Sports
GAME PREVIEW: Clash of Titans Set for WNBA Finals Game 1 on … – Las Vegas Aces
October 7, 2023
LAS VEGAS (October 7, 2023)—The WNBA Finals match-up that everyone penciled in well before the start of the season is ready to tip-off with the No. 1 Las Vegas Aces hosting the No. 2 New York Liberty in Game 1 of the best-of-five series on Sunday, Oct. 8, at Michelob ULTRA Arena (12 pm PT on ABC).
Download Game Notes
Game 2 will be played Oct. 11 at Michelob ULTRA, and the series moves to New York for Game 3 on Oct. 15. If necessary, Game 4 will be played in New York on Oct. 18 and if there is a Game 5, it will be played in Las Vegas on Oct. 20.
The Aces are pushing to become the first back-to-back champion since Los Angeles did so in 2001-2002, while the Liberty, the only remaining original franchise without a title, are looking for their first in 5 WNBA Finals appearances.
For the 5th time (2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015) in league history, women head up the top two teams with Becky Hammon helming the Aces and Sandy Brondello the Liberty. It it also marks the first time that two former WNBA players will face off for the title.
The Aces (34-6) and the Liberty (32-8) supercharged their respective rosters in the off-season. The Aces picked up two-time MVP and two-time WNBA champion Candace Parker, two-time WNBA champ Alysha Clark and four-time WNBL winner Cayla George. The Liberty signed league MVPs Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart, a two-time champion, and 2021 WNBA titlist Courtney Vandersloot.
Not only did the teams, which split their 4 regular season contests, finish in the top 2 spots this season, they were Nos. 1 and 2 in the league for scoring, assists and blocked shots per game; field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage; and advanced statistics such as net rating, offensive efficiency rating, assists to turnover ratio, assist ratio, effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage.
With the teams’ showing atop the stats, it’s no surprise that both had players sprinkled throughout the top 5 among the league’s statistical leaders. Wilson (22.8 ppg, 9.5 rpg) and Stewart (23.0 ppg, 9.3 rpg) finished ranked 3rd and 2nd for scoring and 2nd and 3rd rebounding. Wilson was 3rd for field goal percentage (.557) and topped the league for blocked shots (2.2 bpg), whereas Stewart (1.6 bpg) was 4th in blocks. Vandersloot dished out a league-best 8.1 apg, with Chelsea Gray in 3rd at 7.3 apg. Jackie Young (.449) and Sabrina Ionescu (.448) were 2nd and 3rd for 3-point accuracy and Kelsey Plum (.912) and Gray (.897) were 3rd and 5th for free throw percentage.
Wilson and Stewart, the top 2 All-Star Game vote getters for the second-straight year, led their respective teams in scoring during the regular season, and continue to do so in the playoffs.
2023 Defensive Player of the Year, Wilson is the first WNBA player to put up 3-straight 30-point games in postseason play and is averaging 25.8 ppg, 11.2 rpg and 3.2 bpg, while shooting 59.5% from the floor. 2023 MVP Stewart struggled offensively in New York’s first 4 playoff games, making just 27.8% of her field goal attempts, but still led her squad into the Finals with 19.8 ppg to go with 9.0 rpg and 2.8 bpg.
The teams are not only relatively evenly matched in statistics, but they are also 2 of just 3 squads to have at least 3 players represented at this year’s All-Star Game. The duo of Gray and Plum won the skills contest and Young joined them on Team Wilson; Ionescu took home the 3-point trophy and Vandersloot rounded out the Liberty’s All-Star showing on Team Stewart.
November 19, 2023
November 15, 2023
November 15, 2023
November 13, 2023
Copyright 2023 NBA Media Ventures, LLC | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of NBA.com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form. By accessing any information beyond this page, you agree to abide by the NBA.com