Liberty vs. Aces Preview: Stewart in Hot Form, Wilson’s Performance Key to Aces’ Comeback

On October 2nd at 7:30 PM, the WNBA semifinals will see their second matchup, with the New York Liberty hosting the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces, at home. In the first game, the Liberty won 87-77 at home, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

The New York Liberty have been extremely strong this season, securing a 32-8 record and ranking first in the league. They easily swept the Dream 2-0 in the first round of the playoffs. In the semifinals, they faced their opponent from last year’s finals, the Aces, and were determined for revenge. In the first game, Stewart scored an impressive 34 points, outshining this season’s MVP Wilson, helping her team secure the first win. Additionally, Ionescu contributed 21 points and 5 assists, while Jones added 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Since entering the playoffs, the Liberty have maintained excellent form, showcasing strong performances on both offense and defense, with core players consistently stepping up. In the second game of the first round, Ionescu scored 36 points with 9 assists, setting a new playoff scoring record; in the semifinals, Stewart scored 34 points in a single game, marking her sixth time scoring over 30 points in the playoffs. With these two key players performing so well, if they can maintain this momentum, the opposing Aces may struggle to keep up.

The defending champion Aces did not perform as explosively this season as they did last year, suffering several surprising losses during the regular season, ending with a 27-13 record and ranking fourth in the league. In the first round of the playoffs against the Storm, their performance was not great, but they still advanced to the semifinals with a 2-0 series win due to the poor form of their opponents. In the semifinals, facing their defeated opponents from last year’s finals, the Aces failed to show good form, with only Plum scoring 24 points. Wilson had 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists but was not very efficient, while Gray shot just 2-of-7 for 4 points.

In the first game’s matchup between Wilson and Stewart, Wilson was at a disadvantage. Her performance in this game will be key to whether the Aces can mount a comeback. Only if Wilson dominates on the court will the Aces be in a favorable position. At the same time, players like Plum, Young, and Gray need to step up, given that they are facing the league’s top team. The Aces are not a strong defensive team, and once the Liberty find their offensive rhythm, it will be difficult to stop them. This is something that needs adjustment; otherwise, going back home down 0-2 would be very disadvantageous.

This season, the Liberty won all three regular-season matchups against the Aces, giving them a psychological advantage. Their victory in the first game of the semifinals has made them more relaxed on the court, allowing them to play better. It remains to be seen whether Stewart will continue to dominate or if Wilson will regain face in this game.