The Las Vegas Aces retained their WNBA title on Wednesday, winning Game 4 of the final, 70-69, and winning the series 3-1. It was a masterstroke that Las Vegas, deprived of two major players, pulled off on the floor of its opponent. “People thought we were beaten because we were missing two starters, but they forgot that we had dogs on this team,” said Aces fullback Sydney Colson after the trophy presentation. “So I have two words to say to them: good night!”, she continued, to the boos of a furious New York audience.
Since Candace Parker’s left foot surgery at the end of July, coach Becky Hammon had chosen to rely on only six elements. Ironically, it was also the foot that point guard Chelsea Gray (left) and center Kiah Stokes (right) were injured in the third match of the final. With both players unavailable in the fourth match, the entire offensive balance of the Aces was threatened. The difference was quickly seen on the field, Las Vegas finding itself trailing by 10 points in the first quarter (19-9).
A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces throws t-shirts into the crowd after her team’s victory in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals against New York on October 11, 2023 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas.
Credit: Getty Images
No one on this team I don’t believe in
Manhandled, the Aces did not give up. The visiting team relied on a very aggressive defense, which hampered New York’s penetrations and muzzled the interior Jonquel Jones (only 6 pts) and Breanna Stewart. The latter, voted best player of the season, completely missed her match (3 out of 17 on shots) on the offensive level. Beyond Stewart, it was the Liberty as a whole who seemed to play with the handbrake all match, posting a mediocre 36% on shots.
On offense, Vegas played their luck bravely, continuing to circulate the ball and create shots. Behind the insatiable A’Ja Wilson (24 pts and 16 rebounds), voted best player in the final, the Nevada team benefited from the improbable joker Cayla George. This interior player who had only played 17 minutes in 7 playoff matches so far surprised with her vision of the game and her good hands (11 pts, 4 rebounds and 3 assists). “There’s not a person on this team that I don’t believe in,” Becky Hammon said after the game.
Led during almost the entire first three quarters, the defending champions took the lead just before the start of the last period (53-51). The two teams battled throughout the fourth quarter, before New York failed on a last possession and a missed shot from Courtney Vandersloot. The leader was however one of the few to shine for the host team, with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. For her part, Marine Johannès was only allowed seven minutes in this last match (1 pt).
2023-10-19 05:16:00
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