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Aces’ Alysha Clark Dedicates Title to Late Father in Emotional Postgame Interview

The forward’s father passed in Sept. 2022 and she dedicated the ‘23 season to him.

Madison Williams

Aces’ Alysha Clark Dedicates Title to Late Father in Emotional Postgame Interview
Aces’ Alysha Clark Dedicates Title to Late Father in Emotional Postgame Interview /
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The Aces captured their second straight WNBA title on Wednesday night after taking down the Liberty 70–69 in Game 4 of the 2023 finals.

Las Vegas forward Alysha Clark played a crucial part in the Aces’ comeback win as her two-point basket in the third quarter tied the game at 51 after the Liberty led for the majority of the first half.

After the game, Clark was emotional, as many of the Aces players were, but the forward’s tears came from more than just the result of the game. Clark’s father, Duane, died in Sept. 2022, and the forward had dedicated the ‘23 season to him.

As a result, ending the season with a trophy held an even further special meaning for Clark.

“He’s been with me all season, he’s been my sixth man,” she told ESPN’s Holly Rowe after the win. “I know he would be so happy right now. I’m just so happy, I know he’s with me. I wish he could be here. I wish I could hold him. But, this is for him, this entire season.”

Clark finished Game 4 with 10 points, eight rebounds and two assists.

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Madison Williams
MADISON WILLIAMS

Madison Williams is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, where she specializes in tennis but covers a wide range of sports from a national perspective. Before joining SI in 2022, Williams worked at The Sporting News. Having graduated from Augustana College, she completed a master’s in sports media at Northwestern University. She is a dog mom and an avid reader.

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