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Aces Defend Title, Beat Fever in Semifinals
Confirmed
In Short: The Las Vegas Aces defeated the Indiana Fever 94-83 in Game 3 to advance to the WNBA semifinals.
The Las Vegas Aces clinched their spot in the WNBA semifinals with a decisive 94-83 victory over the Indiana Fever in Game 3 of their first-round series on Thursday at Michelob Ultra Arena.
A’ja Wilson led the Aces with a 36-point performance, including 10 rebounds, while Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young contributed 23 and 18 points respectively.
Wilson’s MVP-caliber play was pivotal as she surpassed 1,250 playoff points, helping the Aces secure their eighth consecutive semifinal appearance since 2019.
Despite Caitlin Clark’s 27-point, 15-assist effort for the Fever, the Aces’ defense stifled Indiana’s high-scoring offense, holding them below their regular-season average.
The Aces’ Big Three combined for 77 points, outscoring the Fever’s trio of Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell, who had 60 points in total.
Head coach Becky Hammon praised her team’s effort, noting, “The amount of effort and energy we have to put in every possession, to be honest, the Fever is an impressive offense.”
The Aces’ victory was not without controversy, as a fan confrontation involving Wilson in Indianapolis two nights prior was addressed by arena security.
The Aces will now face the winner of the Golden State Valkyries-Dallas Wings series in the semifinals.
Candace Parker, a seven-time WNBA All-Star, commented on the Aces’ dominance, asking, “But now….Who are the Aces losing to in a best of 5 or 7?”
The NBA also congratulated the Aces on their advancement, highlighting their consistent playoff success.
What this adds
The Aces' home-court advantage and championship experience were crucial in their Game 3 victory.
The Aces' defense was particularly effective in limiting the Fever's scoring opportunities, especially in the second half.
The Aces' veteran leadership and experience were key factors in their comeback from a Game 2 loss.
What's confirmed
- The reigning WNBA champions are headed back to the semifinals.
What's still developing
- "From the beginning, I was telling everyone, 'Hey, we've got to set the tone. We have to hit first, we have to show that we're not just going to allow [the Aces] to run any play, get into any sets easy,'" Hines-Allen said.
- For all of their championship experience, the Aces seemed a bit flustered in Game 2, both by the intensity and pace with which the Fever were playing and the atmosphere inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
- Since the Aces began this dynastic run in 2022, they have only lost back-to-back playoff games once (Games 1 and 2 of the 2024 semis).
- With MVP favorite A'ja Wilson's 38 points and 16 rebounds leading the way, the Aces took care of business at home with a 102-85 victory in Game 1.
- In Game 3, will the reigning-champion Aces defend their home court and keep their repeat quest alive?
- Or will the Fever pull off the upset on the road to complete the comeback?
- I picked Indiana to win the series in three a few days ago, and after what I saw from the Fever in Game 2, I'm going to stick to that decision -- despite the Aces having home-court advantage, far more championship experience and the best player in the world, A'ja Wilson.
- Starting is nothing new for Loyd, who did so for most of her WNBA career, but she has found her niche more coming off the bench with the Aces.
- Like Kareem said above, that can only be described as a disappointment -- they finished in the exact same seeding they did a year ago and were eliminated one series earlier.
- No matter the circumstances and no matter who they are facing, you know exactly what to expect from those three players: domination. -- Andrews Looking ahead, how might the Aces match up against the Wings or Valkyries?
- The Fever had the WNBA's highest-scoring offense this season -- breaking multiple records -- but were again held below their 96.0 points-per-game average in the regular season.
- The win extended the Aces’ home winning streak to five games and knocked Caitlin Clark and the Fever out of the playoffs for the second consecutive season.