Liberty dominate WNBA-leading Aces for statement victory

The Las Vegas Aces have been labeled a super-team.

They entered Sunday having misplaced simply two video games this 12 months, the clear favourite for the WNBA title.

Apparently, Sabrina Ionescu and the Liberty didn’t get the memo.

A nationwide TV viewers, a nearly-sold-out Barclays Middle crowd and a date with a traditionally dominant Las Vegas crew didn’t section the Liberty, who blew out the Aces in a 99-61, assertion victory behind Ionescu’s 31 factors and scorching 17-for-38 3-point taking pictures as a crew.

Within the first of 4 conferences throughout what needs to be a telling month of August for each the Liberty and the Aces, the league’s two finest groups, the Liberty wrote the story of this potential WNBA finals preview, posting the most important victory of the season.

After incomes a five-point halftime lead, an electrical third quarter when the Liberty outscored the Aces 30-9 and launched a barrage of 5 3-pointers put the sport firmly out of attain. They led by as a lot as 42 through the fourth quarter, throughout which the Aces scored simply eight factors.

The Liberty avenged their earlier loss to Las Vegas, when the Aces — who stand at an unreal 24-3 and are routinely blowing out groups — defeated the Liberty in a cushty, 98-81 win in Las Vegas on June 29.

“[It’s] actually necessary to construct rivalries as a result of then you may have video games of consequence,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert stated earlier than the sport.

“You will have video games individuals need to watch — hopefully we’ll get a giant viewership quantity in the present day. I believe the attendance will probably be actually good right here in the present day. In order that’s what rivalries are all about. And once more, you do want family names together with them.”

The Liberty’s family names made their presence felt Sunday, whereas the Aces’ two-time MVP A’ja Wilson had a noticeably quiet night time.

After Wilson took an elbow to the face from Liberty heart Jonquel Jones that was dominated a Flagrant 1 penalty, she completed the day with simply 9 factors on two-of-14 taking pictures to go together with seven rebounds.

Ionescu caught hearth from deep throughout a superb second quarter, nailing 5 deep 3-pointers en path to 23 first-half factors, igniting an brisk Barclays Middle crowd whereas serving to energy the Liberty to a 49-44 lead after the primary 20 minutes.

Jackie Younger led the way in which for the Aces, ending with 16 factors on 6-for-9 taking pictures.

Liberty star Breanna Stewart posted 23 factors, six rebounds and 5 assists in a characteristically nice all-around day.

The Liberty and Aces will meet once more on Aug. 17 to play for the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup title in Las Vegas.