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Michael Voebel is a senior writer at ESPN
LAS VEGAS — Everywhere New York Liberty goalie Sabrina Ionescu looked Friday while attacking, there were Las Vegas Aces defenders right above her.
“They didn’t give me the light of day,” Ionescu said.
Las Vegas avoided elimination with a 95-81 win in Game 3 of its WNBA semifinal series with New York. This is thanks in large part to improved defense and a greater sense of urgency.
Ionescu has only scored once in her WNBA career, in 2021, but the Aces nearly pulled it off on Friday. Her only points came on a free throw after a technical foul on an ace and a 3-pointer, both in the fourth quarter.
“In every match in the series, things changed,” Ionescu said. “They lost a couple of games that allowed me to come off screens and differentiate them offensively. So I think this game I was able to see the adjustments he made — sending two or three to the ball at a time and not letting me get anything easy.” There were usually three people in my face, no matter what.”
Aces coach Becky Hammon said she gave her team’s defense an A-plus, especially against Ionescu. Liberty was held to 38.8% shooting from the field compared to 52.1% from their aces.
“I think we were proactive, just bringing it up and trying to make Sabrina uncomfortable,” Hammon said.
Entering Friday, the Aces had lost five straight games to New York: the first three of the regular season and the first two of this series in Brooklyn.
“The possibility of us beating them 6-0 this year was slim,” Ionescu said. “It would have been really impressive; they’ve won the championship two in a row. We’re still 2-1 up, and we always come back from losing really well.”
The Liberty, which went 32-8 in the regular season, knew where the Aces were coming from on Friday. New York was in the same position last year when the two teams met in the WNBA Finals. The Aces won the first two games at home, then the Liberty won Game 3 in New York.
“This is the time when teams are most dangerous, when their back is against the wall and they’re going to throw everything at you,” said forward Brianna Stewart, who led New York with 19 points. “They came out and did what they were supposed to do tonight. Our conversations in the locker room afterward (were) ‘We’ve got to keep our heads up because Game 4 is coming very, very quickly.’
The teams will meet again at Michelob Ultra Arena at 3pm ET (noon local time) on Sunday. The match will be broadcast on ABC.
The Liberty hopes the pattern from last season’s playoff battle with the Aces remains the same: with the series ending in four games. That would send New York on its sixth attempt at winning a WNBA championship.
By contrast, the Aces are hoping they can continue what could be a historic rally from 0-2 down in a series, something no WNBA team has ever done, and continue the quest for a hat-trick.
League MVP A’ja Wilson scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for Las Vegas. The Aces’ starting trio — Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Bloom and Jackie Young — had 54 points and 13 assists.
“Defensively, we were pretty locked in,” Gray said. “Offensively, when we’re able to get (that type of defense) and then run quick plays and secondary options, it’s not just about throwing wide open shots. They are on their heels.”
