{"id":786287,"date":"2023-10-08T13:07:14","date_gmt":"2023-10-08T17:07:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?p=786287"},"modified":"2023-10-10T17:11:21","modified_gmt":"2023-10-10T21:11:21","slug":"2023-wnba-finals-preview-everything-you-need-to-know-ahead-of-game-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wnba\/2023-wnba-finals-preview-everything-you-need-to-know-ahead-of-game-1\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 WNBA FINALS Preview: Everything You Need to Know Ahead of Game 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Finally, it&#8217;s time for the 2023 WNBA Finals. We&#8217;re been hyped all week, and if you&#8217;re reading this, you probably have been, too: in one of the most exciting Finals matchups, the reigning champs the Las Vegas Aces will look to run it back, while the New York Liberty are competing for their first-ever title. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then there&#8217;s all the storylines in between: the 2022 WNBA MVP vs. the 2023 MVP. The Vegas strip vs. the Big Apple. The first Finals meeting between two coaches that used to drop buckets in the W. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amidst an exciting expansion announcement by the League, the time is now for women&#8217;s basketball.  Game 1 will take place in Vegas to an already sold out crowd. We love to see it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We won&#8217;t say we told ya, but the Aces did grace the cover of WSLAM 3 and the Liberty were just on the cover of SLAM 246. Looking back, both squads made it clear that they were ready to prove any and all narratives wrong and play the game their way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To get you ready for all &#8216;tings WNBA Finals, check out our coverage below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-white-color has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background has-text-color has-background\">\ud83c\udfb0 LAS VEGAS \ud83c\udfb0 <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Who is the Queen of Pranking in Vegas!? The Aces ARE HILARIOUS! | Point &#039;Em Out\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mGflSK7zxT0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-small-font-size is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.34%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-slam wp-block-embed-slam\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"uJayN9lrfO\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/the-magazine\/kelsey-plum-chelsea-gray-aja-wilson-jackie-young-wslam-3\/\">Aces Superstars A\u2019ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young Open Up on How They\u2019ve Built a Powerhouse in Vegas<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Aces Superstars A\u2019ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young Open Up on How They\u2019ve Built a Powerhouse in Vegas&#8221; &#8212; SLAM\" src=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/the-magazine\/kelsey-plum-chelsea-gray-aja-wilson-jackie-young-wslam-3\/embed\/#?secret=b5Zr7Rl511#?secret=uJayN9lrfO\" data-secret=\"uJayN9lrfO\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.34%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignleft is-type-wp-embed is-provider-slam wp-block-embed-slam\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"yTh5A9Pex1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wnba\/aces-defensive-identity-elevated-defending-champions-another-level\/\">The Aces&#8217; Defensive Identity Has Elevated This Team to Another Level<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;The Aces&#8217; Defensive Identity Has Elevated This Team to Another Level&#8221; &#8212; SLAM\" src=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wnba\/aces-defensive-identity-elevated-defending-champions-another-level\/embed\/#?secret=gD52YssI4k#?secret=yTh5A9Pex1\" data-secret=\"yTh5A9Pex1\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-slam wp-block-embed-slam\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"ua1DjIgLQt\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wnba\/chelsea-gray-vegas-aces-star-point-gawd\/\">Aces Star Chelsea Gray Continues to Prove Why She&#8217;s Been Crowned the &#8216;Point Gawd&#8217;<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Aces Star Chelsea Gray Continues to Prove Why She&#8217;s Been Crowned the &#8216;Point Gawd&#8217;&#8221; &#8212; SLAM\" src=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wnba\/chelsea-gray-vegas-aces-star-point-gawd\/embed\/#?secret=UqTHQUw09S#?secret=ua1DjIgLQt\" data-secret=\"ua1DjIgLQt\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-white-color has-pale-ocean-gradient-background has-text-color has-background\">\ud83d\uddfd NEW YORK \ud83d\uddfd<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"WHO CAN SING LIKE BEYONC\u00c9??? The New York Liberty HAD US CRYING! \ud83d\ude2d | Point &#039;Em Out\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cvXXaxWvi-A?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-wp-embed is-provider-slam wp-block-embed-slam\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"hUd5ZTMwYg\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wnba\/the-brilliance-of-liberty-wing-betnijah-laney\/\">The Undeniable Brilliance of Liberty Wing Betnijah Laney<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;The Undeniable Brilliance of Liberty Wing Betnijah Laney&#8221; &#8212; SLAM\" src=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wnba\/the-brilliance-of-liberty-wing-betnijah-laney\/embed\/#?secret=64GQIEPvIK#?secret=hUd5ZTMwYg\" data-secret=\"hUd5ZTMwYg\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-slam wp-block-embed-slam\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"yduOmPSL2S\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/the-magazine\/new-york-liberty-chasing-greatness\/\">The New York Liberty are Chasing Greatness<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;The New York Liberty are Chasing Greatness&#8221; &#8212; SLAM\" src=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/the-magazine\/new-york-liberty-chasing-greatness\/embed\/#?secret=tyshAY3uPz#?secret=yduOmPSL2S\" data-secret=\"yduOmPSL2S\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>As New York head coach Sandy Brondello <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tERZjfmPAmc\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tERZjfmPAmc\">stated in her early assessment <\/a>of the &#8220;superteam clash&#8221; following their Game 4 win in Connecticut: &#8220;We haven&#8217;t done it for so long, but we&#8217;re playing the champions from last year. I think it&#8217;s going to be a really competitive series and hopefully more and more people turn their eyes into the game and we can continue to grow it.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter what happens, something historic is in the cards. \u201cSomeone\u2019s making history,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/lasvegassun.com\/news\/2023\/oct\/04\/aces-have-a-chance-to-make-history-with-win-over-l\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/lasvegassun.com\/news\/2023\/oct\/04\/aces-have-a-chance-to-make-history-with-win-over-l\/\">Hammon explained.<\/a> \u201cIt\u2019s either we get the back to back or New York gets their first one. As far as dynasty and all that, we\u2019re (going) on No. 2. Before you get to three or four, you\u2019ve got to get to two. We\u2019re really getting ready for the task at hand and not worried about years down the road.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We&#8217;re hyped for this Finals match up, are you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-light\" style=\"margin-top:0;padding-top:6vw;padding-right:6vw;padding-bottom:6vw;padding-left:6vw\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-100 has-background-dim has-background-gradient has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6546ee5a wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide wp-container-content-ceb7f5b3 is-content-justification-left\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9aeb1ad9 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide has-text-align-left has-contrast-color has-text-color\" style=\"font-size:100px;font-style:normal;font-weight:500;line-height:0.9;text-transform:none\">REP YOUR SQUAD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-contrast-color has-text-color\">It&#8217;s not too late besties, there&#8217;s still Aces and Liberty Cover Tees in stock, as well as copies of SLAM 246 and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-left is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-6447b855 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-font-size is-style-fill\" style=\"font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:0px;text-transform:uppercase\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-base-color has-contrast-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/slamgoods.com\/collections\/slam-cover-tees-collection\" style=\"border-radius:0px;padding-top:24px;padding-right:48px;padding-bottom:24px;padding-left:48px\">SHOP NOW<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-right is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ba11ac9d wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group wp-container-content-0733e5d0\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-container-content-0733e5d0 wp-duotone-unset-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"864\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IG_feed_CoverTee_reg-864x1080.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-785081\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IG_feed_CoverTee_reg-864x1080.jpg 864w, https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IG_feed_CoverTee_reg-720x900.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IG_feed_CoverTee_reg-120x150.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IG_feed_CoverTee_reg-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IG_feed_CoverTee_reg-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IG_feed_CoverTee_reg-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IG_feed_CoverTee_reg-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-container-content-0733e5d0 wp-duotone-unset-2\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"864\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/fee-864x1080.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-782423\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/fee-864x1080.jpg 864w, https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/fee-720x900.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/fee-120x150.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/fee-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/fee-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/fee-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/fee-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Photo via Getty Images.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Finally, it&#8217;s time for the 2023 WNBA Finals. We&#8217;re been hyped all week, and if you&#8217;re reading this, you probably have been, too: in one of the most exciting Finals matchups, the reigning champs the Las Vegas Aces will look to run it back, while the New York Liberty are competing for their first-ever title. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":524,"featured_media":786421,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[11149,1730,49801,1862,1863,63726],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-786287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wnba","tag-aja-wilson","tag-breanna-stewart","tag-las-vegas-aces","tag-new-york-liberty","tag-wnba","tag-wslam"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/786287","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/524"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=786287"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/786287\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":786525,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/786287\/revisions\/786525"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/786421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=786287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=786287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=786287"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=786287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}