5 things to know about New York Liberty vs. Las Vegas Aces in WNBA semifinals

This intriguing Liberty-Las Vegas rematch is about to play out, starting Sunday at Barclays Center. Here are five things to know about the best-of-five semifinal series:

1. A quick history lesson

The Aces were the top seed and owned the home-court advantage when they met the Liberty in last year’s WNBA Finals. They trounced the Liberty in the first two games in Las Vegas before the Liberty avoided elimination by taking Game 3 in Brooklyn.

Then, despite having just lost starters Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes to injuries, the Aces edged the Liberty, 70-69, in Game 4 at Barclays to become the first repeat champs in 21 years.

So what do the Liberty, still in search of championship No. 1, want to show the Aces now?

“That this is not the team from last year,” Jonquel Jones said, “that we still remember what happened, what they did on our home court, and we’re coming out to prove them wrong and prove ourselves right.”

2. The rundown

This time the Liberty own the home-court advantage, taking the top seed with a 32-8 record, the same as 2023. They swept their best-of-three opening-round series vs. No. 8 Atlanta.

The Aces started at 6-6. They were still missing Gray after the foot injury she suffered in the Finals. But the point guard returned for game 13, and the Aces finished 27-13 to take the fourth seed. Then they swept No. 5 Seattle in the opening round. So they have won seven straight and 11 of 12.

“We weren’t going to be able to be here if we didn’t pick it up defensively,” Gray said.

The Liberty swept the three-game regular-season series against the Aces, winning twice on the road, by eight and by 12, and then taking a 75-71 decision on Sept. 8 in Brooklyn.

Besides the home court and the motivation from falling short against Las Vegas, the Liberty have the experience of playing together during last year’s run and this regular season.

They also have more depth and a talented 6-4 rookie wing. Leonie Fiebich brings length, shooting and defensive skills.

“We’re just a better team,” Sabrina Ionescu said. “Obviously, the goal just isn’t to win in the semifinals.”

But Gray said, “I think both teams are better experience-wise, getting to that level. The Finals last year was amazing for the sport.”

3. A’ja “MVP” Wilson

The 6-4 force, who was injured and didn’t play against the Liberty earlier this month, was named Finals MVP last season. Then she made this the best of her seven seasons, posting career-high averages for points (a league-record 26.9), rebounds (11.9), blocks (a league-leading 2.6) and steals (1.8).

Wilson totaled the most points (1,021) and rebounds (451) in WNBA history and claimed her third MVP award.

“She’s the best player on the planet,” teammate Kelsey Plum said.

How do the Liberty keep Wilson from wrecking their desired ending? Breanna Stewart knows how to try. “We just want to make sure that everything she gets is kind of contested, making everything tough, knowing her preferences,” Stewart said.

4. Perimeter challenges

Plum lit up the Liberty for 79 points in the first three games in last year’s Finals and Jackie Young scored 50 in the first two. Gray averaged 17 points and 10 assists in those first two.

The Liberty will need to do a better job of containing the Aces’ outstanding backcourt. They appear to be better equipped with Fiebich’s ascension to the postseason starting lineup.

5. Ionescu a key

Ionescu has improved at getting into the lane for floaters and getting to the rim, but her touch on three-pointers was touch-and-go during the regular season. Her WNBA-record 44.8% success rate from 2023 sunk to 33.3%.

She had the touch mostly back vs. Atlanta at 44.4%, going 8-for-18 en route to averaging 26.5 points, including 36 in Game 2 to match Cappie Pondexter’s franchise postseason record. The Aces held Ionescu to 31.6% from three-point range in the Finals. She averaged only 9.8 points.

The Liberty will need her to be in that first-round form.