Nyara Sabally and Leonie Fiebich missed an early entry into the final of the US professional basketball league WNBA with New York Liberty.
The team around the two German national players had to admit defeat to defending champion Las Vegas Aces 81:95 (49:52) in the third game of the best-of-five series on Friday (October 4th, 2024, local time). The series is now 2-1 for New York, three wins are needed to advance.
Fiebich scored ten points in 28 minutes of play. The 24-year-old, who was recently elected to the All-Rookie team, was in the starting lineup as in the two previous duels against Las Vegas. Sabally scored eight points. The best thrower of the game was Aces guard Jackie Young with 24 points.
Weak third quarter
In what had previously been an even encounter, Liberty’s undoing was primarily due to a weak third quarter (only six points); Las Vegas then played its commanding lead over time. It was the twelfth home win in a row in the playoffs for the Aces, who can now equalize again in their own hall on Sunday (10 p.m.). A possible decisive fifth duel would take place on Tuesday in New York.
Last year’s final series
Last year, New York lost the final against Las Vegas 1:3 and is the only founding member of the WNBA still waiting for a championship – despite appearing in four finals. This season, the team from the Big Apple won the main round, the Aces took fourth place. In the second semifinal, the Minnesota Lynx and Connecticut Sun face each other, the series is 2-1.
