“I’ve been in rebuild years, I’ve been part of championship teams… you never know when you’re gonna get this moment,” said Aces wing Alysha Clark after winning the 2023 WNBA Finals.
“I started in this league, I didn’t make a team my first two years. Becky (Hammon) was my vet… to almost giving up, so to be in this space, I mean not a lot of players have three championships. I’m extremely grateful for the process that allowed me to be in every position possible in this league; I’ve been cut, I’ve been the last person on the bench, I’ve been a starter, I’ve been left open, I’ve been a go-to… literally any position in this league, I’ve done, so I’ve been able to draw on experiences… what a blessing and what a testament of who God is to me, for keeping me strong throughout the trials and everything… I don’t take anything for granted,” followed up an emotional Clark.
Alysha Clark dedicates this championship to her father ❤️ @Alysha_Clark | @sportsiren pic.twitter.com/BohDWDZ5EG
— espnW (@espnW) October 19, 2023
The 2023 Sixth Player of the Year, Clark stepped up big time for the Aces during game four, slotting in as a starter after Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes both sustained foot injuries the game prior.
Without their star guard and Stokes’ presence on the glass and in transition, the Aces worked to slow the pace, sludge up New York’s offense, and win through their defensive aggression and intensity. Clark put her stamp on the game with one of the best defensive performances we’ve seen in the playoffs, the primary guard of MVP Breanna Stewart. Clark’s impact through fantastic timing, positioning, and understanding of personnel was a masterclass in defensive effort and aptitude.
The Liberty got loose early, leaping out to a double digit lead mid-way through the first, but the Aces started to settle in and buckle down once their offense found some rhythm. Taking New York out of their transition offense was pivotal in Vegas strapping up on their end of the court. An early inbounds play from the Liberty showcased how Clark would dictate Stewart throughout the game.
Clark expertly toed the line of always maintaining contact with Stewart, while also avoiding rip throughs that could get Stewart to the line. Give too much space, and Stewie gets her shot off clean. Take too much away, and she can drag you to the foul line, fall for the pump fake and she’ll go up and under. With consistent contact, continual jabbing, and staying down, Clark was effectively always in Stewart’s vicinity.
Mid-way through the first: Iso isn’t going to be there.
The Liberty love playing out of movement, using their shooting prowess along with side to side motion to open gaps in a defense with shooting pockets or on the roll. One of Stewart’s best skills is her ability to slip to the basket or slide out of non-contact screens into a three: The Aces decided she wouldn’t get the chance to do any of that cleanly.
Las Vegas had already played off of Courtney Vandersloot from distance all series, either roaming when she was off of the ball or going underneath screens set for her when she was on the ball. They kept that same principle on Wednesday, but with a twist as Clark would stick up (stay attached) to Stewart regardless of screening action (a few exceptions to come).
This effectively kills any advantage the Liberty gained, prevents any kind of ability for Stewart to get shifty, and allows Plum and Clark to just focus on their assignments rather than opening anything up if they don’t switch tightly.’
What about when the Liberty ran ball screens that the Aces had to worry about from deep?
Clark would slink off just slightly to give the on-ball defender to get underneath the screen, a gamble the Aces were willing to take, and one that paid dividends. Sydney Colson was superb working through contact to get back in front.
By keeping there from being two plays right at the level of the screen being set, the Aces were able to finagle their way into playing more straight up man to man. Without any sort of open pockets, the Liberty offense became a bit of a gray area; what are we creating? What are our screens and actions opening up?
Ok, what if the Liberty sold out to really set a screen?
This borders on a moving screen as Stewart slides her feet multiple times to maintain contact with Jackie Young: Clark stays ready to prevent any sort of slip to the basket from Stewart.
First and foremost, the discipline in the moment is huge, something that’s easy to gloss over when it’s maintained with consistency; mistakes are always much louder than steady plays.
It also stands out that Clark pressed Stewart 94 feet after most made baskets by the Aces, and even in the halfcourt, she was always working to make her uncomfortable when she didn’t have the ball. Multiple times throughout the game, you could spot Clark and Stewart 3 or 4 feet beyond the three-point line.
Keeping one of the best scorers ever away from the paint: A good and effective plan!
Ok, but what about with a more complex action? Shoutout to the Aces for their intensity and gameplan throughout, as it felt near every player executed their defense with gusto.
Courtney Vandersloot dribbles and pitches to Sabrina Ionescu flying up from the corner (pistol action) and sets a screen for her, and Stewart trails just behind to set a second screen. The Liberty want to get something out of the Ionescu/Stewart pick and roll, one of their most fruitful offensive actions. You have to worry about the threat of Sabrina pulling up and all of the things Stewart can do out of a screen as mentioned earlier.
Jackie Young played in lock and trail often, following Ionescu like a shutdown cornerback stapling themselves to a receiver.
Kelsey Plum calls out the switch: She stays home on Vandersloot as Young switches onto Stewart and Clark switches onto Ionescu. Sabrina doesn’t get open and neither is Stewart as no ground is gained. Watch again, as Clark keeps a hand on Stewart until Young has her hands on, and in-between her and the basket, denying the roll.
Keep watching as Young stays attached to Stewart until Wilson is in control, and then Young closes to Laney in the corner. This winds up a made basket, which appears a loss, but when you consider how much the Aces took away, how well they did it, and that there was room for the final handoff to clean up… they’re cooking with grease already.
Another attempt later in the game to get Stewart a look in isolation, this time with a little bit more movement added in, and another fantastic showing from Clark.
Clark’s momentum carries her left, giving Stewart her own left and an opportunity to attack Clark off-balance. Stewart fakes left and drives right… and Clark is waiting for her there, having anticipated the move from her former teammate.
Again, she sits down, ceding little ground while also keeping her presence felt, forcing Stewart into an incredibly difficult and contested fade away.
New York looked later in the game to try and draw in another guard pitch, this time to Vandersloot, adding in a screening element without actually hitting a screen or giving time to prepare for a screen.
There are good system and schematic plays; this is a GREAT play that highlights the decade plus of Clark’s expansive defensive toolbox. Her footwork is immaculate getting around Vandersloot without wasting time or space and you can’t ignore how impressive her timing is as well. Her balance is instrumental in not careening into the driving Stewart as she beats her to her spot and draws the charge with gumption.
This is just fantastic defense. It’s why you make All-Defensive teams, something Clark undoubtedly deserved more than the two times she’s been selected in her career.
And then we get the final play, a culmination of the entire night’s work, the proverbial KO after a plethora of body blows dealt throughout the bout.
Watch how constantly Clark is shifting her stance, but never crossing her feet. She never fouls her, but always uses her lower body strength to ward Stewart off. She keeps contact as Stewart drives back towards the center of the floor and Young flies over in help.
The Aces do not win game four without Alysha Clark’s impact, one of the finest individual games of defensive execution that I’ve ever watched. As the Aces have staked their claim as the first team in 21 years to repeat as Champions, Clark’s play was instrumental, and is certainly not something that I’ll forget.
