New York Liberty fans were in for a real treat as the team kicked off the season with a bang, defeating the Las Vegas Aces 92-78. The game was preceded by a 15-minute ceremony where the players proudly received their championship rings, and the 2024 WNBA championship banner was raised to the rafters of Barclays Center. The sold-out crowd of 17,344 was delighted to witness this special moment.
The energy from the pre-game ceremony fueled the Liberty, who came out strong against their rivals, the Aces. New York managed to build a comfortable 14-point lead by halftime, but Las Vegas fought back, narrowing the gap to 66-64 early in the fourth quarter. However, Natasha Cloud, who joined the Liberty in the offseason, stepped up with back-to-back three-point plays, sparking an 8-0 run that extended New York’s lead to 74-64 with 5:47 remaining. The Aces struggled to catch up, and despite a strong performance from A’ja Wilson, who scored 31 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, they fell short in the end.
Although the Aces were missing reserve player Crystal Bradford, who was serving a one-game suspension, they couldn’t find a way to overcome the Liberty’s momentum. On the other hand, Jewell Loyd, who recently joined Las Vegas through a trade, had a rough start to the game, missing her first few shots before finally getting on the scoreboard with a mid-range jumper. The Liberty’s victory was a statement win, proving that they are ready to defend their title and dominate the competition in the upcoming season.
