WNBA: MAY 07 New York Liberty at Chicago Sky - Source: Getty — WNBA broadcaster shared two differences in the New York Liberty's postseason series (Image credits: Getty)

"She's the head of snake" - WNBA broadcaster breaks down 2 key differences between Liberty vs Aces playoff series and 2023 Finals

Modified Oct 05, 2024 00:49 GMT

The New York Liberty could eliminate the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces, in the 2024 WNBA Playoffs on Friday. The Liberty has a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five semifinals matchup. This isn't the first time the two teams have clashed in the postseason. They also met in last year's Finals, where the Aces took home the trophy.

Since last season, the Liberty have made changes to increase their prospects of winning the championship. Now, the Aces have experienced the newly improved New York squad after two games.

WNBA broadcaster Ryan Ruocco mentioned two key differences in how New York has approached playing against the two-time champions.

"I think there's two main differences from a year ago. Number one, Sabrina Ionescu," Ruocco said. "She has improved her game so dramatically from a year ago. Last year, in the Finals against the Aces, she averaged nine points on 32% shooting. This year, through two games, she's already surpassed her point total from last year's four-game series.

"Becky Hammon, we asked her about the biggest difference in Sabrina last year and this year. She lit up and said, 'Look, she's the head of their snake, you see all the defensive attention I want us giving her and we have not done a good enough job, she has really picked us apart.'

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The other key difference that Ruocco highlighted was the addition of Leonie Fiebich. At 6-foot-4, the Aces have struggled to defend Fiebich well. In her first playoff outing, she averaged 10.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists. Fiebich is also a reliable shooter from long-range, making 66.7% of her attempts from beyond the arc.

Fiebich was a second-round pick by the LA Sparks in 2020 but did not play in the WNBA. Her player rights were traded to New York in February 2023, and she signed a rookie scale deal in February 2024.

Also read: Where to watch New York Liberty vs Las Vegas Aces? Date, time, streaming options, and more (October 4, 2024)

WNBA legend believes the Aces can come back from a 0-2 deficit against the Liberty

The Aces' season is at stake as they seek to avoid a playoff sweep from the team they beat in the Finals last year. While New York has the advantage, WNBA legend Candace Parker believes Las Vegas has what it takes to come back from such a deficit.

The former LA Sparks star appeared on the show "Best of Both Worlds with Flau’jae" on Thursday. She compared the Aces to the Golden State Warriors and their historic title runs.

"If anybody could do it, come back from 0-2, it would be Vegas," Parker said. "You look at Golden State Warriors' success and what they did during their run of winning championships. They had to win Game 6 at Houston and come back to win at home. It's possible."

Parker talked about it at the 12:15 mark.