The New York Liberty are up 1-0 on the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA playoff bracket 2024. Game 2 is set for Tuesday night, and the Aces might need to even the series if they want to hang on to their three-peat hopes. Hyping up her WNBA MVP accomplishment, Aces players like Kate Martin and Kelsey Plum were rocking A’Ja Wilson jerseys before Game 1. It wasn’t enough to propel the Aces to victory. We will review the Aces vs Liberty odds and the Game 1 results to determine who is the best WNBA bet.
WNBA Playoffs: Aces vs Liberty Odds
*All Aces vs Liberty odds are courtesy of FanDuel.com*
Liberty Assert Themselves In Game 1
EVERYONE: Breanna Stewart.
20 pts in 18min 8-10 FG
Liberty lead the Aces 48-38pic.twitter.com/iOjVWgKEtG
— WSLAM (@wslam) September 29, 2024
The Liberty defeated the Aces in Game 1, 87-77. The spread for the game was Liberty -4, and the total was set at 163.5. Game 1 was all about Breanna Stewart. Stewart set the tone for this series with a dominant line of 34 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Stewart shot 12-for-19 from the field and 50% from three-point range. This performance comes on the heels of a disappointing WNBA Finals performance against the Aces. Therefore, the momentum may have already swung towards the Liberty in this series.
Stewart wasn’t the only bright spot for the Liberty. All-Star running mate Sabrina Ionescu chipped in with a 21-point performance on 9-of-15 shooting as well. Jonquel Jones dominated the glass with a 13-point and 12-rebound double-double. The Liberty big three were responsible for 68 of the team’s 87 points.
Struggles From Las Vegas
The Aces never really found their footing in Game 1. The Liberty came out swinging, grabbing a 28-21 lead in the first quarter. They never looked back, leading at one point by 18 points. Wilson and Plum had decent games for Las Vegas. However, they didn’t get enough support to keep up with the Liberty’s big three.
WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson took only 16 shots in Game 1, but she made the most of them. She shot 9-of-16 for 21 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Wilson was a team-low -17 in plus/minus in the game. Plum led the Aces in scoring with 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting and 4-of-8 from three. The Aces will need more support from Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray to compete in Game 2. They combined for 2-of-10 shooting from three-point range.
Game 2 Aces vs Liberty Odds
Spike Lee and Kelsey Plum getting into it during the Liberty-Aces game today. Any lip readers out there? pic.twitter.com/KtBSfGg2mP
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 29, 2024
Despite the double-digit loss, the Game 2 Aces vs Liberty odds look much like that of Game 1. The Liberty are -4.5 favorites on their home floor, and the total is set again at 163.5. The Liberty are -188 to win straight up, and the Aces are +152 underdogs.
New York has covered the spread in three of the four matchups with the Aces this season. The total has gone under in three of the four games as well. The Liberty currently has momentum on their side. Nevertheless, it is impossible to underestimate the heart of a champion. The Liberty have been weaker against the spread lately (2-7 in their last nine home games). Meanwhile, the Aces are 5-1-1 against the spread on the road in their last seven. Look for a more competitive Game 2, where a close game could have the Aces covering the 4.5-point spread.
