Las Vegas Aces Bounce Back Big in Game 3
Las Vegas is buzzing with excitement after the Aces pulled off a stunning 95-81 victory against the New York Liberty in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. After finding themselves in a bit of a pickle by falling behind 2-0 in the series, the defending champions showed they’re not going down without a fight.
Aces Surge Back
Playing in front of a hyped-up crowd at the Michelob Ultra Arena, the Aces came out swinging. The game was razor-close in the first half, with neither team able to take a lead larger than four points. But, man, did things change fast! The highlight of the night was definitely a jaw-dropping 17-2 run to finish the third quarter. As the Aces’ defense tightened like a vice, New York struggled, scoring just six points in that quarter—a real record for the Aces when it comes to playoff performance.
By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Liberty had put their starters on the bench, while the Aces kept their stars on the floor a little longer. And it wasn’t for nothing; they were sitting pretty with a 90-68 lead. The crowd was electric, clearly appreciating the Aces’ determination to get their game back on track.
Star Players Shine
The Aces’ offense was led by Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum, who combined for a whopping 44 points. They also racked up six assists and only slipped up with two turnovers throughout the game. And don’t sleep on A’ja Wilson: she looked every bit the MVP with her impressive 19 points and 14 rebounds. It’s no surprise why the Aces have been such a powerhouse in the league.
Locking Down the Liberty
One of the focal points of the game was clearly how the Aces approached defending the Liberty star, Sabrina Ionescu. After being pretty much unstoppable in the first two games, Ionescu struggled big time, finishing with only four points on 1-of-7 shooting. The Aces were determined, applying solid pressure and making it tough for her to make plays. This kind of defensive effort echoes what we’ve seen from them over the past two seasons–an intimidating wall that opponents just can’t seem to get through.
It wasn’t just Ionescu they had on lockdown; the Aces looked like a well-oiled machine. The crowd played their part too, sensing that the Aces were gradually clawing their way back into this series. You could feel the atmosphere in the arena shift from worry to confidence as the game progressed.
The Path Forward
This was a crucial win for the Aces, but they’ve still got a mountain to climb. They now need to win two more games against a Liberty team that’s proven hard to beat, having not lost three consecutive games all season. However, it’s tough to ignore the momentum the Aces have built with this win. The pressure’s on, and the way they played in Game 3 shows they have the chops to make a serious comeback.
As we gear up for Game 4 on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, fans are already buzzing with anticipation. Can the Aces continue to unleash their full potential? Only time will tell, but if they play like they did in Game 3, the Liberty might have a real fight on their hands.
