Ionescu scores 22 points to lead Liberty to 76-62 win over Aces and into WNBA Finals
LAS VEGAS (AP) Sabrina Ionescu didn't take long to make a quick statement that what transpired not even 48 hours earlier would not happen again.
But she and her Liberty teammates had an even larger message to deliver.
Ionescu rebounded from a rare off game to score 22 points, and nearly a year after the Aces ended the Liberty's dream of a championship, New York returned the favor Sunday afternoon by defeating Las Vegas 76-62 to advance to the WNBA Finals.
The top-seeded Liberty will have home-court advantage in the championship series and will face either the Connecticut Sun or Minnesota Lynx, who will play Game 5 on Tuesday. This is the Liberty's sixth trip to the finals, but the franchise is still seeking its first title.
“We haven't done anything yet,” said New York's Breanna Stewart, who had 19 points and 14 rebounds. “This was a tough series, an emotional series for a number of different reasons. But we're going to the finals and we're hosting Game 1 and Game 2. We're ready to go. Just the feeling of not (being) satisfied."
New York lost in four games to the shorthanded Aces on Oct. 18, 2023, and turned the painful defeat into a mission. The Liberty have been the league's best team this season and, including the playoffs, went 6-1 against Las Vegas.
Ionescu said the Aces “made us a better team,” and she made it clear she respects how difficult it was for Las Vegas to win back-to-back titles. But, no doubt, the Aces fueled New York's drive by how they celebrated after last season, with coach Becky Hammon even taking a shot during the victory parade at Stewart going 3 for 17 in the final game.
“We talked our crap, they heard and they get to talk their crap,” Hammon said Sunday. “It's part of the game. It's not personal. I can talk crap all I want. At the end of the day, I have mad respect for (coach) Sandy (Brondello). Sandy coached me. Me and Sandy go way back. Sab, Stewie, I have mad respect for those players. I think Stewie is phenomenal.”
The Aces, whose record 12-game home playoff winning streak ended, were hoping to make more WNBA history. Last year, they became the first team since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001-02 to win back-to-back titles and were trying to become the first club to capture three successive championships since the Houston Comets took four straight in 1997-2000.
“It's hard,” said A'ja Wilson, who led the Aces with 19 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots. “Everybody wants to beat you. You're everybody's Super Bowl. (The loss) sucks, it stings, but I'm very proud about the group that we had.”
In addition to Ionescu and Stewart, Jonquel Jones scored 14 points despite being in foul trouble most of the game and Leonie Fiebich finished with 11 points.
For Las Vegas, Kelsey Plum (17 points) and Tiffany Hayes (11) joined Wilson in scoring in double figures.
The Aces couldn't contend with a Liberty front line that dominated inside, outrebounding Las Vegas 48-27. Aces center Kiah Stokes missed her second game in a row because of a concussion.
Ionescu showed almost right away this wouldn't be a repeat of Game 3 for her. She averaged 24.5 points in the playoffs entering that game, but was held to four points on 1-of-7 shooting Friday night. She didn't score until the fourth quarter.
This time, Ionescu needed just 3:04 to get on the scoreboard when she nailed a corned 3-pointer. She finished the first quarter with 12 points, making all four shots that included three 3s.
The Liberty led by just two points entering the fourth quarter but then outscored Las Vegas 23-11 in the final period to pull away.
The Aces made just 32.8% shots for the game that included going 7 of 30 from the 3-point line.
“To hold Vegas to 24 points in the second half is pretty impressive,” Brondello said.
And now, unlike last year, it's the Liberty walking off the opposing floor with plenty to celebrate.
“It was really nice to see how we stuck together,” Ionescu said. “Obviously, we had a kind of rough game last game and it can go one of two ways. ... We came out here and understood we wanted to be our best and get this done because we deserve that.”
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Start of the 1st Quarter | |||
10:00 | Jump Ball: Jonquel Jones vs. A'ja Wilson. | |||
9:37 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
9:37 | Jonquel Jones with an offensive rebound. | |||
9:25 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton misses a jump shot from 15 feet out. | |||
9:25 | A'ja Wilson with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:05 | +3 | Jackie Young makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Chelsea Gray with the assist. | 0-3 | |
8:46 | Jonquel Jones misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
8:46 | A'ja Wilson with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:24 | +3 | Jackie Young makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Chelsea Gray with the assist. | 0-3 | |
8:39 | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
8:16 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a jump shot from 8 feet out. | 2-3 | |
8:56 | A'ja Wilson misses a layup. | |||
8:05 | Leonie Fiebich with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:48 | +2 | Jonquel Jones makes a layup. Breanna Stewart with the assist. | 4-3 | |
7:48 | Shooting foul committed by Alysha Clark. | |||
7:48 | +1 | Jonquel Jones makes free throw 1 of 1. | 5-3 | |
7:27 | Alysha Clark misses a layup. | |||
7:27 | Breanna Stewart with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:17 | Jonquel Jones misses a layup. | |||
7:17 | Jonquel Jones with an offensive rebound. | |||
7:14 | Chelsea Gray blocks a Jonquel Jones layup. | |||
7:14 | Breanna Stewart with an offensive rebound. | |||
7:08 | Personal foul committed by Jackie Young. | |||
8:46 | A'ja Wilson with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:36 | Personal foul committed by Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. | |||
8:39 | A'ja Wilson misses a layup. | |||
8:23 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a jump shot from 8 feet out. | 2-3 | |
8:16 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a jump shot from 8 feet out. | 2-3 | |
5:59 | Aces take a full timeout. | |||
5:43 | Jackie Young misses a layup. | |||
5:43 | Jackie Young with an offensive rebound. | |||
8:05 | Jackie Young misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
5:36 | Sabrina Ionescu with a defensive rebound. | |||
8:05 | Leonie Fiebich with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:23 | A'ja Wilson with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:12 | Jackie Young misses a layup. | |||
5:12 | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:56 | Jonquel Jones misses a jump shot from 11 feet out. | |||
4:56 | Chelsea Gray with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:49 | Shooting foul committed by Jonquel Jones. | |||
4:49 | +1 | Kelsey Plum makes free throw 1 of 2. | 10-4 | |
7:30 | Breanna Stewart with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:49 | +1 | Kelsey Plum makes free throw 2 of 2. | 10-5 | |
7:20 | Jonquel Jones with an offensive rebound. | |||
7:17 | Jonquel Jones with an offensive rebound. | |||
4:28 | Alysha Clark misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
4:28 | Aces with an offensive rebound. | |||
7:14 | Chelsea Gray blocks a Jonquel Jones layup. | |||
7:14 | Breanna Stewart with an offensive rebound. | |||
4:20 | Aces with an offensive rebound. | |||
4:12 | A'ja Wilson misses a jump shot from 12 feet out. | |||
4:12 | Aces with an offensive rebound. | |||
4:09 | +2 | A'ja Wilson makes a jump shot from 11 feet out. Jackie Young with the assist. | 10-7 | |
3:50 | +2 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a jump shot from 13 feet out. Breanna Stewart with the assist. | 12-7 | |
6:56 | +3 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Leonie Fiebich with the assist. | 8-3 | |
3:50 | +1 | Sabrina Ionescu makes free throw 1 of 1. | 13-7 | |
3:28 | +2 | Tiffany Hayes makes a jump shot from 2 feet out. | 13-9 | |
3:08 | +3 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | 16-9 | |
2:54 | Shooting foul committed by Sabrina Ionescu. | |||
2:54 | +1 | Kelsey Plum makes free throw 1 of 2. | 16-10 | |
2:54 | Substitution: Chelsea Gray in for Jackie Young. | |||
2:54 | +1 | Kelsey Plum makes free throw 2 of 2. | 16-11 | |
2:40 | +3 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Leonie Fiebich with the assist. | 19-11 | |
2:27 | Personal foul committed by Leonie Fiebich. | |||
6:02 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a jump shot from 2 feet out. | 10-3 | |
2:16 | Breanna Stewart with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:56 | Kelsey Plum steals the ball from Sabrina Ionescu. | |||
1:52 | +2 | Kelsey Plum makes a layup. | 19-13 | |
1:40 | +2 | Leonie Fiebich makes a layup. | 21-13 | |
1:28 | +2 | A'ja Wilson makes a jump shot from 7 feet out. Chelsea Gray with the assist. | 21-15 | |
1:28 | Shooting foul committed by Leonie Fiebich. | |||
1:28 | Substitution: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton in for Jonquel Jones. | |||
1:28 | Substitution: Kennedy Burke in for Leonie Fiebich. | |||
1:28 | +1 | A'ja Wilson makes free throw 1 of 1. | 21-16 | |
1:16 | Chelsea Gray steals the ball from Breanna Stewart. | |||
1:08 | Tiffany Hayes misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
1:08 | Sabrina Ionescu with a defensive rebound. | |||
49.2 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
49.2 | Substitution: Sydney Colson in for Alysha Clark. | |||
49.2 | Substitution: Courtney Vandersloot in for Sabrina Ionescu. | |||
37.0 | +2 | Tiffany Hayes makes a layup. | 21-18 | |
37.0 | Shooting foul committed by Courtney Vandersloot. | |||
37.0 | +1 | Tiffany Hayes makes free throw 1 of 1. | 21-19 | |
31.2 | Breanna Stewart misses a jump shot from 11 feet out. | |||
31.2 | Breanna Stewart with an offensive rebound. | |||
30.5 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a layup. | 23-19 | |
10.9 | Sydney Colson misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | |||
10.9 | Kayla Thornton with a defensive rebound. | |||
0.9 | Tiffany Hayes blocks a Kennedy Burke layup. | |||
0.9 | A'ja Wilson with a defensive rebound. | |||
0.0 | End of the 1st Quarter | |||
5:43 | Jackie Young misses a layup. | |||
5:43 | Jackie Young with an offensive rebound. | |||
5:36 | Kelsey Plum misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
5:26 | A'ja Wilson with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:11 | Jackie Young misses a layup. | |||
5:11 | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:59 | Jonquel Jones misses a jump shot from 11 feet out. | |||
4:56 | Jonquel Jones misses a jump shot from 11 feet out. | |||
4:56 | Chelsea Gray with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:33 | Kelsey Plum with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:34 | Kelsey Plum with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:28 | Alysha Clark misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
4:28 | Aces with an offensive rebound. | |||
4:15 | Aces with an offensive rebound. | |||
4:12 | Aces with an offensive rebound. | |||
4:09 | +2 | A'ja Wilson makes a jump shot from 11 feet out. Jackie Young with the assist. | 10-7 | |
3:31 | +2 | Tiffany Hayes makes a jump shot from 1 foot out. | 13-9 | |
3:08 | +3 | Sabrina Ionescu makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | 16-9 | |
1:16 | Chelsea Gray steals the ball from Breanna Stewart. | |||
1:08 | Tiffany Hayes misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
1:08 | Sabrina Ionescu with a defensive rebound. | |||
31.2 | Breanna Stewart misses a jump shot from 11 feet out. | |||
31.2 | Breanna Stewart with an offensive rebound. | |||
30.5 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a layup. | 23-19 | |
11.1 | Kayla Thornton with a defensive rebound. | |||
0.0 | Tiffany Hayes blocks a Kennedy Burke layup. | |||
0.0 | Liberty with an offensive rebound. | |||
0.0 | End of the 1st Quarter |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Start of the 2nd Quarter | |||
9:41 | +3 | Chelsea Gray makes a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. Tiffany Hayes with the assist. | 23-22 | |
9:26 | +3 | Breanna Stewart makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Courtney Vandersloot with the assist. | 26-22 | |
9:05 | +3 | Kelsey Plum makes a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. Chelsea Gray with the assist. | 26-25 | |
8:57 | Personal foul committed by Sydney Colson. | |||
8:57 | Substitution: Megan Gustafson in for A'ja Wilson. | |||
8:57 | Substitution: Leonie Fiebich in for Kayla Thornton. | |||
8:43 | Shooting foul committed by Kelsey Plum. | |||
8:43 | +1 | Courtney Vandersloot makes free throw 1 of 2. | 27-25 | |
8:43 | Substitution: Sabrina Ionescu in for Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. | |||
8:43 | Substitution: Jonquel Jones in for Breanna Stewart. | |||
8:43 | +1 | Courtney Vandersloot makes free throw 2 of 2. | 28-25 | |
8:21 | Sydney Colson misses a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. | |||
8:21 | Leonie Fiebich with a defensive rebound. | |||
8:09 | Aces with a defensive rebound. | |||
8:08 | Personal foul committed by Courtney Vandersloot. | |||
8:08 | Substitution: Jackie Young in for Sydney Colson. | |||
7:53 | +2 | Megan Gustafson makes a layup. Chelsea Gray with the assist. | 28-27 | |
7:44 | Personal foul committed by Tiffany Hayes. | |||
7:44 | Substitution: Alysha Clark in for Tiffany Hayes. | |||
7:44 | Substitution: Breanna Stewart in for Kennedy Burke. | |||
7:33 | +2 | Jonquel Jones makes a layup. Courtney Vandersloot with the assist. | 30-27 | |
7:20 | Chelsea Gray misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
7:20 | Leonie Fiebich with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:01 | Courtney Vandersloot with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
6:36 | Kelsey Plum misses a jump shot from 15 feet out. | |||
6:36 | Jonquel Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:24 | +2 | Breanna Stewart makes a layup. | 32-27 | |
6:24 | Shooting foul committed by Alysha Clark. | |||
6:24 | Substitution: A'ja Wilson in for Kelsey Plum. | |||
6:24 | Substitution: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton in for Courtney Vandersloot. | |||
6:24 | +1 | Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 1. | 33-27 | |
6:08 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:54 | Leonie Fiebich misses a jump shot from 16 feet out. | |||
5:54 | A'ja Wilson with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:43 | Breanna Stewart blocks a Jackie Young 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
5:43 | Betnijah Laney-Hamilton with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:34 | +3 | Leonie Fiebich makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | 36-27 | |
5:15 | Sabrina Ionescu steals the ball from Chelsea Gray. | |||