New York Liberty advance to the WNBA Finals beating two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu rebounded from a rare off game to score 22 points, and nearly a year after the Aces ended the Liberty’s dream of a championship, New York returned the favor Sunday afternoon by defeating Las Vegas 76-62 to advance to the WNBA Finals.

The top-seeded Liberty will have home-court advantage in the championship series and will face either the Connecticut Sun or Minnesota Lynx. This is the Liberty’s sixth trip to the finals, but the franchise is still seeking its first title.

New York lost in four games to the shorthanded Aces on Oct. 18, 2023, and turned the painful defeat into a mission. The Liberty have been the league’s best team this season and, including the playoffs, went 6-1 against Las Vegas.

The Aces, whose record 12-game home playoff winning streak ended, were hoping to make more WNBA history. They became the first team since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001-02 to win back-to-back titles and were trying to become the first club to capture three successive championships since the Houston Comets took four straight in 1997-2000.

SUN 92, LYNX 82

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Alyssa Thomas had 18 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds to help Connecticut stave off elimination and beat Minnesota, forcing a decisive Game 5 in their semifinal series.

That game will be Tuesday night in Minnesota. The winner will face the Liberty in the WNBA Finals that start Thursday in New York. The Lynx and the Liberty already met for a championship this season with Minnesota beating New York for the Commissioner’s Cup title.

Ty Harris scored 20 points to lead the Sun, who now will try to return to the Finals for the third time in six seasons. The Sun still are looking for the franchise’s first WNBA championship.

Napheesa Collier did what she could to try and get Minnesota the win, finishing with 29 points and 13 rebounds

The Associated Press