ACES NOTES:
A’ja Wilson (19 points) scored in double figures for the 31st straight time to
start her WNBA career.
Kayla McBride (15 points) scored in double figures for the 27th time this
season.
Kelsey Plum (11 points) scored in double figures for the 13th time this season.
Tamera Young (11 points) scored in double figures for the 17th time this season.
Carolyn Swords (10 points) scored in double figures for the third time this
season.
The Liberty were without Tina Charles, Epiphanny Prince, Shavonte Zellous and
Amanda Zahui B, all of whom were out with injuries.
Las Vegas’ 31 points in the first quarter ties their most prolific first quarter
of the season (31 at Atlanta on August 7).
ACES QUOTES:
Head Coach Bill Laimbeer: Obviously, New York was shorthanded and not playing
with Tina Charles is one thing, but I give New York credit. They played very
hard throughout the game, they could have easily given up in that first half,
but they didn’t, and they competed. I didn’t give people the minutes I wanted to
but at the same time, we needed the win. Players know that they have to play
intense for 40 minutes or you let teams back in the game and that’s what
happened today, but at the same time, a win is a win and on to the next game
which we all know the importance of, so I think we’re excited and we put
ourselves in the position to have a one game shootout. It’s a big game for us so
I guess we have to go win.
On being in this position to fight for a playoff spot: That’s a hard question to
answer because I didn’t know what I had at the start of the season. I had never
coached most of these players before. We had a rookie in A’ja Wilson and I knew
what she was capable of but didn’t know what she was going to be able to do in
her first year, so I really didn’t have any expectations except I told them at
the start of the season that at the end of the season they wanted to be the team
that no one wanted to play then the record was going to be whatever it was going
to be. But I think we have accomplished that goal that I think that teams don’t
want to play us because we have the capability of scoring a lot of points and
move up and down the floor. We’re at the point now that we have a chance.
On Kayla McBride’s breakout 4th quarter: I just looked at her on the bench and
said, ‘are you going to play tonight’ and she said yes, she’s ready and a big
shot went in for her. The first one that went in was important for her since she
wasn’t engaged for three quarters and sometimes you get left out. When you’re
not playing well in the first half and other players are scoring, she wasn’t
needed and sometimes you get lost and get out of rhythm and I think that’s what
happened to her tonight. But when she got back in rhythm and got focused, she
made all the big shots down the stretch.
One last thought… I thought the crowd tonight was phenomenal, it was packed in
there and I think we all had a lot of fun and our players know that our crowd
was behind us. It’s fun walking around town and at the grocery store running
into people saying, ‘let’s get one more win’ and ‘you’re right there.’ I think
we’ve really engaged the town and it’s a lot of fun.
Kayla McBride
On hot 4th quarter after slow start: You know I mean it happens I felt like a
little sluggish and a little tired not gunna lie to you. But I think sometimes
when you have that many days in between games you kind of have to find your
rhythm again. Thankfully coach put me back in in the 4thquarter and I was just
trying to be aggressive. I felt like I had a lot of energy because I didnt
really exert a that much in the first 3 quarters. I just wanted to put the game
away for us. I knew it was a big game against Dallas so I just wanted to
continue to be aggressive and get some momentum going into the Dallas game.
On Kayla McBride’s Play in the 4th quarter: Coach asked me at the end of the
third quarter if I was ready to play and go back into the game and actually do
something. And I was just like yeah. I think it was more mental for me. Like I
said it’s been a long season and I just try to produce as best and be the player
my teammates need me to be. In the 4thquarter I was just trying to be
aggressive.
On why the team is doing so well right now: We just have a lot of energy. I
think a lot of other teams are kind of falling down They’re a little bit older
than us, were young. I think we’ve had a lot of home games too. so were feeding
off the energy of our crowd and were finally figuring out how to play together
and how to string together stops. I think that’s the biggest thing. Everyone
knows we like to be in transition but when were good on the defensive end, were
really, really good and I don’t think too many teams want to play us right now.
On the opposite trends of Aces and Dallas right now: We want to take it one game
at a time. Obviously you know with Dallas were tied for 8 place with them right
now so it’s a win or go home game, like a single elimination game and we know
that. Were going to prepare as best we can, rest up, go to Dallas, and go to
work.
On being a scrappy team: Like I said we’re young so when we get in these holes
down 6 points or 7 points and coach just tells us keep playing keep playing keep
playing. So for us I feel like that’s when our toughness kicks in. I think
that’s part of our identity. That toughness and being able to be aggressive on
both ends of the floor. Like with A’jas or Plum, everybody kind of has this chip
on their shoulder and we try to feed off of that and I think that’s what has
pushed us over the edge because were trying to prove something. We’re not san
Antonio, were not the losing team we’ve been the last couple years and were
trying to prove that to the whole league.
A’ja Wilson
On team’s hot start to the game: Yeah, our biggest thing was just keeping the
energy. We know that this is a tough situation right now because were still in
control of our own destiny. We diddnt want to change up anything, but we knew we
just had to come out with a lot of energy and show why we deserve to be in the
playoffs and were not going to let up and were just going to be in our system
On Kayla’s play: Yeah I think that’s the strength of our team. We have depth. I
think we have the best bench in the league and for them to come out and produce
the way they produced on these kind of nights. I think Kayla really stepped up
when we needed her the most and that’s the show of a good player. That’s the
show of a great player when they can come out of that slump and still produce in
a way like they never fell off. And also when our bench can come in and there’s
no drop off I think that’s good for us and that’s what’s going to keep us going
in the long run it might not be this year, next year, or the year after that but
our depth is definitely going to be something special with this team.
On Coach’s motivation to close out game after blowing lead: He said nothing is
easy in this league, nothing is going to be handed to you. You can’t let up and
we can’t breathe, especially with a team like Liberty. They’re in this league
for a reason everyone’s great players, best at their position. So we really
can’t let up in those situations. I think that’s something close to what [coach]
said.
NEW YORK LIBERTY QUOTES:
Coach Katie Smith
On the Aces hot start and their ability to hold off comeback effort: “Well we
spotted them 20. With limited players, it was going to be tough. If we don’t do
that, maybe it’s a ballgame, but I thought we started to play harder on both
ends of the floor. We started attacking on the offensive end and flying around a
little bit on the defensive end. We were a little undersized tonight but once we
got rolling and the effort was there, then we made it a ballgame.”
On adjustments in defending A’ja Wilson after her first-half performance: “We
just started to congest a little bit more, understanding who you can help off
of, who can get in there and dig, make life a little harder for her. I thought
we were smarter on the defensive in with congesting on her.”
On added intensity from the Aces in playoff hunt: “They started the game sharp,
knocking down shots all over the place, really taking what we gave them. I can’t
say we put up a great fight in the first quarter, but I thought they came out
sharp and firing on all cylinders. I thought they competed. I know Bill
(Laimbeer) subbed a good bit once they got up, so that messes with a little bit
of your momentum and a little bit of your rhythm. I’m happy the way we competed
in the three quarters after the first. A little disappointed, usually we have a
part of the game where we somewhat don’t show up a little bit and aren’t locked
in. That’s usually the ballgame.”
On the effort from the team despite not having the ideal season: “I appreciate
all of them. I appreciate Riss (Marissa Coleman), she’s been banged up with an
ankle. The way they played hard, again we just came out a little flat and that
was pretty much the ballgame. We just dug ourselves a hole and had limited
resources. Over this last stretch, once we got eliminated from the playoffs,
their effort has been at a high level and I appreciate that because it’s not
easy for them, personally, to take it upon themselves to come out every night
and give it their best shot.”
Kia Nurse
On her participation with Team Canada and if there are expectations to medal:
“Yeah, absolutely. I think for a while with the past performances, it’s expected
of ourselves and we understand that and that’s what we want to do each and every
time we go out there. Just in the sense that we have so much talent coming up
and our pool is bigger than it’s ever been in terms of the players we’re able to
choose from and I think that’s something that is really exciting for our country
as well.”
On the intensity out of the gates from the Aces with their push for a playoff
spot “Obviously, I think whenever a team comes into a game understanding the
situation that they’re in, that’s something that’s probably going to be on their
mind. Understanding when you’re at home, you always have an extra push added and
they came out guns-a-blazing.”
Bria Hartley
On making it competitive in the end after a tough start: “I think this team has
a lot of fight. We are battling a lot of injuries, everybody is just fighting
through. We didn’t start the way we wanted to, but we always fight back. We
always tell each other to keep going and we were able to step up. Hopefully, we
can start to finish the game and turn it around these last two games.”
On goals for the end of the season: “I think every game we go into, we approach
it trying to get a win. I know we’ve been on a rough streak right now and we’re
fighting really hard, so that we can come out and at least finish the season on
a high note with two good wins with the last games we have left.”
