On Sunday, August sixth, Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty dominated the Las Vegas Aces, 99-66. Their 38-point win was the second largest in staff historical past.
The New York Liberty defeated the Las Vegas Aces 99-61, and handed Vegas their largest lack of the season. Coming into this extremely anticipated matchup, the Aces had been 24-2, and contemporary off eight straight wins. The 1998 Houston Comets maintain the very best file in WNBA Historical past (27-3), and the Las Vegas nonetheless have the prospect to beat that file. The sport was broadcasted on ABC and had a sellout crowd of 11,418 followers on the Barclays Middle. As of three weeks in the past, the WNBA’s viewership was up 46 p.c in comparison with final season. The group was electrical, as the highest two groups performed the primary of 4 matchups in August. WNBA Commisioner, Cathy Englebert was current, and mentioned the expansion of the WNBA, which can be touched upon within the subsequent article.
STRAIGHT DOMINANCE 😤
The #2 @nyliberty defeat the #1 Las Vegas Aces 99-61 to even out the szn collection at 1-1, led by @sabrina_i20‘s 31 PTS 🙌#MoreThanGame pic.twitter.com/Ug6FBG6VN0
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 6, 2023
New York Liberty Head Coach Sandy Brondello on a sold-out crowd
Previous to the sport, Liberty Head Coach Sandy Brondello talked concerning the significance of a sold-out crowd.
“I believe it is nice that individuals are popping out to observe ladies’s basketball and the WNBA. These are the very best gamers on the earth,” stated Brondello. “We have had nice crowds, however actually excited concerning the crowd tonight, as a result of you realize it is two actually good groups going in opposition to one another. “
On Sunday, the New York Liberty hosted their annual ladies’s well being sport, offered by Empire BlueCross BlueShield. Exterior the Barclays, the well being truthful included mammogram screenings, and extra assets. The A number of Myeloma Reaearch Basis teamed up with the New York Liberty, and donated $500 per each Courtney Vandersloot help, so as to increase consciousness.
Earlier than the sport, Courtney Vandersloot expressed her gratitude for the notice, and that her mom suffers from a number of myeloma.
“It is so huge not just for me, however for the neighborhood—after I was going via all of this [free agency], after I was assembly with New York, it was actually huge on them to vow and assist me in any means they wished,” stated Vandersloot. “For one thing that is so vital to me, and particularly my mother, and the entire neighborhood, I am excited.”
🤝 @barclayscenter pic.twitter.com/1KhzAfW4pk
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) August 6, 2023
The New York Liberty dominated on the Glass
Of their first matchup of the season, the Aces crushed the Liberty 98-81, through which New York created seventeen complete turnovers. Las Vegas outscored New York within the paint, and had ten steals as a staff. This second sport, New York made an announcement.
Previous to the win, New York had 31 rebounds in June in opposition to Vegas. On Sunday, the Liberty grabbed 48 boards, together with 14 by Jonquel Jones. The Liberty beginning 5 every seized not less than 4 rebounds, and had key defensive boards by Betnijah Laney, Kayla Thornton, Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot, and Sabrina Ionescu. The battle for the boxouts, in addition to boards, created twenty second likelihood factors for New York, in comparison with the Aces zero.
Tuff board for a tuff buck 💪 @jus242 is our @Withings Spotlight of the Recreation pic.twitter.com/9vXoQNo6at
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) August 6, 2023
The New York Liberty managed the boards, with 26 by halftime, and restricted the Aces to 12 in every of the halves. We noticed a number of put backs by Liberty’s Jonquel Jones, and rebounds that led to three-point pictures, made by Ionescu, Laney, Vandersloot, and Stewart. General, it was a bodily sport, and staff effort by the Liberty, who rank second within the WNBA in rebounds per sport (38.5), and third in opponent rebounds per sport (33.4). New York held Vegas star, A’ja Wilson, who ranks third in rebounds, to 7, and the Aces, to 24 rebounds (ten lower than their sport common).
New York ahead Jonquel Jones talked in depth concerning the distinction between this sport, and the prior with Vegas.
“I believe everyone was simply locked in. I believe that was the most important factor—I felt like everybody was on the identical web page—once you play protection like that, it is actually arduous, stated Jones.”
Coach Brondello on second likelihood factors and rebounding
Coach Sandy Brondello weighed in on the significance of rebounds, and the way her staff has improved publish all-star break. “You wish to be an awesome protection rebounding staff, and I believe for the reason that all-star break, that is the place we actually acquired going—JJ’s been a monster these days. Simply actually establishing herself down low and being relentless. These additional possessions definitely did assist us. It is simply everybody doing their jobs and ending, ” stated Brondello.
Coach @SBrondello is an entire MOOD!! That griddy was clear too 😂🤝 https://t.co/gptYtY7U9D pic.twitter.com/bfwL94bR4M
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) August 7, 2023
Liberty ahead, Betnijah Laney, was an enormous presence on the glass for New York. In 32 minutes, Laney grabbed 9 boards. She additionally performed on key position on protection, in addition to the offense.
Sabrina Ionescu dominates
New York Liberty star, Sabrina Ionescu was locked in, from the time of warmups, till the top of the video games. Whether or not within the nook or on the hash, Ionescu wasn’t lacking any buckets pre-game, and that translated all through your complete matchup.
New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu with some heat up pictures 🔥 pic.twitter.com/kS7RKrTsit
— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) August 6, 2023
The Aces have the best internet score within the league, and the general finest protection. Sabrina Ionescu, a deadly weapon past the arc, was deemed unguardable. Taking pictures 44 p.c from the three-point this season, the Liberty guard completed with 31 factors, 5 rebounds, and seven assists. It marked her fifth 30-point sport this season, which tied her 2022 file. Ionescu had 23 factors by the primary half, through which she completed the sport on 6-10 three-point taking pictures, and 12-19 from the sphere.
⬇️ FINAL SCORES & TOP PERFORMERS THREAD ⬇️
The @nyliberty dominated in a 38-PT win over the defending champs behind a monster efficiency from @sabrina_i20 🙌#MoreThanGame pic.twitter.com/MxnnAgeWOf
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 6, 2023
The third-year guard additionally leads the league with 94 three-pointers made. New York’s Betnijah Laney had a fantastic defensive save, which became Ionescu hitting a three-pointer from practically the emblem. The all-star impressed the house crowd, took benefit of open appears, the decide and roll, full courtroom presses, together with off ball screens. Ionescu pounded the lay ins, made crisp, sharp passes, solely comitting one turnover.
The New York Liberty had a monster second half
The second half of the sport was entertaining, but merely magnificent. The Liberty went on a 35-9 run with 8 minutes to go, and outscored the Aces 30-9 within the third quarter. On Sunday afternoon, New York shot 50 p.c from the sphere, 44 p.c from the three, and made all of their pictures on the line. Their 38-point win over the Aces was the second largest in staff historical past, and arguably New York’s finest sport of the yr.
Defensive Showdown
Defensively, New York held Las Vegas, the main offensive staff within the league, to only 17 factors within the second half. By the top of the primary quarter, Aces participant, Jackie Younger had 8 factors, and could not be stopped inside. Within the second quarter, New York collapsed contained in the paint, permitting Aces guard, Kelsey Plum, to knock down threes. The Liberty primarily opted to play man protection, creating the stops within the inside, and switching on screens.
New York made changes, and Betnijah Laney performed sturdy protection. Liberty star, Breanna Stewart had a tricky matchup with Aces A’ja Wilson, who had 11 of her 23 factors within the fourth quarter. Stewart, who had three blocks and steals, held Wilson to 9 factors on 2-14 taking pictures. General, it was a strong staff effort on each side of the ball, with terrific ball motion. On offense, they regarded for the mismatches, and capitalized on them.
THE GENERAL 🫡 @Sloot22 is now second in all-time W assists 🙌 pic.twitter.com/7mtjc7suf0
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) August 6, 2023
As well as, Courtney Vandersloot completed with ten factors, and 6 assists, which places her second on the all-time help checklist. Her six dimes raised $3000 for the A number of Myeloma Analysis Basis.
Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart on the victory
For those who had been watching the sport on ABC, the Liberty had been having enjoyable as a staff. Poised to win a championship with Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu, and Breanna Stewart, the beginning 5 had 25 assists, and received 4 straight video games. With the quantity of expertise and choices on this staff, Sabrina Ionescu gave her ideas post-game.
“Numerous enjoyable, simply with the ability to share the ball and perceive that we have now so many weapons and methods we are able to assault—the extra we’re ready to determine each other and proceed to construct chemistry, we’re only a powerful staff to beat, and I believe we had been capable of present that tonight,” stated Ionescu.
Breanna Stewart was requested concerning the victory over the very best staff within the league, and what message that win despatched to the league.
“The assertion that we made is, we’re taking the performs arduous, and particularly, after we actually lock in and are all on the identical web page, defensively, and offensively. It is arduous to cease. We had a 50,40,100 sport, which is form of loopy.”
2023 WNBA Commissioner Cup
The #CommissionersCup Championship between the returning @LVAces and the first-time @nyliberty is ready ‼
Will the cup keep in Sin Metropolis or head to the Huge Apple? Discover out ⬇
📅 August fifteenth
📍 Las Vegas
🎟 https://t.co/1TlMjtlNHkWNBA Commissioner’s Cup offered by @coinbase pic.twitter.com/vxMEc7yntL
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 7, 2023
The WNBA Commissioner Cup is an in-season event, the place groups compete for funds with the addition charitable donations. The New York Liberty will play the Las Vegas Aces for this yr’s cup, on Tuesday, August fifteenth, at Michelob ULTRA Area. Each Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart gave their ideas on the upcoming cup matchup.
“It was a aim of ours, clearly, to play for a Commissioners Cup championship. Understanding that, we have set the extent of how we have to play each single sport, so as to be at our greatest,” stated Ionescu.
The New York Liberty are set to face the Aces three extra instances in August, together with for the Cup.
Sabrina humbly talked about her staff, what the win meant tonight, and future matchups with Vegas. “All through the following month, we’re gonna se them quite a bit, so we have now to proceed to only make changes and play inside ourselves and proceed to get higher.” “We’re not sitting right here leaping for pleasure that we beat them. I believe for us, it is only a wakeup name of how good we are able to really be.”
Stewart rapidly added, “I am excited for the constitution.”
The New York Liberty will subsequent face off in opposition to the Chicago Sky, at dwelling on August eleventh. The Las Vegas Aces will face the Dallas Wings on the street, Tuesday.
For extra WNBA associated articles, click on right here!
Sara Jane is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, Journalist, and Sports activities Content material Creator on Twitch. She has a give attention to the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane at present resides in Connecticut along with her Cat and Canine. She is a Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, New York Yankees, and New York Giants fan. SJ has her undergraduate diploma from the College of Connecticut in Economics.
