NEW YORK — The ultimate basket of Breanna Stewart’s 34-point clinic on Sunday to open the WNBA semifinals was by no means going to be blocked. Las Vegas Aces ahead A’ja Wilson tried — elevating as excessive as she may because the seconds ticked down on each the shot and recreation clock — however the New York Liberty star skied over Wilson’s outstretched arms.
With simply over a minute remaining in New York’s eventual 87-77 victory, Stewart elevated for a runner. A step in entrance of the free-throw line, she leaped, flicked the basketball along with her proper hand and watched it carom off the backboard and drop into the ring.
Stewart ran again down the ground emphatically nodding her head after her basket served as a pleasant dagger loved by the sellout Barclays Heart crowd of greater than 14,000 followers.
New York places the dagger in Sport 1 😤
Stewie floater.
Jonquel MONSTER block.#WNBAPlayoffs offered by @Google pic.twitter.com/TuFCI6x75T— WNBA (@WNBA) September 29, 2024
What occurred subsequent wasn’t stunning both. Stewart deflected a layup by Aces guard Kelsey Plum.
Stewart’s arms had been in all places on Sunday — throughout that late-game sequence, on quite a few New York offensive possessions by which she knocked down practically unguardable mid-range jumpers, on defensive switches and when her arms obtained into passing lanes. “Typically the ball could be out of attain, however (I’m) nonetheless capable of make a play,” Stewart stated.
Plum might need scored 24 factors to steer Las Vegas, however she was solely centered on the loss. “That’s the one factor that I actually see,” she stated.
Sunday’s consequence was largely due to one other L-word: Size.
That New York’s size was impactful wasn’t precisely a shock. Heading into the sequence, each groups acknowledged the opposite as acquainted foes. New York swept its three regular-season conferences in opposition to Las Vegas, and, after all, there was historical past between them final yr. The Liberty gained the 2023 Commissioner’s Cup over the Aces, and later, extra importantly, the Aces defeated the Liberty for the 2023 WNBA championship.
Las Vegas is aware of what to anticipate in opposition to New York. However, earlier than Saturday’s observe, Aces coach Becky Hammon reminded gamers who they had been going up in opposition to.
“It seems to be like an NBA roster,” she stated of New York’s size. “It actually places into perspective how huge they’re and the way cellular they’re.”
She put the wingspan of every of New York’s starters on a board. Liberty wing Betnijah Laney-Hamilton’s wingspan of 6-foot-3 and three/4 inches is almost 4 inches longer than her 6-foot peak. Rookie wing Leonie Fiebich stands 6-4 with a wingspan to match. Heart Jonquel Jones, who’s 6-6, has an almost 6-10 wingspan.
Then there may be Stewart, the two-time WNBA MVP.
She issued a correction to the Liberty’s media information, which lists her at 6-10 3/4. “I assumed my wingspan was 7-1,” she stated, extending her arms in a postgame interview. “We’re going to have to verify with the New York Liberty to re-measure that.”
The scale and mobility performed quick dividends for the Liberty. They consistently switched on protection and scrambled when obligatory to shut out on open Aces. New York disrupted Las Vegas’ pick-and-roll actions. And when the Aces tried to drive baseline? “It was not good issues taking place,” Hammon stated, including that New York reduce off nook alternatives, too.
Stewart’s wingspan made a distinction on offense as effectively. She scored 20 factors within the first half and handed Lisa Leslie for the longest streak of double-digit performances (35) in WNBA postseason historical past. “She had too many mismatches,” Hammon stated. “We had been switching guards onto her and (Jones) within the first half, and we’re not supposed to try this. They destroyed us in there. Each the bigs.”
Jones completed with 13 factors and 12 rebounds. And although Fiebich added solely 6 factors, she was plus-19 in 35 minutes, main New York in plus/minus for the third consecutive playoff recreation. Fiebich remains to be new to the Liberty’s beginning lineup. Earlier than New York’s first-round sequence final week in opposition to the Atlanta Dream, Liberty coach Sandy Brondello began her and moved Courtney Vandersloot to the bench. Brondello stated she wished two playmakers on the ground always. However the transfer had different advantages: Due to Fiebich’s dimension, power and size, New York can change nearly any display screen defensively. (Sunday’s starters had a plus-85.2 defensive ranking within the common season.)
Fiebich opened the sequence in opposition to the Aces guarding Plum. Afterward, the 24-year-old German rookie wasn’t happy along with her efficiency. “I’m such a perfectionist on protection that I didn’t actually really feel prefer it was nice protection,” Fiebich stated.
Nonetheless, Fiebich repeatedly disrupted different Aces when scrambling across the flooring. Most notably, Aces guard Chelsea Grey was hounded by Fiebich on the finish of the third quarter and was unable to get a shot off.
Afterward, Vandersloot thought again to one among her earliest recollections of Fiebich, seeing her change onto a middle in an early-season contest. “It’s not likely a mismatch,” Vandersloot stated she thought to herself. “What a luxurious that’s to have her have the ability to guard the smallest woman on the ground after which change out onto anyone with out having to get into rotations.”
After all, the best luxurious of all for New York is Stewart, who laughed afterward about how exhausting it’s to search out lengthy sleeves that match.
There’s an previous adage in basketball: You possibly can’t educate peak. At this level within the playoffs, you possibly can’t educate size both. As an alternative, Hammon and her workers might be tasked with making an attempt to counteract New York defenders’ arms. A potential answer?
“You gotta unfold them out,” Hammon stated. “You gotta get to area. You need to area, and the ball has to maneuver. If the ball doesn’t transfer, and we seize it and we analyze, their size turns into a difficulty once more as a result of all people recovers again to their very own.”
In idea, Las Vegas knew what was approaching Sunday as effectively. Aces guard Jackie Younger stated she knew that New York’s size would have an effect on photographs and passing lanes. Grey stated it forces gamers into increased launch factors on their photographs. “That poses a problem at each ends,” Grey stated.
And it did. Grey scored solely 4 factors on 2-of-7 taking pictures.
Sport 2 is Tuesday night in New York. Hammon known as it “do-or-die.” However at the least for one afternoon, the two-time defending champion Aces couldn’t cease what they knew was coming.
New York followers inside Barclays Heart waved their arms (and white towels) in delight as the ultimate seconds ticked off the clock. Liberty arms had been all around the imprint of Sport 1. “They punched us within the nostril,” Hammon stated. “Little question about it.”
(Picture of Breanna Stewart: Evan Yu / NBAE through Getty Photographs)
