{"id":112228,"date":"2023-10-19T10:24:27","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T10:24:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/10\/19\/las-vegas-aces-beat-new-york-liberty-to-retain\/"},"modified":"2023-10-19T10:24:27","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T10:24:27","slug":"las-vegas-aces-beat-new-york-liberty-to-retain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/10\/19\/las-vegas-aces-beat-new-york-liberty-to-retain\/","title":{"rendered":"Las Vegas Aces beat New York Liberty to retain"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Las Vegas Aces are the first franchise to win back-to-back WNBA Finals since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002
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The Las Vegas Aces mounted a second-half comeback to beat the New York Liberty 70-69 and win a second successive WNBA title.<\/p>\n

The New York Liberty led 39-30 heading into the third quarter, but the Aces hit back with help from A\u2019ja Wilson.<\/p>\n

The power forward put on 24 points and 16 rebounds to wrap up a 3-1 series win.<\/p>\n

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\u201cTo be up here \u2013 this one was special because so many people counted us out,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe fought through so much adversity during the season. We cried together, prayed together, and now we popping champagne together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wilson\u2019s sixth double-double of the postseason saw her named as the WNBA Finals\u2019 Most Valuable Player.<\/p>\n

New York, appearing in their first Finals campaign since 2002 and chasing a maiden title, set the tempo from the outset with guard Courtney Vandersloot scoring a team-high 19 points, however, an error-strewn second half saw their hopes slip away.<\/p>\n

Sabrina Ionescu put New York within a point with just seconds remaining but they were unable to clinch victory.<\/p>\n

\u201cCredit to Vegas, they were down, they found a way,\u201d New York coach Sandy Brondello said<\/p>\n

\u201cWe fought but it wasn\u2019t our best game today.\u201d<\/p>\n

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