Las Vegas Aces Become 1st Repeat WNBA Champs in 21 Years; A’ja Wilson Named Finals MVP.Giang

NEW YORK (AP) — The Las Vegas Aces secured their second consecutive WNBA championship, becoming the first team in 21 years to achieve back-to-back titles. They defeated the New York Liberty 70-69 in a thrilling Game 4 of the Finals on Wednesday night.

A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 24 points and 16 rebounds, earning Finals MVP honors. Despite missing starters Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes due to foot injuries from Game 3, Las Vegas managed to clinch the championship. Gray, the 2022 Finals MVP, was vocally supportive from the sidelines, while veteran Candace Parker was absent due to foot surgery.

Alysha Clark, filling in as a starter, praised the team’s resilience. “To weather the storm of everything we went through, to show up every single day. To be in this moment right now and do it together, it speaks volumes about us, our chemistry,” Clark said.

The game was tightly contested, with Las Vegas pulling ahead 70-64 after a 6-0 run, including the first four points from Jackie Young. The Liberty closed the gap with a 3-pointer from Courtney Vandersloot and a jumper by Sabrina Ionescu, but their final possession fell short. Breanna Stewart’s potential game-winning shot was blocked by Wilson, and Vandersloot’s subsequent attempt missed, sealing the win for the Aces.

“I think they were throwing whatever defense they had at us and make sure it’s ugly,” Stewart said. The Aces’ defensive strategies and rotations disrupted New York’s offensive flow after a strong start.

In a dramatic moment, Ionescu was seen vomiting into a trash can during a timeout in the fourth quarter but continued playing. The game’s tension and intensity were palpable throughout.

The star-studded crowd included basketball legends Sue Bird and Dawn Staley, as well as actors Jennifer Connelly, Issa Rae, and Jason Sudeikis. Staley, a former coach of Wilson, was among the many notable figures cheering on the action.

The Aces join the ranks of the Los Angeles Sparks (2001-02) and the Houston Comets (1997-2000) as the only teams in WNBA history to win consecutive titles.