Pivotal Moment for Liberty
The upcoming faceoff between the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty on Saturday afternoon has much at stake. In their last meeting at the Barclays Center, the Aces left victorious with their second consecutive WNBA title. The Liberty, on the other hand, regretfully recalled a blown nine-point advantage in the second half of Game 4 of the WNBA Finals.
The Value of Home Territory
Last year, home-court advantage turned out to be a crucial element in the finals series held in 2023. It was evident as the stats showed, Liberty only held the lead for 1:59 of 40 minutes in the second halves of the first two games on Aces’ turf. However, when they played at home at Barclays Center, they led the entire second half in their Game 3 triumph over the Aces.
Struggling Aces, Rising Liberty
In this season’s first meeting between the two heavyweights, the circumstances seem vastly different. The Aces, boasting a below-average 6-5 score, battle issues beyond the court. Chelsea Gray, their star guard, missed the previous game due to injury, leaving a significant gap. Hammon’s team currently seeks consistent performances, despite MVP frontrunner, A’ja Wilson, keeping the spirit up and Jackie Young beginning to find her groove.
The Liberty, quite opposingly, ride on a seven-game winning streak and are in an excellent position to surprise the Aces. The 11-2 squad led by Sandy Brondello is ready to hit the ground running, aiming for a step closer to securing home-court advantage in the postseason.
The Ghost of Previous Confrontations
Reflecting back on 2023, it’s evident how crucial home support is. In all regular-season matches, the home team won effortlessly. On the Aces’ court, Michelob Ultra Arena, the Liberty faced an average loss margin of 15 points. Meanwhile, the Aces suffered a heavier defeat of 23.5 points average in games at the Barclays Center.
Home Advantage Matters
By this season’s current standings, the Aces and Liberty would again face off in a first-round matchup. Hence, home-court advantage is more important than ever, considering last year’s wins in home territories. Securing the home advantage, especially against an experienced Aces squad, should be primary on the Liberty’s to-do list.
Optimism for the Liberty
As they travel to Sin City, the Liberty possess no excuses not to deliver against the Aices this Saturday, coming off five full days of rest and an efficient offense, led by a peaking Jonquel Jones. They can also leverage a win against a busy Aces team, who have been on the road since their Sunday loss in Los Angeles.
Future Matchups Favor Liberty
The upcoming schedule also favors Liberty. If they can grab a win on Saturday, they’ll have the chance to even the season series after the Olympic break on Aug.17. Liberty will enjoy two days’ rest heading to their final regular-season match-up on Sept. 8, whereas the Aces will be facing their fourth game in seven days.
Controlling Their Destiny
In conclusion, there’s no certainty that the WNBA Finals will again feature the Liberty and Aces. Nor is their a guarantee for a postseason showdown. However, the Liberty are in a position where they can influence their path. And it all begins this Saturday!