Follow usThe Las Vegas Aces edged out the New York Liberty 70-69 in a tightly-contested match of Game 4 of the playoffs to lift the WNBA trophy for second consecutive time, the first team to do so in 21 years.
🏆 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞-𝗧𝗢-𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 🏆
The Las Vegas Aces are your 2023 @WNBA Champions!#RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/jobnzWovzM
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 19, 2023
A’ja Wilson was once again the star of the show as she bagged home 24 points with 16 rebounds to inspire Las Vegas to victory.
“It’s not easy, as you know. This is what it’s all about,” Wilson said. “Not a lot of people get to do it. To be short-handed and win is amazing. It makes the win that much better. It’s hard to get back to the Finals to win again.”
It is a historical triumph as the Aces join the Los Angeles Sparks(2001-02) and the Houston Comets(1997-2000) as the only teams to defend their title.
Even more impressive, they did it without key players such as Chelsea Grey and Kiah Stokes, who sustained foot injuries in Game 3.
With the game tied at 64, Las Vegas scored six straight points, including the first four by Jackie Young, to go ahead 70-64 with 1:26 left.
Courtney Vandersloot hit a 3-pointer on New York’s possession, then stole the ball from Kelsey Plum, which led to Sabrina Ionescu’s foul-line jumper to get the Liberty within one with 41.7 seconds left.
A key stop towards the end with just seconds left was all the Aces needed to secure the win and be crowned champions.
