WNBA Finals Game 1 recap: Las Vegas Aces near title repeat with win over New York Liberty
The Las Vegas Aces are on track for back-to-back titles after they won Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday, beating the New York Liberty, 99-82, at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas
The defending champions had as big a lead as 22 after they scrapped back from a slow first half to put on a show in front of Sheryl Swoopes, LeBron James and Tom Brady.
Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young each had a career-playoff high 26 points. Chelsea Gray had nine assists on her birthday.
“I have the best teammates in the world," Plum said postgame on the ESPN broadcast, "so whatever I gotta do to just get open, Chelsea’s gonna find me. Jack was phenomenal tonight. It was just a great team win.”
The Aces are undefeated in the playoffs and the sixth team in WNBA history to win their first six games of the postseason.
Breanna Stewart led the Liberty with 21 points and nine rebounds. Marine Johannès added 14 points off the bench, including four three-point buckets.
"I'm just a huge fan, other than when she's playing us," Aces head coach Becky Hammon said of Johannès after the game.
2023 WNBA PLAYOFFS: Finals schedule, scores, matchups and award winners
Las Vegas pulled away in the second half after being down 49-46 at halftime. They faced an eight-point deficit in the second quarter after Kayla Thornton scored a three-point shot with one of six assists from Courtney Vandersloot. The Aces went on a 9-0 run between the third and fourth quarters to secure the lead.
"They took the first punch and now we have to respond," Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said.
WNBA Finals Game 1 highlights
The Las Vegas Aces came alive in the second half, led by guards Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, who each had 26 points.
.@JackieYoung3 from beyond the arc to give the @LVAces the 54-53 lead to start the 3Q #WNBAFinals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/iKuLKlaoFi
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 8, 2023
.@JackieYoung3 from beyond the arc to give the @LVAces the 54-53 lead to start the 3Q #WNBAFinals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/iKuLKlaoFi
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 8, 2023
Plum had nine points in the last five minutes of the second quarter to give her team momentum heading into the break.
KP came out of nowhere to tie up the game in the 2Q 🔥
📺 ABC | #WNBAFinals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/Sg4zrLYLYg— WNBA (@WNBA) October 8, 2023
BEWARE OF DAWG ‼️@Kelseyplum10 // #RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/WxaxdaGexh
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 8, 2023
For the New York Liberty, Marine Johannès had 14 points off the bench in the first half, including four three-point buckets.
BAAAANGGG ‼@MarineJ5 with her fourth triple of the game
📺 ABC | #WNBAFinals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/Uq3iTfkgH2— WNBA (@WNBA) October 8, 2023
KEEP 👏 GOIN' 👏@MarineJ5 leads the Libs with 14 PTS before the half 🧙♀️ https://t.co/ZecoGedqPg pic.twitter.com/OT5eGZr21a
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 8, 2023
THAT'S HOW YOU FEELIN'!?!? @MarineJ5 pic.twitter.com/vbrJAis1Cq
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 8, 2023
A'ja Wilson scored the first points of the game and finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
.@_ajawilson22 from midrange, why not??? 👏
📺 ABC | #WNBAFinals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/IKjkSUjvFO— WNBA (@WNBA) October 8, 2023
First points of the 2023 #WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV goes to @_ajawilson22 🙌
📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/F621zKZ3Jr— WNBA (@WNBA) October 8, 2023
Courtney Vandersloot had a historic day. Her six assists moved her past Lindsay Whalen for second in league history in playoff assists. Her 10 points also gave her 500 career playoff points.
FLOOR GENERAL ‼@Sloot22 has passed Lindsay Whalen for 2nd on the All-Time Playoffs assists list with 342 and counting
📺 ABC | #WNBAFinals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/ieY8KFrQCH— WNBA (@WNBA) October 8, 2023
When is Game 2 of the WNBA Finals?
Game 2 of the WNBA Finals will tip off at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA Finals Game 1 recap: Las Vegas Aces defeat New York Liberty