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The New York Liberty will look to put the screws on two-time defending champions Las Vegas Aces' title hopes when both teams face off for a decisive Game 2 at Barclays Center, Brooklyn on Tuesday. The Liberty chalked up an 87-77 win to stave off a Kelsey Plum blitz in the first game, but with their three-peat aspirations on the line, Las Vegas will need every ace to bring their A-game to force a deciding Game 3 in the series.
New York has had the best of the Aces so far in this edition. They beat Las Vegas thrice in their regular-season encounters, with one win in the playoffs. Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu put the Liberty in a commanding position with 34 and 21 points, respectively, in Game 1 while the Liberty's defense kept A'ja Wilson and Co. in check. The hosts will hope for a repeat performance throughout the series to extend their dominant run over the Aces.
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Las Vegas Aces vs New York Liberty: Preview, predicted starting lineups, odds and prediction
The Las Vegas Aces versus New York Liberty game is slated to tip off at 5:30 p.m. ET. Local coverage will be on ESPN 2, while the game can also be live streamed on the WNBA app with a subscription to the WNBA League Pass.
Here's a quick look at the odds ahead of the all-important matchup:
[Note: Odds listed as available at the time of writing. They are subject to change closer to tip-off]
Las Vegas Aces vs New York Liberty preview
The Liberty did everything right in Game 1.
- Keep A'ja Wilson quiet – Check
- Make ample use of the Aces' defense from the perimeter – Check
- Force the Aces offense to take contested tough shots – Check
- Winning the size challenge – Check
New York's biggest challenge is consistency. It has the necessary firepower on both ends of the floor to dominate the Aces as it has throughout the season, but Las Vegas is the defending champion for a reason. They managed to right a wobbly ship in the second half of the regular season and finish strong. While the Liberty's strengths may sap the Aces, it's a matter of winning three games.
Rebounding and bench contributions will be key for the Aces as the onus is often too much on the likes of the Aces' trio of A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young. They will look to keep the ball movement going and push the pace to get a separation early on, but all said, their execution on the hardwood will determine if they can avoid a 0-2 result.
Las Vegas Aces vs New York Liberty predicted starting lineups
Both teams are unlikely to tinker with their starting five. The Liberty will likely start with Leonie Fiebich and Sabrina Ionescu as their guards. Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones form the frontcourt with Betnijah-Laney Hamilton playing center. Courtney Vandersloot, Kayla Thornton and Nyara Sabally will be their bench options.
Meanwhile, the Aces will likely go with Chelsea Gray at point with Kelsey Plum slotting in at the two. Jackie Young and A'ja Wilson take over forward duties with Kiah Stokes rounding up their starters unit. Alyssa Clark, Tiffany Hayes, Sydney Colson and rookie Kate Martin form their second unit.
Las Vegas Aces vs New York Liberty prediction
Despite having a bad run against the Liberty this season, the Las Vegas Aces can't be ruled out. They were outdone defensively by New York in Game 1 with their bench struggling to find any momentum on both ends of the floor. The size matchup is an issue for Las Vegas and the only way to fend off the Liberty is with the Aces' bench firing on the scoring front. It's all on A'ja Wilson again to tap into her reserves and take the Aces home on Tuesday. But for now, mark a win for the Liberty.
