Aces slide to Liberty at the end of 5 games to avoid a sweep in Game 3

LAS VEGAS – Wherever New York Liberty defenseman Sabrina Ionescu looked on offense Friday, the Las Vegas Aces defenders were right above her.

“They didn’t give me the light of day,” Ionescu said.

Las Vegas staved off elimination with a 95-81 victory in Game 3 of its WNBA semifinal series against New York. That was thanks in large part to improved defense and a tremendous sense of urgency.

Ionescu has only been scoreless once in her WNBA career, in 2021, but the Aces nearly did that against her on Friday. Her only points came on a free throw after an Aces technical foul and a 3-pointer, both in the fourth quarter.

“Every game in the series, things changed,” Ionescu said. “They lost two games, which allowed me to get off screens and pick them apart offensively. I think in this game you could see the adjustments they made – sending two or three to the ball at a time and not letting me be taken lightly.” . There were usually three people facing me no matter what.

Aces coach Becky Hammon said she gave her team's defense an A, especially against Ionescu. The Liberty held 38.8% shooting from the field compared to 52.1% for the Aces.

“I just think we were proactive and just fueled things and tried to make Sabrina uncomfortable,” Hammon said.

Entering Friday, the Aces had lost five straight games to New York: the first three games of the regular season and the first two games of this series in Brooklyn.

“The odds of us winning 6-0 against them this year were slim,” Ionescu said. “It would have been really impressive; they are back-to-back champions. We are still up 2-1 and have always overcome defeat very well.”

The Liberty, who went 32-8 in the regular season, knew where the Aces were coming from Friday. New York found itself in the same position last year when the teams met in the WNBA Finals. The Aces won their first two games at home, then the Liberty won Game 3 in New York.

“This is the time when teams are most dangerous, when their backs are against the wall and they're throwing everything at you,” said forward Breanna Stewart, who led New York with 19 points. “They came out and did what they were supposed to do tonight. Our conversations afterwards in the locker room.” [were] We have to keep our heads up because Game 4 is coming very, very quickly.”

The teams will meet again at the Michelob Ultra Arena here in Las Vegas at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday (ABC), a start at 12:00 p.m. local time.

The Liberty are hoping that the pattern from last season's playoff battle with the Aces remains the same: the series ends after four games. This would mark New York's sixth attempt to win the WNBA Championship.

The Aces, meanwhile, are hoping they can continue their historic rebound from a 2-0 deficit, something no WNBA team has ever done, and continue their pursuit of a three-peat.

League MVP A'ja Wilson scored 19 points and 14 rebounds for Las Vegas, continuing a brilliant season. But the Aces' starting guard trio – Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young – also appeared to be the best versions of themselves on Friday, as they combined for 54 points and 13 assists.

“Defensively we were so locked in,” Gray said. “And offensively, if we’re able to do that [that kind of defense] and then executing our fast break and secondary options, it's not even just wide open layups. They're on their heels.