Friday night is do-or-die for two WNBA powerhouses. The teams that snatched four of the last five WNBA championships are staring elimination right in the face, both down a brutal 0-2 in their semifinal series. Talk about high stakes. Both the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces are desperately hoping that heading home will flip the script, but we all know it is about the action on the court, not just the cheers from the crowd.
Liberty’s Roster Shuffle And The Search For A Spark
The No. 8-seed Liberty are set to host the No. 4-seed Atlanta Dream at 7:30 p.m. in Barclays Center. ESPN’s got the broadcast, so we are all locked in. A huge boost could come if Allisha Gray, currently questionable, makes it back on the court. But honestly, the Liberty’s problem might be a bit deeper than one player. Head coach Chris DeMarco seems to be searching for answers among his role players, and that is usually not a good sign when things are going south. You have got Marine Fauthoux, who suddenly became a rotational regular with 42 minutes across these two semis games, after playing way fewer minutes in the regular season and just two in the first round. She even “usurped” Pauline Astier, who everyone thought was key after she crushed it against Olivia Miles in the first round. Marine Johannès has been minimized, Han Xu is on spot minutes, and both Rebekah Gardner and Rebecca Allen are limited. These are players who were in preferred lineups at different points of the season. When you are shuffling the deck like that in the semis, you are looking for *something* to click, right?
Jonquel Jones Steps Up When It Matters Most
This is where Jonquel Jones, the Liberty’s true “ceiling raiser,” absolutely has to take over. Let us not forget, when the Liberty clinched the 2023 Commissioner’s Cup and the 2024 WNBA Finals, who was MVP? That was JJ. This is her moment to make sure the Liberty play their best. She has been solid so far, no doubt. In Game 1, she dropped an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double, adding four assists and five blocks. Then, in Game 2, she came through with 21 points, eight boards, and four more blocks. Excluding Breanna Stewart, she has probably been New York’s best player. But here is the thing: her impact has only been felt in stretches. And for a team facing elimination, you need that presence for all 40 minutes, every single possession. Jones gets it, though. She said it herself, “We understand that it’s a series…We go into Game 3. we go back in in front of our homecrowd, we get back into New York and into more familiar territory for us.” She also stressed, “it’s about every possession, winning a quarter, winning another one, stacking four of those, and being able…” That is the mindset they need.
So, can Jonquel Jones rally the squad and force a Game 4? Can she ensure her presence is felt for more than just stretches? The No. 3-seed Aces are also in the same boat, welcoming the No. 2-seed Valkyries to the House at 9:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, also down 0-2 and fighting for their season. It is all on the line Friday night. We are talking about teams that have been championship contenders for years. Now, they are both just one loss away from their season dreams evaporating. What a night this is gonna be!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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