LAS VEGAS — The New York Liberty have been waiting nearly 12 months for this. From the moment Courtney Vandersloot’s jumper misfired in the waning seconds of Game 4 of the 2023 Finals, the Liberty were chasing revenge, a chance to redeem themselves after an opportunity lost and to even the score against the Las Vegas Aces.

“Remember how it feels,” coach Sandy Brondello said earlier in the series. “It’s in the past. but we don’t forget how we felt in that moment. So if you need motivation, remember how you felt after game 4.”

The opportunity for redemption presented itself a round earlier than expected, leaving New York still short of the ultimate prize. But after spending the last few weeks saying they hadn’t accomplished anything, the Liberty did achieve one goal Sunday — they dethroned the two-time defending champs.

This was personal for New York, who referenced the trash talk from the Aces after winning their 2023 title. The Liberty won’t consider this season a success until winning three more games – they can’t, considering they already advanced to the finals a year ago – but the emotions poured through nonetheless.

“I have receipts on the things that were said, the entire team does,” Breanna Stewart said.

After struggling in the elimination loss this time last year, Stewart led the way in the encore with 19 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and four blocks. In a tense, arhythmic Game 4 Sunday, New York kept the Aces at bay the entire afternoon before pulling away with a 16-2 run in the fourth quarter to prevail 76-62 and take the semifinal series. The Liberty advance to the WNBA Finals for the sixth time in franchise history, while the Aces fall short of a title for the first time since Becky Hammon took over as coach.

New York entered Michelob ULTRA Arena and took this game from the home team. Following a Jackie Young 3-pointer to open the proceedings, the Liberty reeled off a 10-0 run and never trailed again. The Aces pulled within one on a couple of instances but could never get over the hump. New York’s veterans always found a way to end the rally, whether it was Jonquel Jones sinking a 3-pointer, Vandersloot driving her way to the basket or Stewart hitting an impossible runner with her never-ending arms.

Sloot’s got the moves! 🏃‍♀️ Big bucket as she powers her way to the rim.

NYL leads by 8 in the 4Q.

📺 Liberty-Aces on ABC | #WNBAPlayoffs presented by @Google pic.twitter.com/2D3KiCOavp

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 6, 2024

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The Liberty’s length spooked Las Vegas all night, as the Aces even saw shadows on open shots. Young wouldn’t hit another basket the rest of the night — her lone potential make coming on a halfcourt heave after the third-quarter buzzer — and Las Vegas shot 21 of 64 from the field, including 7 of 30 on 3s. Three of those came in the final 3:20 when the Aces were already trailing by 14 and out of time to complete the comeback. At that point, the home fans were exiting the building with the New York faithful behind their bench exhorting their return to the finals.

Before the series started, Las Vegas conceded that the Liberty had been the best team all year, and Hammon reiterated that after the game.

“Their group earned it, they earned it all year,” Hammon said. “(That) team was put together to take us out, and they did.”

Required reading

(Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)

It may only be a preseason game, but LeBron James is never going to forget the first time he shared the same court with his son, Bronny James, as Los Angeles Lakers teammates on Sunday night. 

LeBron and Bronny became the first father-son duo to play in any NBA game together, as they took the court in the first half against the Phoenix Suns. They played around four minutes together in the second quarter. 

LeBron, who was an efficient 8-of-12 from the field, including 2-of-3 made from three-point land, for 19 points discussed what it was like to have his son by his side on the hardwood for the first time in a game.

“It’s pretty cool for the both of us, and especially for our family,” LeBron said. “It’s definitely a moment that I will never forget.”

LeBron has been wanting to play with Bronny since his son was just a high school prospect who hadn’t committed to playing at USC yet. And everyone knew that meant LeBron would have to play well past 20 years in the NBA to do so based on the current steps prospects must take before being eligible for the NBA Draft. 

Ahead of Year 22 in the association, LeBron remains in top-notch shape and he’s seeing this milestone checked off. 

LAKERS’ LEBRON JAMES SAYS HE EXPERIENCED ‘PURE JOY’ IN PRACTICES WITH SON BRONNY AS TRAINING CAMP TIPS OFF

“For a father, it means everything,” he said. “For someone who didn’t have that growing up, to be able to have that influence on your kids and have that influence on your son, be able to have moments with your son – and the ultimate, to be able to work with your son – that’s one of the greatest things that a father could ever hope for or wish for.”

It was a pedestrian night for Bronny, who saw his first game action as an NBA player. He had just one shot, a missed three-pointer, with two defensive rebounds over his 13:25 minutes on the floor. He also had two turnovers.

It also happened to be his 20th birthday on Sunday, which only adds to the milestone. 

NBA fans are intrigued to see when it will be official that the father-son duo becomes the first-ever pair to play in a regular season game. It was reported earlier this year after the Lakers drafted Bronny in the second round that he would be up with Los Angeles to get the milestone out of the way before being sent down to the G-League South Bay Lakers for more development. 

LeBron James and Bronny James of the Los Angeles Lakers during the Phoenix Suns game on Oct. 6, 2024, at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs. (Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

In the meantime, Bronny is still trying to develop a work relationship with his father. 

“I’m always thinking about, ‘That’s my dad!’ because that’s literally my dad,” he said. “But when I’m playing, he’s just my teammate. That’s all.” 

New head coach JJ Redick is also navigating this pairing as he gets his bearings in his first-time role. 

“I’m thrilled that I get to be a part of this, I really am,” Redick said. “It’s cool as a basketball fan. I think it speaks to LeBron’s longevity, but also his competitive stamina that he’s able to still be doing this in Year 22. It speaks to the work that Bronny has put in to get to this point, and really just the fatherly care, and certainly the motherly care from Savannah as well. Bronny, he’s such a great kid and a pleasure to be around.”

Redick added that their connection on the floor won’t be “gimmicky,” as he wants to get them in as the game flows naturally. 

Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James steps onto the court with forward LeBron James during the preseason game Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/William Liang)

While it hasn’t been done in the NBA, father-son duos have been together on the same playing field in other professional sports, including MLB with Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. playing together on the Seattle Mariners.

It’s history in the making, and though LeBron is definitely still in this game to win championships, he knows how special this moment is for him not only as a player, but as a father, too. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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When Gabriela Jaquez noticed three of her UCLA teammates passionately representing Serbia and Germany during Olympic qualifiers, she was motivated.

Emily Bessoir and Lina Sontag qualified to make their Olympic debuts playing for Germany. UCLA teammate Angela Dugalić, of Serbia, also qualified to compete during the Paris Games.

“I saw them and they inspired me,” said Jaquez, explaining why she decided to play for the Mexican national team.

Jaquez, 20, then talked with her father and older brother about playing for Mexico during the summer in her first international tournament. Mexican basketball federation officials had long sought her participation after her brother, former UCLA star and current Miami Heat player Jaime Jaquez Jr., played for Mexico during the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.

“Mexico had always asked me to play with them, but I didn’t know if I was going to be ready,” Jaquez said. “I took the initiative to play with them and I’m super grateful I got to do it.”

Her dad warned her, “You’re not going to get the fouls at FIBA that you get at UCLA,” Jaime Jaquez Sr. recalled while laughing. Her brother told her the same thing.

But Gabriela was not intimidated and called the coach of the Mexican women’s team, Lindsey Harding, a successful Duke player and former pro, who welcomed her. Harding made Jaquez feel comfortable and told her that her first adventure with Mexico could be in August in the pre-qualifying tournament for the FIBA 2026 Women’s Basketball World Cup.

“It was very cool that she was the coach. I admire the way she is, how much I can learn from her,” Jaquez said of Harding, who was recently named an assistant coach with the Lakers, becoming the first woman to hold that title in Lakers history.

Jaquez had the support of UCLA coach Cori Close, who urges her players to seek international competition experience to broaden their repertoire of play.

Unlike college basketball, the FIBA game is generally more physical. Jaquez’s role on the Mexican team also was different from what she is used to with UCLA, a team on which she has very tall teammates. In Mexico, Jaquez, at 6 feet, is one of the tallest players.

“I knew it was going to be physical, but I tried to have fun and that’s what I did,” Jaquez said of the strong FIBA style.

“After every game, she had new bruises,” said Jaime Jaquez Sr., who accompanied his daughter to every game in Mexico City.

Harding said Gabriela Jaquez adapted quickly.

“The game is different than college basketball in the United States, it’s different than anywhere else you play. You’re allowed to do more things, more contact than you’re used to,” Harding said at the news conference after the first game, where she noted that it only took Jaquez one half of the game to adjust.

During the seven-day tournament in August, played at the Juan de la Barrera Olympic Gymnasium in the Mexican capital, the Mexican team was not the favorite but debuted with a win over Mozambique and then defeated New Zealand. Mexico then lost a competitive game to Montenegro and in the semifinals, they were eliminated by the powerful Czech Republic.

Jaime Jaquez Sr. said he was proud of how his daughter connected with her teammates, including Sofia Payan and Carla Martinez.

“I think they are going to be her friends forever,” he said.

Gabriela Jaquez is grateful she decided to play for Mexico.

“Honestly, it was a lot of fun, it was a great experience,” said Jaquez, who led the Mexican team in points and rebounds. “At the beginning, I was a little nervous. I didn’t want to think about it too much because I didn’t want to stress myself out. But at the end of the day, it’s basketball, it’s what I love to do.”

The competition exceeded the Mexican team’s expectations and confirmed how much Jaquez can help the team. The Camarillo native averaged 21.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.

“We are very happy. … Gabriela integrated very quickly with her teammates. The senior women’s national team had an outstanding pre-World Cup event,” said Modesto Robledo, president of the Mexican Basketball Sports Assn. “They played with a lot of grit.”

Jaquez said her teammates and coaches were very welcoming. The crowd also stole her heart.

UCLA’s Gabriela Jaquez dribbles during a game against California Baptist on March 23 in L.A.

(Kyusung Gong/AP)

“The people from Mexico who went to our games were incredible. They were saying they were grateful that I would play for Mexico, but no, I was the one who was more grateful,” she said.

Omar Quintero, Mexico’s national team director, believes the Jaquez siblings can have a big effect on the Mexican national team.

“She came to revolutionize Mexican women’s basketball,” Quintero said of Gabriela. And he wants to see her brother return next summer to represent Mexico.

Last season, Jaquez and UCLA reached the NCAA tournament Sweet 16 before falling to Louisiana State. She averaged 10 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game in 34 games, starting six of them and averaging 25.2 minutes per game.

Jaquez wants to help UCLA win the Big Ten and hopes the more physical play she adapted to during the summer will help her during the NCAA tournament.

“The Big Ten championship and being in the Final Four are always our goals,” Jaquez said.

During the tournament in Mexico, Harding learned she had landed the Lakers assistant coaching job. It is unclear whether she will continue coaching Mexico during international tournaments, but federation officials hope she still has time in her schedule.

Meanwhile, the Mexican Basketball Sports Assn. is intensifying the search for players for its national teams. A FIBA rule requires players who represent a national team be born in that country or have obtained their passport from that country before the age of 16. There is only one exemption spot on the roster for a player who got their passport after the age of 16. Jaime and Gabriela Jaquez both used exemptions.

Mexican federation officials are trying to process as many passports as possible for young Mexican American basketball players in the United States so that if they continue to develop their talent, they can play for Mexico without relying on exemptions. The federation has scheduled a camp in Los Angeles for boys and girls under age 3 for January 2025.

UCLA forward Gabriela Jaquez, left, shoots over Purdue forward Alaina Harper during a game on Nov. 6.

(Ryan Sun / Associated Press)

“We may have to set up 300 passports, but if five or six players come out of those 300, we’re good,” Quintero said.

Some of the young basketball players they have in their sights include the children of former Laker Matt Barnes, who have Mexican roots through their mother.

“We are looking for boys and girls from the United States who have the same dream as Gabriela,” Quintero said.

This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times es Español.