Aces Take Game 1 From Fever 102-85 Behind A'ja Wilson's 37 Points

A'ja Wilson scored 37 points on 15-of-19 shooting as Las Vegas won 102-85, sending Indiana into a win-or-go-home Game 2 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday.

The Las Vegas Aces defeated the Indiana Fever 102-85 on Sunday at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Game 1 of their first-round WNBA playoff series. Indiana trailed by as many as 27 points and now stands one loss away from the end of its season.

The series shifts to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for Game 2, set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Las Vegas leads 1-0, and another Indiana defeat would end the Fever's season.

A'ja Wilson controlled the game from the opening, scoring 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting in the first half and finishing with 37 on 15-of-19 from the field. Fever coach Stephanie White has described the four-time MVP as the best player in the WNBA. Indiana limited Wilson to 39% shooting during the regular season, a task handled largely by Aliyah Boston, but could not replicate that success in the opener. Wilson chose not to play in the FIBA World Cup and said the time away helped her refresh mentally.

Turnovers were costly for Indiana in the first half, when nine giveaways turned into 18 Las Vegas points. Caitlin Clark committed four of those and finished the night with 15 points, 10 assists, three rebounds and six turnovers. The game marked Clark's first playoff appearance in two years, and she spoke before tipoff about her role as the team's leader.

Boston gave the Fever a bright spot despite the lopsided result. Listed as questionable entering the game, with White saying her minutes would be managed, Boston produced 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, eight rebounds and four assists in 25 minutes. She missed four games earlier this season with a right lower leg injury originally suffered during Unrivaled. Asked how she felt before the game, Boston said, "Like we played 40-plus games. But taking it day-by-day." She added that she expected bumps in the road this season and has focused on staying ready for her opportunities.

Boston's efficiency was an outlier for the Indiana offense. Aside from her contributions, the Fever shot 40.7% from the field, and Kelsey Mitchell scored 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting.

Rookie guard Raven Johnson emerged as another positive for Indiana. With Tyasha Harris injured, White believed Johnson could handle the primary backup point guard role, and the first-year player delivered with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting in 21 minutes. Johnson attacked the rim and made her presence felt on defense, stealing the ball from Jackie Young as the third quarter closed with Indiana down 21. The Fever then opened the fourth quarter on a 6-0 run.

Indiana entered the series treating it as a clean slate, with Clark and her teammates describing the matchup as 0-0. Sunday's result removed that cushion, and protecting the ball while slowing Wilson now stands between the Fever and an extended playoff run heading into Tuesday's home game.