Aces crash in Commissioner’s Cup Final for 2nd time at hands of Liberty

Las Vegas just didn’t have enough firepower down the stretch of its Commissioner’s Cup showing as the franchise fell to 1-2.

In this year’s cup final game that served as the third for both the Aces and New York Liberty, the latter got the better of the former, 93-85, Tuesday, June 30 from Barclays Center. New York is now the first team with two championships in the regular season tournament as it went a perfect 7-0 this time around.

“I thought we gave ourselves a chance to win,” head coach Becky Hammon said. “Then a couple of bonehead plays we could’ve easily handled but we didn’t.”

Tuesday served as a rematch from both the Commissioner’s Cup final and WNBA Finals from 2023. That year, the Liberty won the midseason meeting while the Aces hoisted the title at the conclusion of the season.

Additionally, both teams account for the league’s last four championships.

“We’re always playing against each other in big moments,” guard Jackie Young said. “Whether it”s championships, Commissioner’s Cup championships, things like that but it’s always a great game. Two great teams going at it, a lot of great players on each team so it’s what the fans want.”

Having won its last regular season showing against Chicago, Las Vegas will now complete its home-and-home with the Sky by hosting them Friday, July 3 from Michelob Ultra Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Guard Sabrina Ionescu hit a dagger three-pointer to seal the fate of the Aces despite several comeback attempts. In the second quarter, the Liberty used a 12-4 run to go up by 12 points.

Before halftime, the home team would lead by as many as 17 points.

“That first quarter came back and ended up biting us,” Hammon said. “Giving up 31 [points], that is not ideal in the first quarter. So we were kind of digging out of a hole there and then towards the end when you’re digging out of a hole on somebody else’s homecourt, things just need to go right for you. The ball needs to bounce right and we just didn’t get those breaks tonight.”

That second quarter showing came after Las Vegas fell behind by double-digits in the first 10 minutes. While staging big runs in both the first quarter and the third quarter, the second of the two swung the team back in the fight.

New York’s lead would be cut to five on a 16-6 third quarter run by the reigning champs before it would close the frame on a 19-7 run. In total, Las Vegas won the third quarter by 11.

Ultimately, the Aces went on a 29-16 run between the third quarter and early parts of the fourth quarter to tie the game at 67 apiece. In short order, Young would give the team its first lead of the game.

“I thought we had a couple nice looks at the end,” Hammon said. “They didn’t go in – you’ve got to shoot the three fairly well against this team.”

Immediately after making that run, Las Vegas was faced with a 12-0 spurt by New York as the team went without a point for nearly four minutes.

Even with the valiant fight, the Aces were playing without first-ever four-time league MVP A’ja Wilson, who missed the contest after twisting her right ankle in the team’s win over Chicago.

“There was not a lack of expectations,” guard Chelsea Gray said. “I think whenever you step on the court, you’re expected to try to win, no?”

Adding salt to the wound, Gray took a shot to the face less than a minute and a half into the game and would be forced to leave the floor to get treatment. She’d return shortly after.

Las Vegas’ bench picked up the slack initially with 11 first quarter points before finishing the game with 33 points as a collective.

That unit was led by guard Chennedy Carter, who tallied 12 points in the first half including a second quarter buzzer beater. In total, she’d pour in 18 points in the eventual loss.

“I thought her effort was good,” Hammon said. “She’s still working her way back, wind-wise especially. There were times I asked if she was okay and she said, ‘Yes.’ There are times you’re going to have those winded moments but the effort was there for us.”

The aforementioned Young led all players with 31 points to go along with seven assists. Carter and Young were the only two players to reach double-figure scoring.

“We needed one more player to have a big game,” Hammon said. “We just weren’t able to do it tonight. But proud of the effort. Like I told them, I don’t blow smoke a lot, I give it to them straight and I thought we competed.”