The Las Vegas Aces made history by winning back-to-back WNBA championships in a thrilling Game 4 against the New York Liberty. A'ja Wilson led the Aces with 24 points and 16 rebounds, earning the 2023 Finals MVP. Despite missing key players Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes due to injuries, the Aces defeated the New York Liberty 70-69 in Game 4 of the 2023 WNBA Finals.
BACK-🏆🏆-BACK#RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/yh6nJDJ1Z5
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 19, 2023
The Aces overcame a 12-point deficit and secured their place in the history books alongside the Los Angeles Sparks and the Houston Comets as the only teams to win consecutive titles. The Liberty, led by 2023 WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu, initially took the lead, but the Aces fought back. In the closing moments of the game, the Aces secured a narrow lead. New York's Courtney Vandersloot had the opportunity to force a Game 5 with a buzzer-beater but missed. A pivotal defensive stop by Alysha Clark and the missed shot by Vandersloot sealed the Aces' victory in a nail-biting finish.
Wilson expressed her pride in her teammates, crediting their unity for the victory. Heach coach Becky Hammon commended her team's fight and their chemistry. In lieu of Gray and Stokes, Hammon started WNBA sixth woman of the year Clark and Cayla George. Stewart, a former Seattle Storm teammate, was well defended by Clark, who only allowed her to score 10 points on 3 of 17 shots. George scored eleven. Hammon said she was confident in her team because she “knew who she had in the locker room.”
There’s not a person out here I don’t believe in,” Hammon added. “I know what they are made of and at the end of the day I told them, ‘Win or lose, I am rolling with them.’"
This was the first close game of the season between these teams. The four regular-season games were all blowouts, with New York's victory by nine points on August 28 being the closest. Midway through the fourth quarter Ionescu was seen vomiting into a trash can, during a timeout, due to the intense tension in the game. This was just after she had made a 3-pointer to bring the Liberty within 60-58. Ionescu continued playing after the timeout.
Wilson was named the WNBA Finals MVP and thanked her teammates for helping her “find her strength” during the series.
We leaned on each other so much at this time; we fought through so much adversity throughout the season. … We came out on top."
IS 𝗛𝗘𝗥. BEEN 𝗛𝗘𝗥. STILL 𝗛𝗘𝗥. 👑
Your 2023 Finals M'VP, @_ajawilson22!#RaiseTheStakes // #WNBAFinals pic.twitter.com/tHtGMZx706— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 19, 2023
The Las Vegas Aces demonstrated that they were a true team, rallying together and securing their place as champions for the second consecutive year. Their victory makes them the first team to repeat as champions in 21 years.
