Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson share telling moment after WNBA Playoffs classic

Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson shared a touching moment as the final buzzer sounded to end the Las Vegas Aces ’ hunt for a WNBA championship three-peat.

On Sunday night, the New York Liberty defeated the Aces 76-62 in Las Vegas to advance to the WNBA Finals. Sabrina Ionescu led the way for the Liberty, rebounding from an off night in Game 3 to score 22 points and avenge the Finals defeat to the Aces nearly 12 months ago.

As time expired to spell the end of the Aces’ three-peat hopes, Wilson turned to Stewart and embraced her rival. The two stars have dominated women’s professional basketball over the last few seasons, sharing the last three MVP awards.

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Stewart’s 2023 MVP award came sandwiched between Wilson’s second and third, including a unanimous win this season. Stewart’s MVP award was surprising as she took 20 out of 60 first-place votes, and Wilson questioned the decision - but there was no bad blood as the pair left it all out on the court on Sunday.

In addition to Ionescu, Stewart tallied 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Jonquel Jones scored 14 points despite being in foul trouble most of Sunday's game. For Las Vegas, Wilson had 19 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocked shots.

Kelsey Plum scored 17 points and Tiffany Hayes had 11 points. But the three-point shooting was lacking for the Aces, and the Liberty took advantage.

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Ionescu flew out the gate and finished the first quarter with 12 points, making all four shots - including three threes. The Liberty led by just two points entering the fourth quarter but blew the Aces away in the final period to return to the Finals in search of the elusive maiden championship.

Last year, the Liberty lost in four games to the Aces, who clinched their second successive title. New York used the hurt of the defeat to storm to the top of the WNBA standings with a 32-8 record in the regular season, which included a 6-1 record versus their rivals in Las Vegas.

New York’s road win snapped a record 12-game home playoff winning streak for the Aces, who became the first team since the Los Angeles Sparks (2001-02) to win back-to-back titles. The Aces were trying to become the first franchise to capture three successive championships since the Houston Comets took four straight in 1997-2000.

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The top-seeded Liberty will have the home-court advantage in the WNBA Finals as the franchise prepares to make its sixth appearance. New York will face either the Connecticut Sun or Minnesota Lynx in the 2024 WNBA Finals.

The Finals will begin on Thursday, October 10.