Fans of women’s basketball have longed for a “superteam” showdown, and it’s finally happening as the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces, face off against the New York Liberty in the WNBA Finals. Both teams earned the “superteam” label after acquiring some of the league’s top talent during the off-season, and they have lived up to the hype.
The Liberty, led by MVP Breanna Stewart, have reached the Finals for the first time in 21 years. On the other side, the Aces, despite losing MVP Candace Parker to injury in July, have been relentless, with last year’s Most Valuable Player, A’ja Wilson, propelling them to a WNBA record of 34 wins.
The excitement surrounding this “superteam” narrative has been building since February, and it has now culminated in a highly anticipated WNBA Finals matchup. The league has enjoyed its most-watched regular season in 21 years, and the Aces-Liberty showdown adds to the buzz. Moreover, the league announced its first expansion team since 2008, a San Francisco Bay Area organization, which further boosts its profile.
The best-of-five series begins in Las Vegas, where the Aces are eager to defend their title. Wilson, who lost her MVP crown to Stewart, is determined to lead her team to victory.
“This really could become one of those great rivalries,” said ESPN commentator and former WNBA All-Star Rebecca Lobo, drawing parallels between Wilson and Stewart and the iconic NBA rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.
Wilson has been dominant, averaging an incredible 25.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game during the postseason. The Aces cruised through the playoffs, sweeping the Chicago Sky and the Dallas Wings in the first two rounds.
The Liberty, led by 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones, faced a challenging first-round opponent in the Washington Mystics before defeating the Connecticut Sun 3-1 in a tense semifinal series.
The coaching matchup is also intriguing, with New York’s Sandy Brondello going up against Las Vegas’ Becky Hammon. Both coaches were All-Stars during their playing careers and are the first former WNBA players to face each other as head coaches in the Finals. Hammon was on the Liberty roster the last time they reached the Finals in 2002.
“The chess match begins now,” said Brondello. “It’s going to be a hard-fought battle. But we’re battle-tested.”
With two powerhouse teams, star players, and seasoned coaches, the WNBA Finals promise to deliver an exciting and memorable showdown for basketball fans.
