Aces vs Liberty Preview: Wilson Revisits Stewart, Aces Need to Strengthen Defense

On October 5th, Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals will be played, with the Aces hosting the Liberty.

The Aces finished the regular season with a record of 27 wins and 13 losses, ranking 4th in the league, averaging 86.4 points per game and conceding 80.9 points, with a home record of 13 wins and 7 losses. The Liberty dominated the regular season with 32 wins and 8 losses, placing them at the top of the league, averaging 85.6 points per game and conceding 76.5 points, with an away record of 16 wins and 4 losses.

In the playoffs, both the Aces and the Liberty eliminated their first-round opponents with a 2-0 scoreline, with the Aces defeating the Storm and the Liberty easily overcoming the Dream, who barely made it into the playoffs. In the semifinals, the Liberty capitalized on their home advantage to win two consecutive games, taking a 2-0 lead. The Aces are now just one loss away from elimination, facing a precarious situation.

In Game 2, the Aces had a chance to even the series but ultimately fell short in the final quarter, losing 84-88. Five players scored in double digits for the Aces, with Wilson contributing 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, Jackie Young scoring 17 points, Gray adding 14 points, Clark scoring 13 points, and Hayes contributing 10 points. For the Liberty, four players scored in double digits, with Ionescu contributing 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, Stewart scoring 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists, Jones adding 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists, Vandersloot scoring 12 points, Thornton contributing 9 points, and Lane scoring 8 points.

The gap between the two teams in the regular season mainly manifested in defense. The Aces ranked first in the league in scoring, while the Liberty ranked second, with a difference of only 0.8 points. However, the Liberty conceded the third-fewest points in the league, while the Aces ranked sixth, with a difference of 4.4 points. The Aces also have the highest average points conceded among the top four teams in the playoffs.

In the regular season, Wilson averaged 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 1.8 steals per game, setting multiple records in the WNBA and being unanimously named the regular-season MVP. However, in the playoffs, Wilson’s performance has fluctuated, averaging 22.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, and 0.2 steals per game. While Gray’s performance improved in the playoffs, Plum and Jackie Young’s performances declined compared to the regular season.

The Liberty’s core player Stewart maintained an average of 20.5 points per game in the playoffs, while Ionescu’s scoring average surged from 18.3 points to 24.5 points. Jones and Feibhig also performed well, making the Liberty’s four-game winning streak in the playoffs well-deserved.

This season, the Aces have faced the Liberty five times, three times in the regular season and twice in the playoffs, with the Liberty winning all five games. In this upcoming match, if the Aces lose, they will be eliminated. Both teams are known for their offensive prowess, but if the Aces want to keep the series alive, they need to step up their defense, which is not their strong suit.

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