A'ja Wilson vs. Breanna Stewart in WNBA Finals: How ex-South Carolina star fared for Aces

After dominant showings in the first two games of the WNBA Finals, former South Carolina basketball star A'ja Wilson failed to shake off a slow start in the Las Vegas Aces 87-73 loss to the New York Liberty in Game 3.

Wilson led the team scoring with 26 points and added 15 rebounds to her tally. These Finals were one of the most heavily anticipated showdowns in the history of the league, with the No. 1 seed Aces and No. 2 seed Liberty being the top teams throughout the season. The main matchup fans were looking forward to was Wilson going against Breanna Stewart: Both are two-time WNBA MVPs who are world-class bigs with elite offensive arsenals, but Wilson has gotten the best of Stewart through two matchups.

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The Aces struggled to produce efficient offense in Game 3, shooting 7-22 from three and 23-69 from the field. Kelsey Plum led the Aces with 29 points, but Las Vegas got just nine points from their bench. Meanwhile, Liberty forward Jonquel Jones was the deciding factor, pouring in 27 points on 15 shots and three blocks.

Teams that go up 2-0 in the Finals are 17-0 in WNBA history, but momentum has swung back in the Liberty's favor after Game 3. The Aces are seeking to repeat as champions — a feat that has not been achieved since the 2001-02 Los Angeles Sparks — but coach Becky Hammon will have to make some adjustments going into Game 4.

A'ja Wilson stats for 2023 WNBA Finals

In 35 minutes, Wilson had 16 points on 4-of-16 shooting from the floor, including 8 for 10 from the free throw line. She had three offensive rebounds, eight defensive rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one personal foul.

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The Aces were outscored by 13 points when Wilson was on the floor, as she failed to make the same impact she had in Games 1 and 2. Her Game 3 outing was her least efficient performance of the playoffs and resulted in the Aces first loss of the postseason.

Did A'ja Wilson outplay Breanna Stewart in Game 2?

In Game 3, Stewart bested Wilson after getting outplayed in the first two games. The 29-year-old put up 20 points on 8 of 16 shooting and 12 rebounds. She even got in on the Liberty's block party, as she added two to the team's total of eight, including one massive swat on a Wilson jump shot.

Wilson must outplay Stewart for the Aces to win the 2023 WNBA Championship. Stewart's ability to punish defenses inside the paint with her size but also from the perimeter using her elite shooting touch makes her a handle to deal with. However, Wilson has shown the ability to withstand Stewart's scoring onslaughts, but it begins by finding a rhythm offensively. If Wilson can get going in Game 4, that grinds the fast-paced Liberty offense down to a halt, playing in the Aces favor.

When did A'ja Wilson play for South Carolina?

The all-time leader in points and blocks for South Carolina's women's basketball team, Wilson was on the Gamecocks from 2014 through 2018, winning three straight SEC Player of the Year awards in her final three seasons. She led South Carolina to the NCAA national title in 2017, putting up 23 points and 10 rebounds in the final against Mississippi State. She was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

She also was the consensus national player of the year in 2018. On Jan. 18, 2021, a statue of Wilson was dedicated near the main entrance to South Carolina's Colonial Life Arena.

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WNBA Finals schedule 2023

The 2023 WNBA Finals began Sunday, Oct. 8. The best-of-five series will end Oct. 20, if necessary.

Game 1: Las Vegas 99, New York 82 (Las Vegas leads, 1-0)

Game 2: Las Vegas 104, New York 76 (Las Vegas leads, 2-0)

Game 3: New York 87, Las Vegas 73 (Las Vegas leads, 2-1)

x-Game 4: Las Vegas at New York, Oct. 18, 7 p.m., ESPN

x-Game 5: New York at Las Vegas, Oct. 20, 8 p.m., ESPN

x-if necessary

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: A'ja Wilson vs. Breanna Stewart in 2023 WNBA Finals: Stats, MVP race