New York Liberty defeat Las Vegas Aces 87-78 in buttoned-up victory

The New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces entered their game facing significant struggles. The Aces held a 9-9 record near the WNBA playoff cut line, while the Liberty had lost six of their last nine games and risked falling in the standings. Both teams were depleted, missing key players like Kelsey Plum (traded), Jonquel Jones (injured), Natasha Cloud, and Isabelle Harrison (both injured), making a win crucial for either side.

Following a poor offensive performance in their previous loss, Liberty coach Sandy Brondello's message resonated. Leonie Fiebich responded aggressively on offense, finishing with 15 points on a season-high 11 shot attempts. She actively sought mismatches against the Aces' switch-heavy defense. Fiebich attributed her comfort to European experience with switching defenses, emphasizing ball movement and speed.

The first quarter featured high-level offense from both teams, though missed open shots kept the halftime score lower at 42-40. Despite A'ja Wilson having a quiet first half for Vegas, the Liberty defense wasn't sharp. While Fiebich defended Chelsea Gray effectively, Jackie Young started strong for the Aces, who also found open 3-pointers due to lapses in New York's attention.

A critical moment occurred when A'ja Wilson suffered a hard fall, landing awkwardly on her right wrist. The three-time MVP shot free throws and played briefly more before exiting the game for the night.

Initially, the Aces didn't falter, building a seven-point lead shortly after halftime. However, Brondello's strategic substitution of Marine Johannés for Nyara Sabally proved decisive. This "downsizing but up-spacing" move worked perfectly. Kennedy Burke, playing power forward, recorded three steals in the third quarter (finishing with a career-high six steals), igniting the Liberty's transition game and sparking their comeback.

When asked about her own performance, Leonie Fiebich highlighted Kennedy Burke's impact, praising her steals and energy as crucial for the team's success that night.