But no one — maybe even the Aces — expected the Liberty to look as bad as they did on Friday night at Michelob Ultra Arena. A disastrous third quarter derailed any chance of a Liberty sweep against the Aces in the semifinal round.

Becky Hammon made it clear after Las Vegas’ Game 1 loss that Tuesday’s game would be do-or-die. Technically, the Aces wouldn’t be eliminated with a second defeat, but in the history of the WNBA playoffs,

The reaction from Sabrina Ionescu — the two fists clenched as she turned down the court, the roar as she crossed the white line at the center, all of it — captured everything.