Aces Beat Fever 102-85 in Game 1; Indiana Faces Elimination Tuesday
The short version
- Las Vegas leads the first-round series 1-0 after a 102-85 Game 1 win in which Indiana trailed by as many as 27.
- A'ja Wilson scored 37 points on 15-of-19 shooting after Indiana held her to 39% in the regular season.
- Caitlin Clark had 15 points and 10 assists with six turnovers in her first playoff game in two years.
- Game 2 is Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, an elimination game for the Fever.
A'ja Wilson scored 37 points on 15-of-19 shooting as Las Vegas took Game 1 of the first-round series; Indiana hosts an elimination Game 2 on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
The Las Vegas Aces opened their WNBA first-round playoff series with a 102-85 win over the Indiana Fever on Sunday at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. Indiana's deficit reached 27 points at its widest, and the Fever could never close the gap.
The series now moves to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, where Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Trailing 1-0, the Fever must win to keep their season alive.
A'ja Wilson set the tone for Las Vegas, scoring 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting in the first half and finishing with 37 on 15-of-19 from the field. It was a sharp turnaround from the regular season, when Indiana held the four-time MVP to 39% shooting, a containment job handled largely by Aliyah Boston. Fever coach Stephanie White has called Wilson the best player in the WNBA.
Ball security hurt Indiana early. Las Vegas converted nine first-half Fever turnovers into 18 points, four of them committed by Caitlin Clark. Clark, appearing in her first playoff game in two years, finished with 15 points, 10 assists, three rebounds and six turnovers. Before the game, she had emphasized her role as the leader of the team.
Boston, listed as questionable entering the day, carried much of Indiana's offense. She delivered 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting with eight rebounds and four assists in 25 minutes, and White indicated before the game that Boston's minutes would be managed. Boston missed four games earlier this season with a right lower leg injury she first suffered during Unrivaled.
Asked before the game how she felt, Boston said, "Like we played 40-plus games. But taking it day-by-day." She added, "I knew this season was gonna have little bumps and things in the road, and so for me, just staying focused and being ready for when I'm open."
The rest of Indiana's roster had a rough night from the field. With Boston's numbers removed, the Fever shot a combined 40.7%, and Kelsey Mitchell finished with 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
Rookie guard Raven Johnson provided a bright spot off the bench. With Tyasha Harris injured, White turned to Johnson as the primary backup point guard, and the rookie responded with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting in 21 minutes while also making an impact defensively. She ripped the ball away from Jackie Young in the closing seconds of the third quarter with Indiana down 21, and the Fever opened the fourth on a 6-0 run.
Wilson chose to sit out the FIBA World Cup and said the time off helped her feel refreshed mentally. Indiana now returns home needing a win Tuesday to extend its season.
Games to watch
