'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The two-time defending WNBA champions Las Vegas Aces trail 0-2 in their best-of-five semifinal series against the New York Liberty following their 88-84 loss in Game 2 on Tuesday in Brooklyn. It left WNBA fans with varying reactions which they shared on social media.
Las Vegas stand at the brink of elimination despite a better effort in the second game, pushing New York all the way till the end, albeit unsuccessfully. The Aces now need to win their remaining three games if they are to keep their title retention hopes alive.
WNBA Twitter was abuzz after the Aces fell 0-2 in the series against the Liberty, who they defeated in last year's WNBA Finals. Below are what some of the fans wrote on X.
Trending
One fan acknowledged that the Aces are in trouble but nonetheless egged them to channel their inner LeBron James and Cleveland Cavaliers, who came back from a 1-3 deficit to win the 2016 NBA title, saying:
"It ain't over til it's over. The Cavs came back from 1-3 to win the championship in 2016. @BeckyHammon get LeBron on the phone."
"'A three peat requires a different level of thinking and playing -- they don't seem 2 possess that this yr! it's not over but it will be if they don't start making the liberty feel them esp on defense! where's the intensity? !!? a'ja is consistent but no 1 else is around her!' one user questioned the frame of mind of the team."
"'No one wants to play. It shows. Team is definitely not gonna stay together after this season,' another one dared to surmise.
Some, meanwhile, remain downright optimistic that the Las Vegas Aces can still turn things around.
"'Make history and sweep the Liberty,' a user laid down."
"'We not getting swept,' another wrote."
Then there were some who seemingly accepted the inevitable.
"'So who are we drafting next year ...' a fan said, looking forward already to next season.
"'Lol won't be surprised if we get swept,' still another wrote."
History, however, is not on the Las Vegas Aces' side. No WNBA team has ever come back after going 0-2 down in the playoffs since 2005, when the league used the best-of-five format for the finals and 2016 for the semifinals.
Back in 2018, the Phoenix Mercury forced a Game 5 after falling behind 0-2 to the Seattle Storm but in the end, they fell short of a historic comeback.
Las Vegas Aces remain optimistic despite trailing 2-0
The Las Vegas Aces face an uphill battle to overhaul a 2-0 deficit in their best-of-five WNBA semifinal series against the New York Liberty.
Las Vegas is now a loss a way from seeing their bid for a third straight league title come to an end after losing in Game 2 to New York, 88-84, on Tuesday.
But despite the tough situation they are in, the Vegas team's veteran forward Alysha Clark believes they can turn things around.
"'It's a series for a reason, there's no championship won off two wins. I've had a lot of playoff experience where I've been up 2-0, down 2-0. The series is not over,' said Clark via ESPN."
Las Vegas will begin its uphill climb at home on Friday for Game 3.u
