Aces seek comeback against Liberty in crucial playoff battle

In New York, the Las Vegas Aces face a critical challenge in their quest for a third consecutive WNBA championship. After losing Game 2 of their semifinal series against the New York Liberty 88-84, the Aces find themselves in an unprecedented situation, needing to win three straight games to advance. This scenario has never been achieved in WNBA history, making their task even more daunting. Aces guard Chelsea Gray expressed a desire to make history by overcoming this deficit. The Liberty, who have previously struggled in similar situations, are now in a strong position, having taken a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series. New York's Sabrina Ionescu played a pivotal role in Game 2, contributing 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. Aces head coach Becky Hammon acknowledged the need for better defensive strategies, particularly in containing Ionescu, who has been a standout player this season. Despite the Aces' strong performance in the regular season, they have struggled to maintain their momentum in the playoffs. Hammon noted that the team did not execute their game plan effectively in the first two games, which has put them at a disadvantage. The pressure is now on the Aces to perform at their best in the upcoming games to avoid elimination. As the series progresses, the Aces must rally together and find a way to win three consecutive games, or they will see their championship hopes come to an end, while the Liberty aim to secure their spot in the WNBA Finals.