WNBA Playoffs: Las Vegas Aces stave off elimination and keep three-peat hopes alive with win against New York Liberty

As the WNBA season hurtles towards its conclusion and four teams compete for a spot in the finals, the Las Vegas Aces staved off elimination with a win against the New York Liberty, while Napheesa Collier made franchise history for the Minnesota Lynx as they took a 2-1 series lead over the Connecticut Sun.

As the WNBA season hurtles towards its conclusion and four teams compete for a spot in the finals, the Las Vegas Aces staved off elimination with a win against the New York Liberty, while Napheesa Collier made franchise history for the Minnesota Lynx as they took a 2-1 series lead over the Connecticut Sun. Facing elimination and the prospect of being swept in the WNBA semifinals, the two-time defending champions romped to a 95-81 victory over the Liberty in Game 3 of the best-of-five series on Friday. Victory keeps Las Vegas’ three-peat hopes alive for now, but the franchise will still have to make WNBA history to advance, since no team has ever overcome a 0-2 deficit in a best-of-five playoff series. “Everything was just on point with everybody,” Aces coach Becky Hammon told reporters afterward. “I think that was probably our most complete game of the season, the game I’ve been waiting for and believing in that they had.” The game was still hanging in the balance at the half with the Aces leading 52-49. But after the break, the defending champions went on a 16-point run in the third quarter and led by 24 points at one point in the fourth to seize control of the game. Jackie Young scored 24 points and Kelsey Plum scored 20 points, while league MVP A’ja Wilson tallied 19 points and 14 rebounds.