In Liberty vs Aces, Las Vegas snapped New York’s run behind Jewell Loyd’s 21 off the bench and A’ja Wilson’s double-double. Full recap, context, how to watch, and what’s next.
Why Liberty vs Aces still drives the WNBA conversation
For three seasons running, New York Liberty vs Las Vegas Aces has been the WNBA showcase: two loaded rosters, contrasting styles, coast-to-coast fanbases, and a steady stream of trophy-tilting moments. New York seized the 2024 title, then opened 2025 by beating Las Vegas on ring night in Brooklyn; Vegas, the back-to-back champs prior to that, has been recalibrating its identity on the fly. The rivalry remained tight this summer—until Wednesday night in Las Vegas, when the Aces finally landed a timely counterpunch.
This season’s twist: Las Vegas added Jewell Loyd (the 2023 scoring champ) and tinkered with roles while A’ja Wilson continued her MVP-level dominance. New York, meanwhile, has navigated injuries—most notably to Jonquel Jones—yet kept winning behind ultra-smart ball movement, matchup-hunting with size, and a deep bench. In short: both teams spent 2025 sharpening entirely different strengths for the same goal—win in August and be inevitable in September.
What just happened: Aces 83, Liberty 77 — and why it matters
Final: Aces 83, Liberty 77 (Aug. 13, 2025). Jewell Loyd drilled five threes and scored 21 points off the bench, while A’ja Wilson stacked a 16-point, 17-rebound double-double to halt New York’s head-to-head dominance and extend Vegas’ win streak to five. It was the Aces’ first regular-season win over the Liberty since Aug. 17, 2023, a result that carries real seeding weight.
Video/official recap: The league’s game wrap confirms Loyd’s deep-ball barrage and Wilson’s glass control as the levers that turned a two-possession fourth quarter into a signature home win at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Why it matters now: Entering the night, Vegas had quietly stabilized—a four-game run powered by an all-timer stretch from Wilson, including the first 30-point/20-rebound game in WNBA history. The Liberty came in on the second night of a back-to-back, fresh off their highest-scoring outing of the season at Los Angeles, but with key absences still shaping their rotation. The trajectory lines converged in Vegas’ favor.
The turning points (and the tactics behind them)
Jewell Loyd as sixth-woman supernova
Since midseason, Becky Hammon has toggled Loyd’s usage—starter versus gunner off the bench—to better balance shot creation. Against New York, the version that scares everyone showed up: catch-and-shoot rhythm threes, plus late-clock counters when New York crowded Wilson. The numbers tell it: 21 points, five made threes, many of them momentum-shifters. The Aces needed a perimeter heater to complement the interior battle; Loyd provided it on demand.
A’ja Wilson’s gravity—without forcing shots
Even when Wilson isn’t dropping 30/20, her mere presence bends the court. Following her historic performance earlier in the week, Wilson ceded touches to hot hands while owning the glass (17 REB) and anchoring the paint. New York’s best fourth-quarter looks typically come from inside-out reads to shooters and elbow-hub actions; Wilson short-circuited both by cleaning the defensive boards and deterring middle drives.
New York’s short rest and reshuffled frontcourt
The Liberty were finishing a back-to-back after a 105-97 win in L.A. on Tuesday, leaning again on Emma Meesseman and Jonquel Jones in heavier doses. Meesseman’s flowing short-roll game has been gold during injuries, but stacking high-leverage minutes 24 hours apart against a fresh Wilson is a hard ask. New York still competed to the horn; the Aces’ late-game shot-making proved the difference.
Where this fits in the 2025 arc
- Form check—Aces WNBA: Las Vegas arrived “on time” for rivalry week: a six-of-seven surge driven by a revamped starting group, with A’ja Wilson in peak form. Role clarity—who initiates, who finishes, who spaces—finally matched the roster’s talent. That’s the profile of a team you don’t want to see in a short series.
- Form check—New York Liberty: New York remains elite when healthy; the coaching staff has gamed out injury gaps admirably. But Jones’ ankle has forced them to stress new combinations, and the cumulative effect shows on nights like this—especially on the road with condensed rest.
5⃣ dubs in a row 👐
Loyd: 21 PTS / 5-9 3PM / 58% FG
Wilson: 17 PTS / 16 REB / 4 AST / 2 STL / 2 BLK
Young: 15 PTS / 7 REB / 4 AST / 2 STL
Gray: 13 PTS / 5 AST / 2 STL / 45% FG#ALLINLV pic.twitter.com/te9MGnQIRl— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) August 14, 2025
Matchup chess: how each side tried to win
Aces:
- Early pace, late control. Vegas used tempo to test New York’s legs, then throttled into half-court sets where Wilson screens forced switch decisions.
- Staggered usage of guards. The Young-Gray-Loyd triangle alternated initiations, letting Jackie Young attack gaps when Loyd drew top lock from New York’s best wing defender.
- Defensive compactness. Weak-side stunts toward Jones and Meesseman took away pocket passes and moved the Liberty off their favorite ATO sequences.
Liberty:
- Elbow hub through Meesseman. Classic Meesseman: flash, pivot, pitch. It worked—especially in the second quarter—until Vegas shrank the paint and shaded help to the nail.
- High-low looks to Jones. New York hunted seals when Wilson guarded in space, but secondary help (and quick digs) turned some of those into contested hooks rather than kick-out threes.
- Bench utility. Sandy Brondello’s group still sourced energy from role players, yet the Aces’ shot-making run neutralized those marginal gains late.
The larger rivalry picture (and a quick health check)
Zooming out: this is a rivalry defined by stretches—who owns the next six minutes, who wins the window around halftime, who solves the endgame best player problem faster. New York took the opener on banner night and the spring meeting in Brooklyn; Las Vegas finally cracked the 2025 code with a bench-powered win at home. With the season entering the last sprint and seeding volatility a real thing, this was more than a feel-good streak extender for Vegas—it was a proof of concept.
Health, as ever, is the silent tiebreaker. The Liberty have cycled through absences (Breanna Stewart, Nyara Sabally, and others at points), while Jonquel Jones’ ankle has been the biggest long-term watch item. Vegas has had its own load-management/role adjustments, but Wilson’s durability—and the staff’s willingness to flex Loyd’s role—has steadied the ship.
Box-score truths you can trust
- Jewell Loyd: 21 points, 5 threes off the bench; the Aces’ first regular-season victory over the Liberty since 2023.
- A’ja Wilson: 16 points, 17 rebounds; days after the first 30/20 in WNBA history in a win over the Sun.
- Result & highlights: League recap/video package confirms the flow and the shot profile that swung it.
What’s next—and what to watch for in the rematch window
- Can Vegas keep Loyd scorching in a bench role? If the Aces bank one consistent perimeter flamethrower behind Wilson’s interior gravity, their half-court offense becomes matchup-proof.
- Liberty’s rest and reintegration plan. New York just played a back-to-back; watch how minutes reset and how Jones ramps if the ankle permits. A fresh Liberty looks very different in crunch time.
- Seeding sprint. Vegas’ five-game heater launched them upward; New York’s target is to protect a top-two path. One or two mini-runs can still swing home-court in the semis.
How to watch Aces vs Liberty next time
- National TV: ESPN/ABC continue to select rivalry games like Liberty vs Aces for prime windows; check weekly listings and team game previews for tip times.
- League/Team feeds: WNBA.com provides official recaps and highlight reels within minutes of the buzzer. Team sites often publish galleries and embedded stats shortly after.