Coach Sandy Brondello says Liberty ‘haven’t shown’ their best heading into Game 3 vs. Aces

NEW YORK — The WNBA Finals are officially wrapped up, according to the record books.

No team in the history of the WNBA has ever come back from a 2-0 deficit and gone on to win the series. This year’s finals mark the 35th best-of-five series in the league’s history. Prior to this year, there have been 17 instances where a team found themselves down 2-0 in a series, and none of them managed to complete a reverse sweep.

So why does Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello believe her team has what it takes to be the first in WNBA history to pull off a reverse sweep after falling behind 2-0?

“We haven’t showcased our best yet,” Brondello revealed after Saturday’s practice at Barclays Center. “Now, we need to match Vegas’s performance and elevate our game even more if we want to secure a victory.

The Liberty have appeared completely different from the team that defeated the Las Vegas Aces three out of five times (including the Commissioner’s Cup) before the playoffs, while also boasting the second-best offensive rating this season.

The Aces have dominated the first two games of the finals, winning by an average of 23 points, including a devastating 28-point victory in Game 2 at Michelob Ultra Arena.

The Liberty guards have struggled to match the outstanding performances of their opponents, which played a key role in their success during the regular-season matchups. Sabrina Ionescu, who averaged 28 points in wins against Las Vegas in the regular season, is now only managing nine points on 24% shooting in the finals. The typically reliable two-way guard/forward Betnijah Laney had a tough time in Game 2, scoring only 12 points on 27% shooting. Additionally, Courtney Vandersloot has been unable to lead the offense and establish a consistent rhythm.

These struggles leave the team searching for answers with an offense that appears stagnant, and Aces guards Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray have capitalized on this. Brondello acknowledged that the Liberty’s success against the Aces during the regular season may have sparked a newfound “sense of urgency” in their opponents, resulting in the October wins.

However, returning to Brooklyn for Game 3 brings the series back to Barclays Center, the arena where the Aces have not won a game all season. This gives the home team an opportunity to regain their form and extend the series.

“And that’s the beauty of it – we still have another chance. We need to embrace this opportunity, refocus our energy, and play with the intensity we desire.”

So how does the Liberty intend to play?

“Our team functions at its best when we move the ball effectively. We need more movement on the weak side rather than just watching plays develop,” stated star center Jonquel Jones after Saturday’s practice.

Although the Liberty allowed Jones to dwindle a 21-point lead down to eight, they were unable to narrow the gap any further in the second half. The Aces adjusted their defense, crowding Jones, who had made a significant impact in Game 2, ultimately limiting her to just one field goal in the second half.

“When they crowd us, we have to exploit that by maintaining good spacing and finding open passing lanes, allowing the player being guarded to make the right play,” added Jones.

According to 2023 MVP Breanna Stewart, the Aces’ stifling defense in the finals isn’t much different from what the Liberty faced during the regular season. Stewart explained that the Aces are utilizing defensive strategies that they have seen before, such as pressuring Ionescu on the perimeter and going under screens while guarding the struggling Vandersloot and Laney. Stewart also mentioned that she and Jones often face a crowded paint.

“It’s crucial that we understand their defensive approach and refuse to play into their hands,” Stewart emphasized. “We know their intentions, and we cannot let that deter us from executing our game plan.”