How Aces responded after Liberty ‘punched us in the face’

Witness the electrifying clash between the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty in Game 1 of the thrilling 2023 WNBA Finals. The intensity on the court was palpable as Kelsey Plum of the Aces faced off against Betnijah Laney of the Liberty, delivering a spine-tingling display of skill and determination. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty have been engaged in fierce battles all year, igniting the WNBA with their captivating rivalry. Prior to Game 2 of the Finals, Kelsey Plum from the Aces and Breanna Stewart of the Liberty acknowledged the intensity of their clashes, each leaving a lasting impact.

Although the Liberty held a slight advantage with a 3-2 lead over the Aces heading into the Finals, Las Vegas made a powerful statement in Game 1 with a resounding 99-82 victory on their home turf. This win served as a bold response to New York’s previous triumphs, all of which were secured in the month of August.

A notable trend in their meetings was the Liberty’s ability to dominate the second halves, securing emphatic victories. For instance, they outscored Las Vegas 50-17 in the second half of a 99-61 win on August 6 and 50-29 in the second half of an 82-63 triumph in the Commissioner’s Cup final on August 15.

However, in Game 1 of the Finals, the Aces effectively neutralized the impact of Liberty guard Marine Johannès, who was dazzling in the first half. Las Vegas outscored New York by 20 points in the second half to claim victory.

“We have experienced some challenging third quarters, and New York has consistently come out strong and caught us off guard,” said Plum. “As a team, we realized the importance of setting the tone at the start of the second half. We needed to be focused and execute our strategies.”

Nevertheless, the Liberty are not ones to back down. They are prepared to fight back and reclaim their position, as Stewart expressed eloquently.

“The playoffs are like a roller coaster ride, filled with highs and lows. It’s crucial to maintain composure and emotional balance. Punches will be thrown, and we will throw them back,” Stewart emphasized. “Losing Game 1 was disappointing, but now it’s about how we respond in Game 2. We refuse to sulk and hang our heads. Instead, we rise up, improve, and demonstrate our true abilities.”

The Aces understand that the Liberty will come out swinging in the second game of the series, especially after getting acclimated to the pressure of the Finals.

“I vividly remember my first game in the Finals last year. I was wide-eyed and uncertain, not knowing what to expect. It’s a completely different atmosphere,” Plum reminisced. “So, I anticipate the Liberty to come at us with a renewed energy. Their locker room exudes pride, and they have an incredibly talented roster. We are ready for a transformed opponent.”

The highly anticipated Game 2 of the WNBA Finals will take place at Michelob Ultra Arena, with the Aces hosting the Liberty at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Don’t miss this exhilarating match, which will be broadcasted on ESPN.