Sabrina Ionescu Leads New York Liberty to Critical Game 2 Victory Over Las Vegas Aces

The New York Liberty are one step closer to their first WNBA championship after securing a thrilling 88-84 victory against the Las Vegas Aces in Game 2 of the semifinals. With this win, the Liberty have taken a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, putting the Aces on the brink of elimination as they chase a third consecutive title.

Sabrina Ionescu shone brightly in this matchup, scoring a joint game-high 24 points while contributing nine rebounds and five assists. Her clutch performances late in the game were pivotal, underscoring the Liberty’s resolve to avenge their loss to the Aces in last year’s finals. Historically, no team has ever come back from a 2-0 deficit in WNBA playoff history, adding further pressure on the Aces as they seek to avoid a historic upset.

Despite the encouraging lead, Ionescu and her teammates remain cautious about celebrating prematurely. “We haven’t won anything, I think everyone knows that,” Ionescu remarked after the game. “We did what we were supposed to do, which was protect home court and win two at home, but it’s not like we’re patting ourselves on the back, celebrating, or talking about how happy we are.”

The Liberty entered the fourth quarter with a seven-point advantage, but the Aces fought back. Alysha Clark’s three-pointer tied the game at 81-81 with just over a minute left, setting the stage for a tense finish. However, Ionescu’s tenacity shone through as she scored a crucial layup and a jumper to reclaim the lead for New York. She sealed the game by converting three free throws in the final seconds, giving the Liberty a four-point cushion with only eight seconds remaining.

A’ja Wilson, the league MVP for the Aces, managed to score 24 points and provided a glimmer of hope with a late jumper. Yet, Breanna Stewart, another Liberty star, effectively ended the contest by sinking two free throws shortly thereafter. Stewart finished the night with 15 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists, playing a key role in the Liberty’s overall performance.

The Aces struggled particularly in the second quarter, where they were outscored 24-13. This lapse allowed the Liberty to build momentum and seize control of the game. The Aces also struggled with ball security, conceding 20 points off turnovers by halftime. “Let me be mad at the refs, let me be mad at the New York Liberty, I don’t want to be mad at ourselves,” Aces head coach Becky Hammon said. “But that’s what it was. It was Aces versus Aces tonight; we were beating ourselves.”

As the series shifts to Las Vegas for Game 3, the Aces are determined to make history with a comeback that would defy the odds. They have one last chance to keep their hopes of a three-peat alive.

In other playoff action, the Minnesota Lynx evened their series against the Connecticut Sun with a 77-70 victory in Minneapolis. Courtney Williams led the Lynx with 17 points, while Alanna Smith contributed 15. Although WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier had a quieter night with just nine points, she made her mark defensively with 12 rebounds and four blocks.

The series now moves to Connecticut for the next two games, with the potential for a decisive Game 5 back in Minnesota next week. Alyssa Thomas of the Sun was the game’s top scorer with 18 points, but her efforts weren’t enough to secure a win as Connecticut looks to return to the WNBA Finals after falling to the Aces two years ago.

With the stakes higher than ever, the upcoming games promise to deliver more thrilling basketball as teams vie for a place in the championship series.