Joe Paige | Sports Editor
The Las Vegas Aces are now just one win away from becoming back-to-back WNBA champions, only twice in WNBA history has a team been able to command 2-0 lead in the finals. After a dominant victory on Wednesday night the Aces now hold a 2-0 lead against the New York Liberty in the series.
Last Sunday New York would fight valiantly to try and secure their first game 1 finals win. The first half was all New York. Marine Johannes displayed her insane accuracy shooting a barrage of threes for the liberty, including a few one legged three-point shots, creating an unbelievable highlight reel in the process. Johannes made 4 threes in the first half, tied for the most in a WNBA finals game in New York Liberty History.
Although New York had momentum heading into the second half, it would be Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray who’d catch fire just at the right time to give the Aces the lead, and Vegas had no intention on letting their foot off the gas. The Ace’s would steal game 1 with an 82-99 victory. Vegas’ Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young would both finish the game with 26 points, a playoff career high for both of them.
The Aces were hoping to carry the dominance they had at the end of game 1 into game 2. Vegas would cruise through game 2, setting the tone early attacking the basket and hitting every shot they threw at the rim. The Aces had 38 points in the first quarter, setting a record for the most points in a first quarter WNBA finals history.
This season’s defensive player of the year A’ja Wilson would end the night making history, joining Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones as the third player in WNBA Finals history to score at least 25 points and grab 15 rebounds in a game. Vegas assisted on 31 of 37 points that night, marking the 3rd highest assist rate in WNBA finals history. Ace’s head coach Becky Hammon was left speechless in her post-game interview:
| "Their competitive, their fight for each other, they're a real team."
New York has been really struggling offensively, players like Stewart and Vandersloot have just not been as accurate as they’ve been in these playoffs. No team has ever come back from a 2-0 deficit in WNBA playoff history, the Liberty will try to become the first if they wish to extend their playoff hopes. Game 3 will tip off this Sunday at 3pm Est.
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