Last season, the No. 2-seed Las Vegas Aces and No. 6-seed Indiana Fever met in the semifinals of the WNBA Playoffs, with the series not only going five games but also requiring an overtime period in the deciding game for the eventual champions to prevail.
On Thursday night in Vegas, the No. 3-seed Aces made sure to take care of things without the extra sweat, flexing their championship muscles in the fourth quarter to pull away from the No. 6-seed Fever, winning 94-83 to advance back to semis for the eighth-straight season.
A’ja Wilson, silencing any swirling drama, once again showed why she’s about to become a five-time MVP.
A’ja authored a 36-point and 10-rebound double-double, her third-straight time scoring at least 30 points in an elimination game. And after slipping below her absurdly high standards in contests against Indiana in recent seasons, Wilson was in top form in this first round, shooting 62.5 percent from the field as she averaged 32 points per game.
For the second time in the series, Wilson also set the tone with a more than 20-point first half. She opened with a 14-point first quarter, reaching 21 points by halftime.
Of course, the Aces are dangerous, near-undeniable defending champs not just because of A’ja.
Her Big 3 compatriots, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young, both met the moment, playing all 40 minutes to guarantee their quest to win back-to-back titles for a second time as a trio continues. Gray finished with 23 points, which included some classic, crazy and clutch Point Gawd buckets. Young stuffed the stat sheet, tallying 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Jewell Loyd also reminded why, despite her sacrificing her superstar status since joining the Aces, she also remains an ultimate winner.
With regular starter Stephanie Talbot sidelined with an injury, Loyd entered the starting lineup, spending 35 minutes doing whatever was necessary for her team. As head coach Becky Hammon said after the game, “I mean, she’s Jewell Loyd.”
The Aces await the winner of the No. 2-seed-vs.-No. 7-seed series between the Golden State Valkyries and Dallas Wings, while the Fever begin an earlier-than-envisioned and certain-to-be-scrutinized offseason.
In Game 3, Caitlin Clark started hot with 11 first-quarter points before failing to sustain the required level of offensive impact, finishing with 18 points, four assists and six turnovers. She also suffered a bloodied mouth after catching an inadvertent elbow from Loyd. It was an inefficient night for Kelsey Mitchell, with her 23 points coming on 23 shot attempts. Aliyah Boston was the most effective of the Indiana trio, with 19 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks.