Game 1 of the WNBA Finals was something of a statement for the Las Vegas Aces.
The defending champion Aces used a dominant second half to get out to a 1-0 series lead over the New York Liberty. After trailing by three points at the half, Las Vegas outscored New York by 20 points in the second half to pull away with a 17-point win.
Las Vegas’ duo of Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum were the stars of the game, each scoring a postseason career-high 26 points apiece to pace the Aces’ offense, while New York didn’t get as much as it needed from usual contributors.
Now, the focus shifts to Game 2, where the Liberty will look to even the series while the Aces will look to move one win closer to their second straight title. As Las Vegas has yet to lose this postseason, it has momentum on its side, but New York should find some encouragement from its effort in the first half.
Ahead of Wednesday night’s Game 2, here are a few things to keep an eye on in the WNBA Finals.
MORE: How the Aces and Liberty built historically talented rosters
Increased defensive intensity from the Liberty
It was certainly a tale of two halves as the Aces erupted for 53 points on 61.3 percent shooting in the second half. Playing a large part in Las Vegas’ second-half output was the fact that it got some…
