The Las Vegas Aces face playoff struggles as tensions rise between star guard Kelsey Plum and head coach Becky Hammon during Game 2

The Las Vegas Aces have been the reigning queens of the WNBA, but their throne is wobbling as they face mounting pressure in the playoffs. After a stellar regular season, the Aces find themselves in unfamiliar territory, trailing 0-2 in their second-round series against the New York Liberty. A tough 84-88 loss in Brooklyn on Tuesday night marked another setback for a team that seemed destined for back-to-back titles.

As the series shifts back to Las Vegas for Game 3, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Aces are fighting for their postseason survival, and frustrations are beginning to boil over-both on and off the court. With the Liberty riding high on their momentum, Las Vegas knows it needs more from its star players, particularly Kelsey Plum, who had an uncharacteristically rough night.

Plum, a driving force behind the Aces’ success this season, struggled mightily in the latest contest. She managed only six points on 2-of-9 shooting, including a lackluster 2-of-5 from three-point range. To make matters worse, she added three turnovers to her stat line, a rare off night for a player of her caliber. For a team accustomed to dominance, these cracks in the armor were glaring.

Tensions reached a boiling point during a timeout late in the game, as Aces head coach Becky Hammon and Plum exchanged heated words on the sideline. While disagreements between coaches and players are nothing new in sports, this moment stood out-especially given the high stakes. The interaction, captured on camera, quickly spread across social media, igniting speculation and fan debate.

By the time the clip went viral, fans were buzzing about what exactly was said during the intense exchange. Some speculated it was a sign of deeper issues within the Aces’ locker room, while others saw it as nothing more than the competitive fire of two people passionate about winning. Regardless, the moment added another layer of drama to an already high-stakes series.

Hammon addressed the situation in her postgame press conference, offering a candid take on what led to the fiery timeout. “I called a timeout because I was frustrated-frustrated with us,” she explained. “It wasn’t the refs, it wasn’t the Liberty. It was about how we were playing. We know we’re better than that.”

Plum and Hammon must move past viral sideline moment as Aces face must-win Game 3

While Hammon downplayed the intensity of the exchange, it was clear the team’s frustration was palpable. For Plum, the performance and the exchange with her coach are undoubtedly moments she’ll want to leave behind as the team prepares for a critical Game 3. However, the viral nature of the interaction has placed an even bigger spotlight on the All-Star guard heading into the next matchup.

Despite the turmoil, the Aces still have an opportunity to turn things around. As they return to Las Vegas, the team will need to refocus and find the rhythm that made them champions in the first place. For Plum, that means shaking off her rough performance and leading by example on the court.

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Friday’s game now feels like a must-win for the Aces, with not only their championship hopes on the line but also their team chemistry under scrutiny. Fans will be watching closely to see if the sideline tension spills over or if it serves as a wake-up call for the reigning champs.

As Game 3 approaches, all eyes are on Las Vegas. Can Kelsey Plum and Becky Hammon put the viral moment behind them and lead the Aces to a much-needed victory? The next chapter of this playoff saga is set to unfold in dramatic fashion.