LAS VEGAS — Becky Harmon has said all season long she’s been waiting for the game to come, and all of Las Vegas’ guards are giving it their all.
In 2023, the three-headed monster of Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Kelsey Plumb was an unstoppable combination most nights, culminating in the WNBA Finals series when the perimeter trio The group beat their New York Liberty opponents convincingly, even if Gray didn’t get the win in the final.
Fast forward a season and Las Vegas has begun to mix and match. Although Tiffany Hayes joins an already talented back corps, the Aces are lucky to have two players from their quartet standing out in any given game. When Young scores well, it usually bodes well for Plumb, as she did in Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals against the Liberty when she scored 17 points and 6 points respectively. Plum scored 24 points in the series opener, but then Gray only scored 4 points and 1 assist and ultimately lost the game.
“We had two great nights in one night,” Harmon said. “Aja (Wilson) is so ridiculous, so ridiculous, and she’s going to continue to be so ridiculous. But after that, it’s just other little pieces.
On Friday, Harmon finally got the card she’d been waiting for with four aces. The Aces won 95-81 on Friday night, with five players scoring in double figures, avoiding elimination and ensuring their quest for a three-peat continues in Game 4 on Sunday.
Ace is not done yet♠️
After facing elimination for the first time since 2021, the Vegas Aces take on the Liberty in their fourth game in the semifinals! Jackie Young led the way with 24 points 🔥
Final score: 95-81#welcometoW | #WNBAPlayoffs proposer @Google pic.twitter.com/fDGNmr66M1
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 5, 2024
“Everything is just right for everyone,” Harmon said. “I think this is probably our most complete game of the season. This is the game I’ve been waiting for and believing in.
The efforts of the Las Vegas linebacker group start on defense. Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu was the best perimeter player in the series, and in addition to creating open shots for her teammates, she was able to penetrate the Aces’ pick-and-roll coverage at all levels and Score at will.
Harmon said after Game 2 that she wanted to be at a C+ level guarding Ionescu because the defense wasn’t even average in the first two games at Barclays Center. That means simplifying the plan and being very clear about Ionescu’s principles and which free agents can help.
Ionescu broke through the defense and shot several times in the first quarter, but she failed. Once the Aces stepped up their defense, Ionescu was repeatedly trapped far from the basket, unable to turn or find a way out of the half court. She had as many assists as turnovers (five) and posted her career postseason low score with four points on 1-of-7 shooting.
Harmon’s grade on Friday? A+, no comments.
“She’s playing well, so of course, they want to make it difficult for her,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondero said. “They let her move on the other end and they were very aggressive this time in the pick-and-roll. She couldn’t go downhill. It was more of a hard hedge and very active and their hands would deflect.
Without Ionescu in the driver’s seat, Liberty fell into isolation basketball, a style of play that was incompatible with the movement and coverage they had during the regular season, when they had the league’s best record.
Meanwhile, the Aces’ defense got them into an offensive rhythm they’d lacked early in the series.
“We always say our defense drives our offense,” Hayes said. “We knew we were good defensively and even though we were a little small, we had some dogs and we were able to get a lot done.”
New York’s starting perimeter trio of Ionescu, Leoni Fibic and Betenja Leni Hamilton combined for 21 points. Young surpassed that number with 24 points.
Their collective strength was on full display during a 16-0 run in the third quarter that extended the Aces’ lead from four to 20 points. China took advantage of a trailing three-pointer to score the next score. Gray followed with a nice lob to Wilson and Breanna Stewart in the low post to extend the lead to double digits.
Then it was Hayes’ turn. She faked a drive left to her weak hand, leaving Nyara Sabally behind. Plum grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a three-pointer and hit a technical free throw, and then Hayes hit a three-pointer after breaking through. The guard unit contributed 14 points and three assists, while Liberty missed nine shots and committed seven turnovers during the period.
“I thought our attention to detail on defense was very sharp,” Gray said. “They’re a good team, but you want them to be tough, and Sabrina is the same way. We’re just paying attention to the little things in the pick-and-roll and making sure she’s not comfortable. It all starts on the defensive end so we can Can get into the offense better.
The Aces know their advantage has to come from the backcourt, as the Liberty have two frontcourt MVPs in Stewart and Jonquil Jones. Wilson’s excellence has been consistent, but the outside has been the separation factor in the last two championship runs.
Wilson believes such desperate situations bring out the best in her teammates. “One thing I know for sure is that sometimes it’s when we’re in desperate situations that we can truly break free and shine brightest,” she said.
The 14-point victory was more lopsided than the actual score suggested, confirming Wilson’s belief. The Aces ultimately executed their defense and set the tone. Their offensive rhythm is infectious and their back quartet is making its first appearance of the season, allowing Las Vegas to play at least one more game and continue its pursuit of a third straight title.
“We’re the aces,” Harmon said. “We will not admit defeat.”
(Photos (from left): Chelsea Gray, Jonquel Jones and Kelsey Plum: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
