Despite the fact that the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces haven't faced off in the Finals since 2023, the powerhouses have been positioned as each other's biggest rivals for much of the past five years, with recurrent features from the Minnesota Lynx. Much of the excitement behind the Liberty and Aces showdown this month is due to the presence of both A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, two of the best players in league history that we happen to be lucky enough to see play at the same time.
The teams played in Las Vegas on Tuesday night. Both teams had won eight of their last ten games, and looked to gain momentum against the other before June 30th, when the Aces and Liberty will once again play, this time for the Commissioner's Cup trophy. Despite the Liberty coming off of a two-game skid against the Washington Mystics and Los Angeles Sparks, the 2024 Champions won convincingly against the 2025 winners, finishing 87-76.
Stewart lead all scorers with 20 points, but Sabrina Ionescu, the Liberty's franchise point guard who returned from injury on the 14th, was the story of the night. Her 16-point, 10-rebound performance marked the first game this season in which she played like herself, and her impact was immediately felt. With her back, and Satou Sabally ramping back up after her October 2025 injury, it's very likely the Liberty hasn't played anywhere close to its best basketball yet.
Things flowed for New York with Ionescu back
Ionescu started the game for the Liberty in Las Vegas, and immediately made her mark by getting out in transition, making the 3-point shots that made her a national phenomenon during her time at the University of Oregon, and facilitating for Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Leonie Fiebich, and her other teammates. In addition to her 16 points and 10 rebounds, she logged 4 assists and a steal, finishing +5.
The 5'11 guard also led all players in rebounding, an impressive feat against a Wilson-led team that also includes NaLyssa Smith. That type of effort is what has kept New York fans behind Ionescu for all these years, and it's just a piece of what the Liberty have missed with her out.
The Liberty's coach Chris DeMarco has been faced with some tough lineup challenges early on in the season. French rookie Pauline Astier started the season extraordinarily for the team, but has seen a gradual decrease in minutes as stars Sabally and Ionescu re-find their footing on the roster. Other players like Marine Johannès and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton have also played vastly different roles on the floor this season, possibly delaying the Liberty's opportunity to find a consistent game plan and build on-court chemistry.
The way Ionescu fit back into the lineup seamlessly on Tuesday was a great sign that things are trending in the correct direction, though. Her playmaking abilities looked great next to Astier's knack for driving, and we all already know how special it can look when she, Stewart, and Jones play off each other.
Unfortunately, Sabally exited the game early after sustaining a face injury, so we still have not gotten the chance to see what a Liberty team with both players playing well, but the possibilities seem endless.
The Liberty has a looming tough stretch
New York has an almost comically hard schedule coming up: in the team's next 10 contests, it will play the No. 1 Lynx twice, the No. 3 Aces for the Commissioner's Cup, the No. 5 Dallas Wings twice, the second-ranked defense in the Golden State Valkyries, and the Indiana Fever (as well as the Seattle Storm, Toronto Tempo, and Chicago Sky). These are the kind of stretches that can make a break a prospective contender, and the Liberty will need Ionescu to play at this level if it has goals of going .500 in those next few games.
The Liberty has all the pieces it needs to be a championship team, and it very well may be the team best-equipped to take on the Las Vegas Aces. All that's left is to actually execute.
Add us as a preferred source on Google