For the second time in WNBA history, a team has come back from a 2-0 deficit. This Friday, the New York Liberty suffered a loss at the hands of the Aces, who now stand at 2-1 in the playoff series. This means Sabrina Ionescu was absolutely right when she said, “We haven’t won anything.” But how did the Aces secure an 81-95 victory against the No. 1-seeded opponents?

Becky Hammon herself revealed the secret. In a post-game press conference, Hammon shared, “You know, it all starts with the defensive end. I just think we were proactive and just stirring it up, trying to make Sabrina uncomfortable.” And she’s right. The Aces’ tight defense was a standout in today’s game.

It helped A’ja Wilson and company limit Sabrina Ionescu to only four points with five rebounds in 30 minutes of play in today’s showdown. It might not seem significant until you compare it to her Game 2 performance. During the Liberty’s win on October 2, Ionescu scored 24 impressive points with nine rebounds in 37 minutes of play.

Sabrina went scoreless until the fourth quarter, where she hit a couple of free throws. She was 0 for 5 shooting before she finally sank her first three-pointer. This shot extended her streak of playoff games with at least one three to 19 games. The Las Vegas primary defenders ensured Ionescu was doubled and forced her to give up the ball.

Does this mean the Aces can claim a Finals spot?

Well, it’s a bit intriguing. There have been seven instances where teams have overcome a 2-1 deficit. In fact, the Aces found themselves in the same situation in 2020. Considering A’ja Wilson’s incredible gameplay, it seems the Finals spot is within reach. The two-time MVP was remarkable in the first half.

She played all 20 minutes and contributed 13 points in the first two quarters. It wasn’t only her offense that kept her going; she was a menace on the defensive end as well. Her presence ensured that the Liberty could not get a shot off due to the threat Wilson posed. “Well, our attention to detail defensively was super. AC was great, A’ja was able to get into passing lanes and not make it look so easy,” shared Chelsea Gray.

Even in the third quarter, the Aces kept the Liberty from scoring while Wilson took a breather. She finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds in her 33 minutes of game play. The Aces’ offense was led by Jackie Young with 24 points, while three of its players—Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray, and Tiffany Hayes—scored in double digits.

But still, the best-of-five series means the Liberty still have the edge over the Aces. Will they be able to overcome the tough defensive strategy of the Aces?