BROOKLYN — There’s a purpose why no skilled basketball staff has accomplished a three-peat for the reason that Los Angeles Lakers did it within the early 2000s. After Tuesday night time’s Recreation 2 loss in opposition to the New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon make clear what makes conserving a championship-level consideration to element for 3 consecutive seasons so tough, acknowledging how human nature comes into impact.
“Fairly frankly, we haven’t had the sting,” Hammon mentioned. “We discovered it within the final month, I really feel like we’ve gained quite a lot of floor. However, the texture was completely different from the soar.”
An absence of an edge is one thing that Hammon has spoken about numerous events this season. It seemingly performed a task in why the Aces started the yr with a 6-6 report, and and why they dropped Recreation 1 — a loss that Hammon deemed effort-related. And, whereas the hassle was higher in Recreation 2, Hammon acknowledged that the efficiency nonetheless left loads to be desired.
“The quantity of layups we gave up was obscene,” Hammon mentioned after the 88-84 loss.
Although the Aces completed the common season with an undeniably higher focus than they started it, they nonetheless weren’t the identical staff that dominated the WNBA en path to back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023.
Now, they discover themselves in an 0-2 gap within the semi-finals, a deficit that no WNBA staff has ever overcome — although it’s not one the staff believes is insurmountable.
“I like being within the historical past books,” mentioned Chelsea Grey, the Aces’ 2022 Finals MVP. “May as nicely form of begin there.”
Nonetheless, the clutch-time Barclay’s Heart loss was a full-circle second for Las Vegas
Final yr, the Aces secured the WNBA championship on the street, defeating the Liberty in 4 video games and clinching the collection with a one-point victory at Barclay’s Heart. That got here regardless of the absences of Chelsea Grey and Kiah Stokes — each rotation gamers who had been misplaced to damage — and ended with Courtney Vandersloot airballing a possible game-winning jumper within the waning seconds.
The heartbreaking loss has famously served as gas for New York all season, and Hammon and the Aces have repeatedly acknowledged that Liberty got here again higher this season — each enhancing a person stage, and including rookie standout Leonie Fiebich, who has been a seamless match within the beginning lineup.
“New York is loads higher than they had been final yr, plain and easy,” Kelsey Plum mentioned forward of the semi-finals match-up. “For those who go down the road, like pound for pound, individually — all of them are higher.”
After the Recreation 2 loss, Hammon acknowledged that whereas different groups improved, her staff handled distractions within the wake of their extended success.
“The sphere was completely different from the soar, and because of this three-peating is difficult,” Hammon mentioned. “Let’s be actual, the entire league has been pissed off for the final eight months, and my gamers are in commercials, and this, and that, and being freaking celebrities — and also you get distracted. That’s why it’s onerous, as a result of human nature is distracting.”
Hammon additionally drew a parallel between the 2024 Liberty-Aces semi-finals rematch and the 2014 Finals rematch between the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Warmth. Hammon, who served as an assistant coach underneath Greg Popovich, watched the Spurs fumble a championship once they didn’t safe a defensive rebound on the conclusion of Recreation 6 of the NBA Finals in 2013, permitting Warmth sharpshooter Ray Allen to sink a nook three when the collection would have in any other case ended.
The Warmth in the end secured the title within the subsequent Recreation 7, one of many extra surprising comeback wins in trendy skilled basketball. However, the Spurs got here again to decisively win all of it the next yr.
“They lose an absolute heartbreaker, in Miami, off a fundamental factor, [an] offensive rebound, kick out three,” Hammon mentioned. “We [the Spurs] ought to have walked away with the title that yr. The subsequent yr, they got here again. They got here again with a lot drive, a lot self-discipline, a lot focus, that there was no manner anyone beat them in 2014.”
Hammon likened the Liberty’s 2023 loss to the Spurs’— and likewise in contrast the 2 groups’ responses to the heartbreak.
“I nonetheless suppose we [the Aces] had been the higher staff, however we had been dealt a very freaking robust hand final yr within the Finals, dropping Chelsea [Gray] and Kia, so I’m positive they really feel like one thing was stolen a bit of bit.”
This season, the Liberty are 5-0 in opposition to the Aces, together with the 2 playoff wins.
“On the finish of day, in two years, we’ve received right here one time,” Hammon mentioned. “Recreation 4. Aside from that, they’ve kicked our ass.”
Nonetheless, the Aces aren’t achieved but
One interpretation of Hammon’s postgame feedback could have been that the adorned head coach was coming to phrases with the truth that a three-peat won’t be within the playing cards.
However, she made sure to state the collection was removed from over — and that Las Vegas was going to place up a struggle.
“On the finish of the day, we haven’t both misplaced, or received a championship. Nothing has been received tonight,” Hammon mentioned. “Now, do we now have an uphill battle? Completely, we do. There’s little question about that. Nonetheless, all New York did was do what New York ought to do, which is defend their residence courtroom. It’s a collection. We totally intend on pushing it 5 video games, however we bought to take it quarter by quarter — can’t get forward of ourselves.”
The Aces will head residence to the Michelob ULTRA Heart for Recreation 3, which is able to happen on Friday at 9:30pm ET. A win would prolong the collection to 4 video games. A loss would finish the search for a three-peat, as soon as and for all.
“Let there be little question,” Hammon mentioned, wrapping up an impassioned 13 minutes on the podium. “We’re in for a battle. And a giant one.”
