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 together 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 Middle crowd of greater than 14,000 followers.
New York places the dagger in Recreation 1 😤
Stewie floater.
Jonquel MONSTER block.#WNBAPlayoffs introduced 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 almost unguardable mid-range jumpers, on defensive switches and when her arms received into passing lanes. “Typically the ball could be out of attain, however (I’m) nonetheless in a position to make a play,” Stewart mentioned.
Plum might need scored 24 factors to steer Las Vegas, however she was solely targeted on the loss. “That’s the one factor that I actually see,” she mentioned.
Sunday’s outcome 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, in fact, there was historical past between them final 12 months. 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 follow, Aces coach Becky Hammon reminded gamers who they had been going up in opposition to.
“It seems to be like an NBA roster,” she mentioned of New York’s size. “It actually places into perspective how large they’re and the way cell 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 sort of 4 inches longer than her 6-foot top. Rookie wing Leonie Fiebich stands 6-4 with a wingspan to match. Middle Jonquel Jones, who’s 6-6, has an almost 6-10 wingspan.
Then there’s 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 believed my wingspan was 7-1,” she mentioned, extending her arms in a postgame interview. “We’re going to have to substantiate with the New York Liberty to re-measure that.”
The dimensions and mobility performed speedy dividends for the Liberty. They always switched on protection and scrambled when needed 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 mentioned, including that New York reduce off nook alternatives, too.
Stewart’s wingspan made a distinction on offense as nicely. 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 mentioned. “We had been switching guards onto her and (Jones) within the first half, and we’re not supposed to do 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 mentioned 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 virtually any display screen defensively. (Sunday’s starters had a plus-85.2 defensive score 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 together with her efficiency. “I’m such a perfectionist on protection that I didn’t actually really feel prefer it was nice protection,” Fiebich mentioned.
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 in all her earliest recollections of Fiebich, seeing her change onto a middle in an early-season contest. “It’s probably not a mismatch,” Vandersloot mentioned 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 any person with out having to get into rotations.”
After all, the best luxurious of all for New York is Stewart, who laughed afterward about how onerous it’s to search out lengthy sleeves that match.
There may be an previous adage in basketball: You possibly can’t train top. At this level within the playoffs, you possibly can’t train size both. As a substitute, Hammon and her employees will likely be tasked with attempting to counteract New York defenders’ arms. A attainable answer?
“You gotta unfold them out,” Hammon mentioned. “You gotta get to house. It’s a must to house, 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 nicely. Aces guard Jackie Younger mentioned she knew that New York’s size would have an effect on pictures and passing lanes. Grey mentioned it forces gamers into increased launch factors on their pictures. “That poses a problem at each ends,” Grey mentioned.
And it did. Grey scored solely 4 factors on 2-of-7 taking pictures.
Recreation 2 is Tuesday night in New York. Hammon referred to as it “do-or-die.” However at the very least for one afternoon, the two-time defending champion Aces couldn’t cease what they knew was coming.
New York followers inside Barclays Middle waved their arms (and white towels) in delight as the ultimate seconds ticked off the clock. Liberty arms had been everywhere in the imprint of Recreation 1. “They punched us within the nostril,” Hammon mentioned. “Little doubt about it.”
(Picture of Breanna Stewart: Evan Yu / NBAE through Getty Pictures)