The quest for a three-peat is still very much alive. The Las Vegas Aces kept their hopes intact of a third straight title and made history after securing a crucial 95-81 victory against the New York Liberty in Game 4 of the semifinal series. While A’ja Wilson and Co. put in a solid team effort, with the 3x MVP scoring 19 points head coach Becky Hammon had one major complaint.

The Aces put in a commendable performance to bounce back from the disappointment of Game 2 and there were many positives. Kelsey Plum put the stale show of the previous game behind her with a 20-point effort. 27-year-old guard Jackie Young impressed with 24 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Wilson chipped in with 14 rebounds, in addition to the 19 points. Hammon’s words after the narrow Game 2 defeat seem to have lit a fire under her players and they are still kicking and alive.

But for all the good signs that the coach saw, she was disappointed with the officiating. However, Hammon didn’t shy away from expressing her frustration regarding a concern that’s been on her mind—what she sees as uncalled fouls on Wilson during games that are going unnoticed.

Speaking to the press afterward Hammon looked frustrated with how Wilson has not had enough free throws, especially in the ongoing series against Liberty. She said, “You know how many free throws she shot in this series? Well it’s ridiculous and I’m freaking tired of it. Two free throws in 33 minutes,  four the other night. It’s just ridiculous. If you do the minutes she’s played to the free throw attempts, it’s like one free throw probably every 25 minutes.”

Wilson got two free throw attempts in Game 3, which she successfully converted. In the past two games of the series, she had four free throw attempts in each of the games. The head coach further added, “With as much as she’s touching the ball and as much as she’s in the paint it’s not like she’s out there chucking threes and how she puts it on the floor, she attacks closeouts, and she gets bumped constantly and I’m tired of it.”

Her comments came after the New York Liberty were called for just 10 fouls, while the Aces were hit with 13, adding fuel to her concerns about the physicality Wilson faces. Even as a team the Aces only had nine free throws in Game 2 against the 19 of the Liberty. The low free throw count for Wilson in the three playoff games is in contrast to the regular season numbers. She averaged 7.2 attempts from the charity stripe in the regular season.

Despite her angst at the treatment of Wilson, Hammon will be happy with the performance of her side to keep the series alive.  This win marked the 12th straight home victory in the playoffs for the Aces, breaking the WNBA record shared by the Los Angeles Sparks and Sacramento Monarchs. The Aces turned up big time after Hammon had openly called the players out for not performing up to the standards.

During the Game 2 88-84 defeat, Hammon was unhappy with the effort of her players. She had called two timeouts in the second quarter in less than a minute and was seen giving Plum an earful. After the game, she questioned whether her team was unmotivated and distracted to fully commit to the cause. She said, “Quite frankly, we haven’t had the edge. All year. Now we found it, the last month I feel we’ve gained a lot of ground, but the feel was different from the jump. And this is why three-peating is hard. Let’s be real.”

She also mentioned, “My players are in commercials and this and that and being fricking celebrities and you get distracted. That’s why it’s hard. Because human nature is distracting,” before adding, “I can’t call enough timeouts,” Hammon said. “Nor do I want to call timeouts because I’m livid with my own team for layups.” These comments motivated Aces’ players even before Game 3 got underway.

A’ja Wilson promised to deliver “great basketball” for the fans ahead of the do-or-die game.

A’ja Wilson and the Aces rise to the challenge

When the countdown to Game 3 ticked away, the Aces were feeling the pressure to deliver a standout performance against the Liberty. In the midst of the anticipation, A’ja Wilson took a moment to chat with a reporter on the sidelines. She confidently remarked that high-pressure situations have become the norm for the team, and they know exactly how to manage them.

 “I would just tell them (fans) to buckle up, enjoy the ride and there’s gonna be some great basketball display tonight and just enjoy it… And one thing I know for sure is that sometimes when our backs are against the wall, that’s what we really break loose and shine the brightest, so it’s gonna be a good one.”

True to Wilson’s words, the Aces bounced back—and in impressive fashion. From the very first quarter, they set the tone, taking an early three-point lead. By halftime, the game was still within reach for the Liberty, with both teams battling it out. But it was in the third quarter that the defending champs made their mark, pulling away with an 18-point lead, effectively sealing their victory before the final quarter even began.

Jackie Young stole the spotlight with a standout performance, leading the Aces to victory with a game-high 24 points. She nailed four three-pointers out of ten attempts, showcasing her shooting prowess. But it wasn’t just Young’s scoring that highlighted the Aces’ dominance; their effective defense, particularly in trapping Sabrina Ionescu, was equally impressive. The star player, who had been the highest scorer in the previous game, managed to get off only 7 field goal attempts the entire night, a testament to the Aces’ strong defensive strategy.

With Game 4 looming this Sunday at noon, the Aces will once again take the court in front of their passionate fans. It will be fascinating to see if they can overcome the only team that has handed them four defeats this season. Additionally, it’ll be intriguing to find out if Coach Hammon’s concerns about free throw attempts will pose a challenge in their quest for a three-peat.

Since the WNBA moved to a best of 5 for the latter playoff stages, no team has been able to come back from 0-2 down to win the series. The Aces have to overcome great odds in order to make more history in the league. The stakes couldn’t be higher!