The highly anticipated matchup between the two juggernauts of the WNBA this season is finally here and is poised to be one of the greatest WNBA Finals matchup of all-time. This series is packed with as many stars as the Hollywood walk of fame as the Liberty have the MVP in Breanna Stewart and 2x All-Star Sabrina Ionescu. Paired with that talented duo is a player who has been a huge X factor for the Liberty in the playoffs in 4-All-Star and 2021 WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones. As for the Aces, they have a plethora of star power starting with the dominant back to back defensive player of the Year award winner in A'ja Wilson. They also have a dynamic guard duo in 4x All Star Chelsea Gray and 2x All-star Kelsey Plum.
Both of these teams have the opportunity to make history as the Liberty are seeking their first championship in Franchise history and are in the Finals for the first time in 21 years. Meanwhile, the defending champion Aces are on the verge of a dynasty as they could become the first team to win back-to-back championships since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002. They now face off for the first time since the regular season where they split their 4 regular season matchups but Liberty did win the Commissioner's Cup against them on the road in Vegas. Each game was played drastically different as 4 of the 5 games were decided by double digits.
This series will likely be decided by which marquee player is able to outperform the other as the WNBA's last two MVPs face off in their second Finals against each other. Stewart won a championship in the 2020 bubble as a member of the Seattle Storm who swept Wilson's Aces in the Finals that year. Now a Liberty, Stewart is in the midst of arguably her best individual season while Wilson is as dominant as ever on both sides of the court. Stewart won MVP while A'ja finished third in MVP voting in a highly competitive MVP race. They both put spectacular numbers During the regular season as Stewart averaged 23.0 points and 9.3 rebounds while Wilson averaged 22.8 and 9.5 rebounds. In their five head to head matchups, Stewart averaged 17.0 points and 7.4 rebounds, and Wilson averaged 15.6 points and 6.2 rebounds with Stewart winning 3 of the matchups including the Commissioner's Cup. In the playoffs, Stewart is at 19.8 points and 9.0rebounds while Wilson has been an absolute force averaging 25.8 points and 11.2 rebounds. Both of these superstars are putting together Hall of Fame level resumes but only one will add a Finals MVP trophy.
I mentioned earlier how Jonquel Jones could be a huge factor, so much so the Commissioner's Cup MVP could get consideration for Finals MVP if she continues her excellent postseason play. Jones numbers have jumped from 11.3 points and 8.4 rebounds in the regular season to an impressive 16.5 and 12.8 during the playoffs. One of her best performances of the season came recently in a series clinching win over her former team in the Sun finishing with 25 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocked shots.
There are several other factors that I believe could swing this series but the ones I will be watching closely with the guard play of Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot versus Plum and Gray. Also the loss of Candace Parker who has been out since July 7th after surgery for a left-foot fracture could have an impact. In her absence, Clark has stepped up tremendously earning a Sixth Woman of the year award. Both teams also come in with a lot of championship experience not just on the court but on the sidelines as both coaches in the Hall of Famer Becky Hammon and Sandy Brondello are WNBA title winning head coaches. Hammon won in her first year as the head coach of the Aces while Brondello won in 2014 with the Mercury.
As for the winner of the series, it is a very tough call as both teams appear very evenly matched. I do expect this series to go the distance as both teams are excellent on the road and could steal a game in each other's arenas. Ultimately, I will go with the Liberty to win the series in five games and Breanna Stewart to win Finals MVP.