Magbegor’s WNBA season over, Aces on track to defend
The WNBA season of Australian star Ezi Magbegor is over after Seattle were beaten 83-76 by Las Vegas in Game 2 of their playoff series.
Magbegor, who was averaging 11.7 points per game this season – her fourth in the league – coming into Tuesday night’s contest, missed Game 1 due to concussion.
The 25-year-old Melburnian had 14 points, seven rebounds and two assists for the Storm in Nevada.
Kelsey Plum scored a game-high 29 points, WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson had 24 points and 13 rebounds, and the Aces advanced to the semi-finals for the sixth consecutive season.
Las Vegas, who have won 11 straight home games in the post-season, swept the best-of-three series to set up a rematch of the 2023 WNBA Finals against top-seeded New York starting on Sunday. The Aces are trying to become the first team to win three titles in a row since Houston won four straight from 1997-2000 in the league’s first four seasons.
Wilson set a WNBA record by recording 20-plus points and at least 10 rebounds in 13 career playoff games, passing Tamika Catchings and Candace Parker.
Gabby Williams scored 20 points and Nneka Ogwumike’s double-double for Seattle consisted of 16 points and 10 boards.
Earlier in New York, the Liberty moved one step closer to bringing the first championship to the franchise after falling just short last year.
Sabrina Ionescu tied a franchise playoff record with 36 points to help the home side beat the Atlanta Dream 91-82 and advance to the semis.
“The ultimate goal is what it is. But, you know, every single game is a championship game to get to that final goal,” Ionescu said.
Jonquel Jones added 20 points and 13 rebounds for the top-seeded Liberty, who swept the best-of-three series.
“We have unfinished business,” Jones said, referring to taking on the defending-champion Aces.
The Liberty took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter and the teams went back and forth before Courtney Vandersloot made it 75-72 with 5:41 left and started a 12-2 run. Breanna Stewart followed later in the spurt by swooping in for an offensive tip-in.
“It had a little bit of everything,” New York’s Australian coach Sandy Brondello said of the run.
Atlanta couldn’t get closer than seven the rest of the way.
With AAP.
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