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It’s championship or bust for the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces

By Lukas Petridis

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 13: Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty drives against A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces in the second quarter of their preseason game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 13, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Liberty 84-77. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 13: Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty drives against A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces in the second quarter of their preseason game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 13, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Liberty 84-77. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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The New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces have built historically talented rosters. The WNBA’s two superteams are must-see TV.

In October of this year, (at least) one of these statements is going to be true: the New York Liberty are not WNBA champions; the Las Vegas Aces are not WNBA champions. That’s ridiculous. The fact that we live in a reality where one of these juggernauts isn’t winning it all in 2023 is crazy.

Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Courtney Vandersloot, Jonquel Jones and — yeah, that’s a championship team. A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray, Candace Parker — yeah, that’s a championship team. But, at best, only one of these teams will be able to win it all.

The Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty are both built for a championship run

In our final edition of the “What does success look like for team X in the 2023 WNBA season” we look at the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces together. A matchup that boasts Jonquel Jones as maybe its eighth-best player is sure to provide instant classics every meeting.

This might be the most textbook example of championship-or-bust in modern U.S. sports. East meets West, two teams separated by three time zones, two superteams with legitimate chances of winning it all and the two best players in the league facing off against one another. This isn’t like LeBron and the Cavs coming up against Steph, KD, Klay, Dray, Thanos and the Warriors, where the media had to fight tooth and nail to make it seem like the series was being played on even footing. No, this is actually being played on even footing and the media has the joy of bringing out all of the best parts of that.

You’ve got Jonquel Jones, MVP just two seasons ago, a three-level offensive force who can make a 30-burger look easy on her night as well as tie things together on the inside defensively. Matching up against her is Candace Parker WNBA royalty who has been a model of a complete basketball player throughout her career. She brings versatility on both ends allowing her to tap into a smorgasbord of skills that has enabled her to age her game as only the most elite can.

Shoulda-been 2021 Finals MVP Courtney Vandersloot is the premier table-setter in the league and her ability to stack double-digit assists in meaningful games is uncanny. You would have to imagine games between these two teams will go through periods of stingy defense, with neither team giving up anything and CVDS will just pass right through it in a “how did you manage that” sorta way. Adversely, Chelsea Gray can hit a heavily contested midi in a “how did you manage that” sorta way, with both players able to create something out of nothing.

Sabrina Ionescu has already shown why she is Kobe’s greatest disciple. She isn’t sending text messages to his contact postmortem and then posting it on Instagram for clout, she isn’t doing whatever the latest cringe thing Devin Booker did, she’s making history. She dropped the first 30-point triple-double in WNBA history, putting her expansive offensive game on full display. Ionescu can play make and score at an elite level, so her fit with the newcomers will work comprehensively and symbiotically. Combatting her, however, is Kelsey Plum. Talk about an elite offensive game, Plum has one of the most complete player profiles for a WNBA player. Mix that in with an appetite for competition that will never be satisfied and you’re going to have a headache any time you match up against Plum.

A’ja and Stewie. We could be witnessing the biggest, most historic matchup the WNBA has ever seen. Two incredible athletes with genetic assets that they have maximized to turn themselves into bulletproof basketball players. Both incredible at defending inside, in the post and from the weak side, and can switch out onto the perimeter and keep up with smaller players. Both with high basketball IQ which shows in their decisions defensively as well as their playmaking atop the key and in the post.

Stewart is deadly with a turnaround when heavily guarded, often drawing a foul 12-18 feet away from the basket. Wilson will face you up and take you to the cup — if you play perfect defense then she’ll get out of there with two points, if you falter for a split second then she’s getting out of there with three. Offensively you have to give A’ja the nod inside and from the short mid-range, with Stewie taking the cake from mid to long range. What these two are doing for basketball cannot be quantified, only witnessed.

The cast of characters around them are insane as well. Betnijah Laney. I mean, I haven’t made mention of an All-Star and Laney will be a pivotal supporting piece, much like Jackie Young for the Aces, whose astronomical improvement as a 3-point shooter saw her earn an All-Star selection last year. Stefanie Dolson, Marine Johannes, DiDi Richards, Kayla Thornton, Han Xu, these are the players we haven’t gotten to yet for the East coast. Kiah Stokes and Kierstan Bell are returning for the Aces, with Stokes having a lot of experience with this squad and Bell having gained experience internationally. Riquana Williams has been a player the Aces go to down the stretch, putting away a few Finals games. Cayla George will be a star in a locker room that already has the coolest person in the world.

From top to bottom, on the court and off, these teams are made to win. This rivalry is must-see TV and a postseason meeting is inevitable. Hopefully, for the league and for the fans, we see these two for our season finale, ending the year with a bang.

Regardless of who you’re picking or who you’re supporting, we have a matchup for the ages around the corner. The 2023 WNBA season is going to be amazing and these two teams are the biggest reasons why.

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