabrina Ionescu’s 3-pointer and an 11-2 run, taking a 53-51 lead heading into the final quarter. A strong start in the fourth quarter, including Jackie Young’s eight points, enabled the Aces to hold onto the lead and secure the championship.

Guard Courtney Vandersloot led the Liberty’s scoring efforts with 19 points, followed by Betnijah Laney with 15 points and Ionescu with 13 points. The Aces received significant contributions from Cayla George and Alysha Clark, who scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The Aces’ victory solidifies their place in history as the third WNBA team to win consecutive championships, following the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001-02 and the Houston Comets from 1997 to 2000.