Battle of the Bests

08/16/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Liberty Roll Aces (82-63) for 1st WNBA Commissioner’s Cup in Battle of WNBA’s Top-2 Teams

There’s a rivalry brewing in the WNBA! The Las Vegas Aces have been the W’s team to beat over the past two seasons, but the New York Liberty are stepping on the gas. Both squads met Tuesday night for the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup — the third iteration of the league’s in-season tournament — and the Liberty ran away with it. Vegas held a two-point lead at halftime before New York caught fire in the second half and outscored the Aces by 21. It was a full-team effort with five players in double figures for the Liberty, including Jonquel Jones’ 16-point, 15-rebound double-double.

Tale of Two Juggernauts: Tuesday marked just the third loss of the year for the Aces, but it was their first home loss in 2023. Both teams are far-and-away the top-two squads. The Aces (27-3) are just two wins away from breaking the WNBA’s single-season wins record, and the Liberty (24-6) are riding a seven-game win streak. Finals, anyone?

Watch: Liberty Pull Away Late to Beat Aces (82-63) & Win Commissioner’s Cup

Aces vs. Liberty This Season (2023 Matchups)

June 29: Aces Win (98-81)

August 6: Liberty Win (99-61)

August 15: Liberty Win (82-63)

The top two clubs in the WNBA will meet two more times before the regular season ends, including Thursday in the desert (10:00 pm ET).

Yahoo! Sports: Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones & Liberty Shut Down Aces to Win WNBA In-Season Title

Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images