Tag: WNBA Finals

The WNBA rightfully fined the New York Liberty for ducking the media after finals loss

This is quite literally the definition of loser behavior. You cannot be serious, New York Liberty.

Losing sucks, but the New York Liberty have to be better.

After the Las Vegas Aces won another title, this time on New York’s home court, the air went out of the building. The Liberty lost at the highest possible levels — the WNBA Finals — and the last thing they likely wanted to do was answer questions about how and why they lost.

It’s painful. It’s ugly. Frankly, it’s gut-wrenching. But it’s the right thing to do. In victory or defeat, you must be accountable and responsible for the product you put on the court.

Those obligations were broken by the Liberty, prompting action from the league for ducking the smoke they created.

Pouring salt in an already festering wound is a new $25,000 fine the Liberty will pay for violating media availability rules. Whew.

Per ESPN’s Terrika Foster Brasby, the league took exception to only head coach Sandy Brondello, Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot making appearances post-game.

Via the WNBA’s social media accounts, fans could see a visibly missing Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and Betnijah Laney for New York’s portion of the presser. Those actions came with a $2,000 fine for each missing player. Ouch.

It would have been pretty wild, but the Liberty could have pulled a Marshawn Lynch for any questions they didn’t want to answer — “I’m here so I won’t get fined” — and gone about their evening.

But, altogether, avoiding answering questions does not send a good message to anyone who sees them as upper-echelon athletes.

Pull it together, New York!

Sydney Colson immediately roasted haters with ‘Night Night’ clapback after Aces win

The Aces DEFINITELY kept the receipts.

The Las Vegas Aces won another championship Wednesday and kept tabs on the things said about them. Veteran Sydney Colson said she had time to address any haters.

Let’s be honest: the Aces are mind-bogglingly good. From holding the WNBA’s best regular season record to having A’ja Wilson and Alysha Clark win league awards, they are the epitome of elite athleticism.

The Aces have also withstood several things that shifted how the team needed to operate, including significant injuries to Candace Parker, Chelsea Gray, and Kiah Stokes.

Through it all, they stared greatness in the face and dared it to flinch. After they altered the WNBA history books, Colson had a role in the team’s title win and had something she needed to get off her chest.

In the most Sydney Colson way possible (if you’ve seen The Syd + TP Show, you know what I mean), she grabbed a mic during post-game interviews and immediately interrupted ESPN’s Holly Rowe.

“People wanted to count us out because we had two of our starters down, but they don’t know we got some dogs on this team,” Colson said passionately. “So, I have two words to say: night, night!”

Colson emphatically repeated “night, night” again and hit Stephen Curry’s iconic sleeping celebration. Cold-blooded.

Kierstan Bell, Colson’s teammate, also joins in while cackling — pure chaotic energy and comedy. A clapback for the ages.

Just the way the Aces drew it up.

Aces’ Alysha Clark beautifully dedicated 2023 WNBA title to her late father in emotional interview

Be right back. Crying our eyes out.

In an emotional post-game interview after the Las Vegas Aces became back-to-back WNBA champions Wednesday night, forward Alysha Clark dedicated the monumental win to her late father.

Per The Athletic, Clark’s father, Duane Clark, was a musician and an athlete who played football. He heavily supported the Denver native and loved that his daughter played sports like him. Sadly, he passed away in September of 2022.

Earlier this year, Clark reflected on their relationship. “He was everything. He was my biggest supporter,” Clark explained. “I mean, everything from high school through college. He was there for all the championships, pro. He was my No. 1 fan.”

Tonight, with emotions flowing, Clark explained to ESPN’s Holly Rowe why the Aces’s title-clinching win was in honor of her father.

Via the ESPN broadcast, Clark poured out her thoughts:

“He’s been with me all season. He’s been my sixth man. And I know he would be so happy right now, and I’m just so happy. I know he’s with me, and I wish he could be here. I wish I could call him. But this is for him. This entire season, I showed up every day because I know he loved watching me play.

“And I said, you know what, every day, every game, before the game, ‘My parents, Pops, I hope I make you proud. I hope you’re sitting there, joyous watching me play.’ That’s my prayer every day. So that’s how I show up on the floor.“

WNBA fans couldn’t help but notice such a heartfelt and soul-baring moment.

Here are the best reactions to Clark’s powerful dedication:

Feature image courtesy of ESPN.

10 awesome photos of the Las Vegas Aces celebrating their second straight WNBA title

The Las Vegas Aces are back-to-back WNBA champs!

The Las Vegas Aces rode a second-half surge against the New York Liberty on Wednesday night to win the 2023 WNBA championship — their second consecutive title under second-year head coach Becky Hammon.

Thanks to a dominant third quarter when the Aces out-scored the Liberty, 23-12, and a relentless fourth, Las Vegas won the thrilling Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, 70-69, to claim the title and best-of-five series, 3-1. And they did it without starters guard Chelsea Gray and center Kiah Stokes, who are both dealing with foot injuries.

Aces star A’ja Wilson was named the WNBA Finals MVP, and she finished Game 4 with 24 points and 16 boards with a block and a steal.

The Aces celebrated their second straight WNBA championship afterward at Barclays Center in New York, and here are 10 of our favorite post-game photos.

Liberty set ticket record after Mike Wilbon wrongly said Barclays Center had ‘worst’ home-court advantage

Mike Wilbon belongs on @OldTakesExposed for these comments.

The New York Liberty hosted the Las Vegas Aces for Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday afternoon and it was a historic event.

There were 17,143 tickets collected for the game, according to the Liberty, which is officially the largest gate attendance in league history. That means no other WNBA game has ever brought in more ticket revenue.

After the game, Liberty star Jonquel Jones credited the fanbase for the crucial victory against the Aces (via ESPN):

“We knew that our fans were going to be behind us and New York was going to be watching and supporting and that’s what we wanted to do, go out there and play with a lot of pride and a lot of heart.”

The victory and the gate record came just mere days after recent comments from ESPN veteran Michael Wilbon, who stated that Barclays Center had the “worst” home-court advantage in the NBA and the WNBA.

https://www.youtube.com/live/ObzEUS7r95A?si=6Cg0eRk3Ck8uDl3k&t=1048

As noted by Nets Daily writer Lucas Kaplan, you can hear Wilbon’s unusual comments around the 17-minute, 30-second mark of the telecast from Friday (via ESPN):

“You need a rabid, Phillies-like crowd in Brooklyn. Oh wait. They’re barely awake in Brooklyn. It is the worst home-court advantage, home-court situation in terms of spirit in the entire NBA — all 30 teams (maybe Washington) — and the entire WNBA — all whatever it is, twelve teams? It’s the worst. There’s nothing to rally the Liberty. […] Brooklyn’s home court situation? It stinks. It’s dark. It’s quiet. It’s like a library. […] You hipsters better get a real arena because you stink right now.”

Disregarding his momentary uncertainty about how many teams play in the WNBA, as there are indeed twelve franchises before expansion to the Bay Area, these comments were all the way off.

The Liberty had the fourth-highest average attendance in the WNBA this past season, per BeyondWomensSports.com. Meanwhile, New York’s year-over-year average attendance increase (2,450) was good for the second-best in the league.

Claire Fahy recently wrote a more accurate description of attending a Liberty game (via The New York Times):

“The Liberty’s success this year has attracted fans from all over the city. They have packed the stands at Barclays in the team’s signature sea foam green, borrowed from the Statue of Liberty herself. The team sold out 11 games this season on its way to a franchise-best 32-8 record. […] Barclays is a different arena on Liberty game days than it is when the Nets are in town. There are free activities, such as a photo booths and a face-painting station, that set the tone early, getting fans ready for a raucous evening.”

Wilbon clearly hasn’t spent much time in Barclays Center to watch the Liberty. But perhaps that is able to change soon so he can have a more accurate perception.

Joe Tsai, who owns the Nets and the Liberty, invited Wilbon to attend the Barclays Center when New York hosts Las Vegas for Game 4 of the WNBA Finals.

New York trails the series, 2-1, but can even it up to force a Game 5 in Las Vegas with one more victory at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

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ESPN handled Chelsea Gray’s brutal leg injury in the worst possible way

ESPN cannot be serious right now.

Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray deserved better when it came to how ESPN handled footage of her injury during Game 3 of the 2023 WNBA Finals.

Injuries, of course, are part of sports. It’s awful for everyone involved: the athlete, the organization, and the fans. Understandably, coverage of the injury is provided to give updates, add context, and piece together the storyline. A blatant lack of respect for the athlete is not included in that.

ESPN didn’t get that memo.

During Game 3, Gray went down with an apparent leg injury. The All-Star could be seen wincing in pain in the middle of play, trying to play through it and before going to the bench, and eventually, the Aces’ locker room.

But ESPN kept the cameras rolling, even as she struggled.

Out of respect for Gray, I will not post the extended footage, but trust me. It was BAD.

As Gray attempted to get off the court, the network switched to a camera that showed her trying to make it down a hallway. Viewers were given access to a clearly-in-pain Gray crying out (with audio) and unable to move without assistance.

Come on, ESPN. Seriously?

To make matters worse, the cameras continued to roll nearly the entire time Gray moved down the hallway with her team. At one point, the network did a split-screen view of Gray on one side and the game on the other. Unreal.

I have no problem showing a bit of behind-the-scenes coverage. This is commonly done in basketball, but in this case, with Gray in agony, it was too far. A quick flash on the screen and a cutaway back to the action gets that done. There was no need to keep the camera rolling as Gray dealt with her injury.

Gray deserves privacy as she receives care. I get it — the viewer experience matters, but there has to be some point when we get that she’s injured, and we’re filled in.

Be better.

The complete list of every WNBA player with a signature shoe deal

There are only 12 players that have had a signature shoe in WNBA history.

Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson is dominating in the WNBA Finals, but even her unprecedented domination hasn’t garnered her a signature shoe deal. In fact, despite the record-breaking performances and overwhelming increase in viewership, there have only ever been 12 players with their own signature shoes bearing their names.

The WNBA is finishing up its 27th season, which means, on average, there have been .44 shoe deals per season. While the number has been rapidly picking up with three new deals in the past few seasons, shoe deals are not keeping pace with the growth of the WNBA.

The first shoe deal in WNBA history was the Nike Air Swoopes, named after legendary player Sheryl Swoopes. She was the first player to receive her own signature shoe, with the first model coming out in 1995.

The most recent player with a signature shoe? New York Liberty sharpshooter Sabrina Ionescu, which launched in February 2023. Currently, there are three players in the WNBA Finals with a signature shoe deal, including New York’s Breanna Stewart and Ionescu and Aces forward-center Candace Parker.

See the complete list of every WNBA player with a signature shoe deal:

Aces’ Becky Hammon blames herself for A’ja Wilson not receiving MVP

The WNBA Finals are heading toward a decisive Game 3, but head coach Becky Hammon is still heated over MVP voting from the regular season.

The WNBA Finals are heading toward a decisive Game 3, but Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon is still heated over MVP voting from the regular season. Aces’ starter A’ja Wilson finished third in MVP voting despite dominating both sides of the court all season.

New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart won the award in front of Connecticut Sun’s Alyssa Thomas in second and Wilson.

“This lady has been ridiculous, and she’s heard it all,” Hammon said of Wilson. “Third in MVP voting? OK. Rest on that. It’s a joke. She’s been off-the-charts efficient. She got – and I love Stewie – but her efficiency on both ends, it’s been ridiculous.

“If I would have played her as many minutes, she would’ve averaged 28 and 13. And that’s all anybody in here would’ve been talking about, but she got screwed because her coach didn’t play her in fourth quarters.”

However, Wilson and the Aces might take home the bigger prize of back-to-back WNBA titles. After decisively beating the Liberty in Games 1 and 2, the Aces look to seal the sweep with a Game 3 win. No team has ever come back from a 0-2 deficit in the WNBA Finals, but the Liberty could potentially make a push to be the first in history to do so.

Game 3 is on Sunday at Barclays Center in New York.

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The Liberty are getting destroyed in the WNBA Finals and the memes are equally ruthless

Somebody come look at this. A beatdown is happening in Las Vegas.

With Knuck If You Buck playing as the team took the court Wednesday, the Las Vegas Aces put the New York Liberty in the blender, sparking countless memes.

The rivalry between the Aces and the Liberty is great for basketball fans. It features some of the best talent in the league and is a must-see showdown. During the regular season, the Liberty owned the series 3-2 and hadn’t lost back-to-back games at any point until Wednesday night.

The Aces have been cooking with fire, reminding the Liberty they can hoop, too. The best ingredient they’ve brought to the table is having an absolute dog mentality.

In Game 1 and Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, four starters have been in double-figures, and the Aces are rolling through the Liberty using mainly just six players. Absolute madness.

They’ve been breaking out moves that have fans shook along the way. The team has made it rain with 3-pointers, sick no-look passes, and even shots that seemed too good to be true.

Las Vegas is beating New York at their own game, sparking ruthless memes about the beatdown.

Aces leave head coach Becky Hammon speechless after Game 2 win

The Aces are just one win away from becoming the first WNBA team to win back-to-back titles since the Sparks in the early 2000s.

The Las Vegas Aces are showing they are prepared to win back-to-back titles. After winning Games 1 and 2 of the WNBA Finals against the New York Liberty, they are just one win away from becoming the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Los Angeles Sparks (2001-2002).

The series heads to New York after the Aces hosted the first two games of the series. The Liberty are fighting for a Game 3 win to avoid a sweep. No team has ever come back from a 0-2 deficit in the WNBA Finals, but the Liberty could potentially make a push to be the first in history to do so.

“The character of this team and their absolute buy into the person to the left or right’s success is authentic,” Hammon said. “And it’s tough to deal with when you share the ball and people are skilled and competitive. They were good tonight. They don’t leave me speechless very often, but they executed defensively, offensively shared it – everything we’ve been asking them to do.”

Aces center A’ja Wilson led the team with 26 points and 15 rebounds, which included her 26th double-double of the season. Wilson is the third player in WNBA Finals history to have at least 25 points and 15 rebounds in a game. The Aces had three other players score in double digits, including Chelsea Gray, who recorded her first Finals double-double with 14 points and 11 assists.

Liberty forward Jonquel Jones had 22 points and 10 rebounds, but they couldn’t overcome the momentum of the Aces. However, the series shifting to the Liberty’s home court could make all the difference.

Game 3 is on Sunday at Barclays Center in New York.

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