Basketball has always been a game of runs, which was on display in Game 2 when the Las Vegas Aces (2-0) dominated the New York Liberty (0-2) behind a monster first quarter run. Once Las Vegas took control, New York made a run itself, but was not able to close the gap or make the game competitive. This is also the beginning of a run for Las Vegas that could put the team in a position to start a dynasty that has not been seen in the WNBA since the beginnings of the league when the Houston Comets won four championships in a row and the Los Angeles Sparks won two championships in a row for the the first six WNBA Championships.
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The first quarter was near perfection for Las Vegas. In those 10 minutes it scored 38 points (19-point lead), scoring the most points in a first quarter in the WNBA Finals and the most points Las Vegas has scored all season in the first quarter.
Las Vegas shot 14-of-20 from the field (6-for-10 from three-point range) with 12 assists as a team. The offense was better then it has been all season, with all five starters hitting at least one three-pointer. This season Las Vegas had the No. 1 offense in the WNBA, averaging 92.8 points per game. In two games against the second-best team in the WNBA and the just crowned MVP Breanna Stewart, Las Vegas is averaging 101.5 PPG.
New York tried to bounce back and did to a certain degree in the second period, outscoring Las Vegas 25-11 to cut the lead to single digits.
Jonquel Jones fueled the run with 16 points and eight rebounds on 6-of-7 shooting from the field. She did everything she could to put the team on her back, but a series long shooting slump doomed New York in the second half, leading to another loss in the finals.
She was not enough to combat the elite play of the four Las Vegas stars who combined for 87 points, 30 rebounds and 26 assists. They absolutely dominated the New York defense with their efficiency.
In these two games New York is shooting 41.1 percent from the field, 26.5 percent from three and just 71.4 percent from the free throw line. Some of that is the Las Vegas defense, while some is missing wide open opportunities from three and at the rim that were going in the previous two series and in the regular season.
The offensive efficiency has slowly declined for New York from the regular season through each round of the playoffs, with a team that had arguably the best offense in the league. They have now had a prolonged shooting slump at the worst possible time in the season.
For Las Vegas, whether it is in Game 3 on Sunday, Game 4 on Wednesday or a potential deciding Game 5 in a little over a week, a championship this season opens the conversation about being a dynasty.
Las Vegas lost in the 2021 WNBA Finals, won the 2022 WNBA Finals and is a game away from becoming the third team in league history and the first in over 20 years to win back-to-back titles.
The Diana Taurasi led Phoenix Mercury, the Sue Bird era Seattle Storm, the Maya Moore led Minnesota Lynx all won multiple titles, but never two in a row. This is potentially the dawn of another run for Las Vegas as a dynasty in the WNBA that has no end in sight.
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