LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Las Vegas Aces’ journey to a three-peat has officially come to an end after the number one seed New York Liberty bested the back-to-back world champions in game four of the WNBA Semifinals 76-62.
“It’s hard,” Aces center A’ja Wilson said. “Every team looks different, your team looks different, nothing is the same, everybody wants to beat you...it stinks but I’m very proud of the group that we had.”
The league MVP finished the game with a double-double recording 19 points and 10 rebounds, Kelsey Plum put up 17 points and the WNBA’s Sixth Player of the Year Tiffany Hayes knocked down 11 points.
However, the Liberty won the battle on the boards 48-27 with Breanna Stewart leading the way grabbing 14 and Sabrina Ionescu scored the game high 22 points, showing respect for the Aces after the match.
“To do what they’ve done is not easy,” Ionescu said. “It’s a testiment to their togetherness, their expereience, how hard it is want to go out there and be their best every night, they’ve laid the foundation and they’ve continued to motivate everyone in the league to just want to be better.”
Despite the loss, Aces guard Chelsea Gray says this season made their team stronger moving forward.
“Everybody was suprised when we started 6-6,” Gray said. “There was a lot of question marks, I think we can withstand punches early, we could’ve folded a lot earlier than losing tonight, the highs and lows of this season I think that’s the biggest takeaway from this year.”
“I’d go to war with that crew any day.” @LVAces Chelsea Gray shares what was talked about in the locker room after the loss. @KTNV @WNBA #WNBA pic.twitter.com/41WF64qJeM
— Alex Eschelman (@alexeschelman) October 7, 2024
LIVE BLOG
FOURTH QUARTER
0:00 - FINAL 76-62 Liberty
1:20 - Hayes with the triple, 74-62 Liberty
2:45 - Febich with the bucket, 71-56 Liberty
5:50 - Sabrina Ionescu gives the Liberty a 10+ point lead, 64-53 Liberty
7:54 - Plum sinks the bucket assisted by Young, 57-53 Liberty
8:49 - Fiebich makes it 57-51 Liberty
FINAL: 76-62 Liberty
— Alex Eschelman (@alexeschelman) October 6, 2024
Despite the @LVAces journey to a three-peat coming to an end, Aces fans gave the team one final cheer after the game. @KTNV #wnba pic.twitter.com/3bn5BTD0t3
THIRD QUARTER
0:00 - 53-51 Liberty
5:10 - Tiffany Hayes finds Wilson for the shot, 49-46 Liberety
6:44 - Chelsea Gray with the bucket, 49-44 Liberty
7:39 - Stewart with the jumper, 46-42 Liberty
53-51 Liberty going into the final quarter @KTNV #WNBA pic.twitter.com/XoY0LHkQdd
— Alex Eschelman (@alexeschelman) October 6, 2024
SECOND QUARTER
0:00 - 41-38 Liberty
1:40 - Kelsey Plum knocks down a three from the top of the arc, 39-37 Liberty
3:54 - A'ja Wilson with layup, 37-31 Liberty
5:34 - Leonie Fiebich makes a 24-foot triple, 36-27 Liberty
Second half of game four incoming between the @LVAces and the Liberty🏀 @KTNV #WNBA pic.twitter.com/N8uQzu3Omp
— Alex Eschelman (@alexeschelman) October 6, 2024
FIRST QUARTER
0:00 - 23-19 Liberty
