The Indiana Fever Had a Lead. The Las Vegas Aces Have a Legend
ACES GET RIGHT, FEVER MELT IN THE 4TH
The Las Vegas Aces finally pulled themselves out the quicksand and continue their winning ways against the Indiana Fever. In a packed out T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas defeated the Indiana 89-81.
The reigning MVP, A’ja Wilson barked back at the slump with 24 points, including a soul-snatching, game-sealing block on Lexie Hull that had the T-Mobile Arena crowd sounding like MGM Grand at 1am.
And this wasn’t just any crowd—it was half Clark Stans, half Aces lifers, full chaos.
What do you do when A’ja Wilson decides she’s done losing? You get out the way and start updating the highlight reel. The reigning MVP didn’t even have her cleanest game in life, but when it mattered, she absolutely cooked. Wilson did though have her best performance from returning from her concussion filling out the stat sheet. Wilson ended the contest with 24 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks.
“I have to apologize to everyone because that was not an A’ja Wilson type of game,” she said on ESPN after the win.
“We have to guard pick and rolls better. We gave up too many points in the paint. She (Clark) kept killing us with the back-door cuts.”
And if A’ja’s holding herself to that standard, good luck to the rest of the league.
“A’JA DID WHAT GREAT PLAYERS DO—THEY STEP UP IN THE FOURTH QUARTER,” STEPHANIE WHITE SAID POSTGAME. “THAT’S WHAT SHE DID.”
Wilson scored. Blocked. Flexed. Also, she reminded the world the Aces aren’t dead yet, not by a long shot.
“This was one of our more complete games of the year,” Becky Hammon said. “We are not there yet, but we are getting closer.”
The game hit 69-69 (nice) in the 4th before Vegas stomped on the gas and never looked back. Indiana’s offense went full Scooby-Doo hallway montage—turnovers, fouls, and Clark misses from deep that had the rim asking for hazard pay. Clark finished the game with a double double with 19 points and 11 dimes but committed eight turnovers on the day.
“We turned the ball over, we foul a lot… that falls on me as our point guard,” Caitlin Clark said, owning the mess with 11 assists and 1-for-10 shooting from deep.
“Tough shooting night… but you gotta find a way to continue to shoot and remain confident.”
Respect the accountability. But also… someone’s got to get a layup! And while Clark’s jumper went full Area 51, Becky Hammon gave her flowers anyway.
“She plays the right way and you absolutely have to respect her shooting ability,” Hammon said. “She knows how to shoot the basketball. Defensively, she is also very good and she self-adjusts real well when she does make a mistake.”
Boston Balled, Fever Flinched
Meanwhile, the bright spot for Indiana was none other than Aliyah Boston who dropped 26 and had Las Vegas fans holding their breath all night. 18 of those came before halftime.
Boston had another double double on the season finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.
She ate in the paint and looked like she’s ready to carry Indiana through anything—except a fourth quarter where everything fell apart.
“We committed some fouls, sent them to the line,” Boston said. “Then they just got some opportunities to get downhill…”
Steph White kept it blunt.
“Everything we did was a lack of discipline… turnovers, fouls, missed rotations,” she said. “They’re all things that are correctable.”
Which is good, because the Fever’s vibes were immaculate for three quarters… and then the 4th turned into a WNBA blooper reel.
CHELSEA GRAY RETURNS & ROLL TIDE Spaces THE FLOOR
Chelsea Gray returned like she never left—18 points, 3 assists, no fear—and gave the Aces a calm in the chaos.
“I saw a gritty factor that I have not seen,” Hammon said. “That’s a good sign. They did not quit and they kept sticking to their assignments.”
Additionally, because usually unselfish play wins, and A’ja shouted out her teammate, Aaliyah Nye for doing the little things.
The rookie Nye had a great game coming off the bench scoring 11 points and nailing three three-pointers along the way.
“Roll Tide has done a great job for us and she is a real threat,” Wilson said. “I have to tell her at times to take the shot because she is so unselfish. She spreads the floor and opens up space for me to do what I do.”
It was chaos. It was gritty. It was beautiful basketball. And for the Aces, it might’ve been the turning point.
All In All, Aces win
Next up, Vegas gets a chance to prove this wasn’t a one-night-only comeback tour.
But if this was the version of the Aces we’re getting moving forward—Gray cooking, Jackie floating, A’ja barking, and the role players playing like the roles matter—then the rest of the league better start stretching.
Because the dyansty just sobered up, found their edge, and remembered who they are.
