The three-peat pursuit has ended with a heartbreak! The Las Vegas Aces, who sparked hopes with a dominant victory in Game 3, couldn’t outclass the New York Liberty on Sunday, which eventually led to their elimination from the playoffs. Well, the chances were already grim given the Aces needed back-to-back-to-back victories after losing the first two games of the series. But they might have succeeded, or at least pushed it to Game 5 if Jackie Young didn’t have a dull outing, something which Sheryl Swoopes had already prophesied.

Becky Hammon’s team entered Game 4 with their backs against the wall, needing a win to keep their hopes of a three-peat alive. They got off to a promising start, with Jackie Young sinking a deep three-pointer to put the Aces on the board. However, that excitement was fleeting as the New York Liberty quickly regained control of the game, wrapping up the first quarter with a four-point lead.

Although A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum worked hard to keep the Aces competitive, the team’s momentum faltered as Young struggled to find her rhythm after that initial basket. In fact, her opening three-pointer turned out to be her only field goal of the game. Young managed to score just one more point in the third quarter, and that came from a free throw. Out of ten field goal attempts, she only connected on that single three-pointer, leaving the Aces needing more from her in a crucial game.

The 27-year-old guard ended the game with just 4 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. It was undoubtedly a tough night for her, and her struggles might have played a crucial role in the Aces’ elimination, especially considering her previous performances and Sheryl Swoopes’ predictions.

Sheryl Swoopes’ prediction on LV Aces’ Jackie Young was on point

“Las Vegas advances if Jackie Young shows up.” That’s what former Houston Comet legend had stated before the semifinal series tipped off between the Aces and Liberty. Young delivered decent efforts, scoring 17 points each in the first two games with 8 rebounds and 5 assists. This tally was already more than her three matchups against Liberty in the regular season but still couldn’t give Aces the much-desirable victory.

However, Swoopes’ prediction came to fruition in Game 3, where Young truly shined and helped the Aces secure their first victory against the Liberty in five meetings this year. The Notre Dame alumna put on an impressive performance, scoring a remarkable 24 points and emerging as the top scorer for the Aces. Her efforts propelled Las Vegas to a commanding win, with a margin of over 14 points.

Young entered the postseason with a solid track record, averaging 15.8 points during the regular season and stepping it up to 19.3 points in the first three games of the semifinal series. Well, just as Becky Hammon devised a plan to contain Sabrina Ionescu in Game 3, it appeared that Sandy Brondello had crafted a game plan to keep Young in check.

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Therefore, Sheryl Swoopes’ earlier predictions about Young’s critical role in the Aces’ playoff success rang true—perhaps a bit late, but undeniably accurate in highlighting her importance for the team’s chances at reaching the Finals.