Kelsey Plum had a rough outing in the Las Vegas Aces’ recent playoff loss to the New York Liberty, and head coach Becky Hammon didn’t hold back in letting her know it. In a viral video from the game, Hammon is seen delivering a stern and intense critique to Plum on the bench during a timeout, showcasing the pressure mounting on the defending champions as they now face an uphill battle in their playoff series.
The Aces had cruised through the first round of the WNBA Playoffs, sweeping the Atlanta Dream in two games. However, their semifinal matchup against the top-seeded New York Liberty was always expected to be a much tougher challenge. The Liberty took a 1-0 lead in the series on Sunday, defeating the Aces 87-77 despite an impressive 24-point effort from 2024 WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and a solid 21-point contribution from Plum.
With their backs against the wall, the Aces hoped to even the series in Game 2 on Tuesday night. But instead of a rebound performance, they found themselves on the losing end once again, falling 88-84 and sinking into a 2-0 hole in the best-of-five series. Wilson once again carried the team, scoring 24 points, but Plum struggled mightily, managing only six points on 2-for-9 shooting and committing three turnovers. Her playing time also dropped significantly—after logging 37 minutes in Game 1, Plum was on the court for only 26 minutes in Game 2.
Hammon, known for her fiery leadership and high expectations, appeared visibly frustrated throughout the game. During a timeout, she directed much of her ire toward Plum, delivering a harsh reprimand in full view of the cameras.
While the specifics of Hammon’s words weren’t captured, it was clear that she was holding Plum accountable for her subpar performance, especially given the stakes of the series.
Plum’s performance in Game 2 was a sharp contrast to her usual contributions. As one of the Aces’ star players, Plum has been a key offensive weapon for the team all season. Her struggles in such a crucial game likely fueled Hammon’s frustration, as the coach saw her team’s title defense slipping away with another loss.
The Liberty now have a commanding 2-0 lead in the series and will look to close things out in Game 3 when the series shifts to Las Vegas on Friday night. The Aces, meanwhile, face the daunting task of needing three consecutive wins to avoid elimination and keep their championship hopes alive. With stars like A’ja Wilson continuing to shine, the Aces have the talent to make a comeback, but they’ll need Plum—and the rest of the team—to play at their best to survive.
For Plum, the upcoming game represents an opportunity for redemption. After receiving such a public and fiery critique from her coach, all eyes will be on how she responds.
The Aces’ season now hangs in the balance, and Plum’s performance will be crucial in determining whether Las Vegas can rally back or if the Liberty will punch their ticket to the WNBA Finals.
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