The New York Liberty secure their playoff spot as the initial WNBA team, triumphing over the reigning champions, the Las Vegas Aces.
Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones took charge for the Liberty at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas; Ionescu ended the game with 23 points and 6 rebounds, Stewart contributed 18 points, 7 boards, and 2 blocks, while Jones delivered 10 points, a game-high 17 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Postgame, Ionescu expressed, "We're thrilled to secure a spot in the playoffs. Our objective isn't merely to reach there, but it's about winning the upcoming matches, improving as a team, and concentrating on ourselves."
"It's a lengthy season. We're just slowly getting back into the groove. It's satisfying to observe that we've been able to carry on from where we left off and keep giving our best."
With this victory, New York boasts an outstanding 23-4 record, marking the best start in the team's 28-year history. Additionally, the Liberty holds the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Aces. This will be the 19th time that the Liberty is participating in the postseason.
New York's head coach, Sandy Brondello, becomes the first coach in WNBA history to guide teams to the playoffs in her first 12 seasons in the league.
The Liberty managed to limit the Aces – who dropped to 16-9 for the season – to only 8 points in the second quarter. This was Las Vegas' first single-digit scoring quarter of the season.
In the loss, Aces' standout player A'ja Wilson scored a game-high 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 steals. It was Las Vegas' first game after the month-long Olympic break.
The Liberty will encounter the Dallas Wings at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Tuesday, while the Aces aim to bounce back against the Los Angeles Sparks at home on Sunday.
After securing their playoff spot, Sabrina Ionescu mentioned their focus is not just reaching the playoffs but winning the upcoming matches and improving as a team. This sporting season has been long for New York, but they're glad to be getting back into their rhythm and delivering solid performances.
