The New York Liberty – a team as cursed in the playoffs as a gambler on a losing streak. Now, they find themselves just one game away from returning to the WNBA Finals, with the Las Vegas Aces standing in their way like that final boss in a video game that just won’t let you win. But can the Liberty finally shatter their finals curse, or are we about to witness another chapter in their long, gut-wrenching history of heartbreak?
So far, the Liberty lead the Aces 2-1 in the semifinals, but let’s not celebrate just yet. After all, this is the same team that has made it to the WNBA Finals five times (count them, FIVE!) without a single ring to show for it. That’s like going on five dates and getting ghosted every time – you’d think the universe has it out for you. And the last sting came just last year, in 2023, when the Liberty lost the Finals to the very same Aces. In a cruel twist of fate, the Liberty fell by just one miserable point in Game 4, a 70-69 heartbreak at home in the Barclays Center. Talk about salt in the wound.
Now, here we are again, with the Liberty on the verge of returning to the Finals for the sixth time. But let’s be real – history hasn’t exactly been kind to them. On five separate occasions (1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2023), the Liberty made it all the way to the final stage, only to leave the court with shattered dreams and empty hands. Not a single championship ring, not even a consolation prize. Just tears, broken hearts, and more painful “what-ifs.”
But could this year be different? Could the Liberty actually flip the script? They’re currently battling the Las Vegas Aces, a team that’s no stranger to the Finals either. And despite dropping Game 3 at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 4, the Liberty are still in control, needing just one more win to punch their ticket to the Finals. One more win… easy, right? Well, not so fast. This is the Liberty we’re talking about – they’ve made the WNBA Semi-Finals ten times, with a coin-flip 50% success rate of making it to the Finals. In Liberty terms, those odds are as good as gold.
Their next shot comes on Sunday, October 6, where they’ll clash with the Aces again. If they manage to win, we’re looking at the Liberty’s sixth trip to the Finals and another chance to finally ditch that “bridesmaid, never a bride” narrative. But if the Aces win? Oh boy, get ready for a nerve-wracking Game 5 decider on October 8.
In true Liberty fashion, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Will they triumph? Or will this be another chapter in the saga of “so close, yet so far”? Fans are on the edge of their seats, half hoping, half preparing for the worst. After all, being a Liberty fan is not for the faint of heart – it’s for those who can laugh through the pain.
Mark your calendars, grab your popcorn (and maybe a box of tissues), because whatever happens next, it’s sure to be a wild ride.
