While surprises in playoff sports are always a thrill, sometimes an expected clash of titans holds its own appeal. That’s precisely what we have in store for the 2023 WNBA Finals, where the top-seeded Las Vegas Aces will go head-to-head with the second-seeded New York Liberty.

This best-of-five series kicks off this Sunday at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas (3 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN App), with the Aces hosting Games 1, 2, and, if necessary, 5.

Both Las Vegas and New York earned the “superteam” label as early as February during free agency due to their impressive talent. Though neither team particularly embraces this moniker, it’s hard to dispute its accuracy as the Aces finished the regular season in first place with a 34-6 record, while the Liberty secured second place at 32-8.

The Aces, led by the 2022 MVP A’ja Wilson, are the defending WNBA champions and have made their way to the Finals for the third time in the last four years. Meanwhile, the Liberty, guided by the 2023 MVP Breanna Stewart, are aiming for their fifth WNBA title, with their last victory dating back 21 years to the 2002 Finals when they were defeated by the Los Angeles Sparks.

Stewart and Wilson, now widely regarded as the top two women’s basketball players globally and both two-time MVPs, are set to collide on the grandest stage. Furthermore, they are surrounded by stellar teammates, including the 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones of the Liberty. This Finals will showcase five former No. 1 WNBA draft picks: Stewart, Wilson, Las Vegas’ Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, and New York’s Sabrina Ionescu.

Adding to the intrigue, Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon was a guard on that 2002 Liberty team that finished as runners-up, while New York coach Sandy Brondello was still a player in the WNBA at that time. This Finals marks the first instance where two former WNBA players square off as head coaches in the league’s history.

“It’s fantastic to see former players getting opportunities as head coaches in the league we were a part of; that’s truly special,” remarked Brondello. “Both of us have carved our own paths to get here. I’ve even coached Becky when she was a player.”

It’s worth noting that this matchup is significant for another reason – both the Aces and the Liberty are original WNBA franchises, with the Aces starting in Utah in 1997 and the Liberty originating in New York.

In their 2023 regular-season encounters, the Aces and Liberty split the series 2-2, with each team defending their home turf. However, they also had a fifth meeting in the Commissioner’s Cup final on August 15 in Las Vegas. While it didn’t affect the regular season standings, the Liberty’s 82-63 triumph marked their first-ever title in franchise history. Now, they’re aiming for the coveted league championship.

Will the Liberty secure their first WNBA title, or will the Aces become the first team since the 2001-2002 Sparks to achieve back-to-back championships? Let’s delve into five factors that could influence the outcome of the Aces-Liberty showdown:

  1. A’ja vs. Stewie: A Star-Studded Clash The MVP race narrowed down to Stewart, Wilson, and the Connecticut Sun’s Alyssa Thomas, all of whom had outstanding seasons. Now, Stewart and Wilson cross paths for the second time in the WNBA Finals, with their first encounter taking place in the COVID-19 bubble in Bradenton, Florida, in 2020 when Stewart led the Seattle Storm to a sweep over Wilson’s Aces.

Stewart made her way to the Liberty as a free agent this year, fulfilling New York’s high expectations. During the regular season, Stewart averaged 23.0 points and 9.3 rebounds, while Wilson posted averages of 22.8 points and 9.5 rebounds. In the playoffs, Stewart has maintained a scoring average of 19.8 points and 9.0 rebounds, whereas Wilson has elevated her game to 25.8 points and 11.2 rebounds.

In their five prior meetings this season, including the Commissioner’s Cup final, Stewart averaged 17.0 points and 7.4 rebounds, while Wilson averaged 15.6 points and 6.2 rebounds. Both of these 6-foot-4 forwards are accustomed to carrying their teams and excelling in clutch situations, harking back to their college days with UConn (Stewart won four NCAA titles) and South Carolina (Wilson propelled the Gamecocks to their first Final Four in 2015 and their first national championship in 2017). They are both Olympians and have spoken about

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