A'ja Wilson scores 36 as Aces beat Fever in Game 3 to reach semifinals
Las Vegas won the deciding game of the first-round series 94-83 and has now reached the WNBA semifinals eight seasons in a row.
What we know
- The Las Vegas Aces beat the Indiana Fever 94-83 at home in Game 3 and won the first-round series 2-1, the WNBA said. [1] [2]
- A'ja Wilson had 36 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, according to the WNBA. It was Wilson's 12th career playoff game with 30 or more points. [2] [3]
- Chelsea Gray scored 23 points and Jackie Young added 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Las Vegas. [2]
- The Aces will play the winner of the Dallas-Golden State series in the semifinals, ESPN reported. [5]
- Not yet confirmed: The semifinal opponent and the location of the opening games depend on Friday's Game 3 between Dallas and Golden State.
The Las Vegas Aces beat the Indiana Fever 94-83 on Thursday to win their first-round WNBA playoff series 2-1 and advance to the semifinals, the WNBA said in posts on X. [1][2]
A'ja Wilson led Las Vegas with 36 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks on 11-of-18 shooting, according to the league. The WNBA said it was Wilson's 12th career playoff game with 30 or more points and 28th postseason double-double, which it described as second all time. [2][3]
Chelsea Gray had 23 points and Jackie Young had 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, the WNBA said. [2] ESPN reported that Gray and Young each played 40 minutes. Aces coach Becky Hammon said she had told them to be ready for that workload. "I just told them to be ready to run 40," Hammon said. [5]
Indiana was led by Kelsey Mitchell with 23 points. Aliyah Boston had 19 points, and Clark had 18. ESPN reported that the score was tied at 31 after the first quarter and that Las Vegas outscored Indiana 23-17 in the second. Mitchell's 3-pointer cut the Fever deficit to 82-80 with three minutes left. A missed shot and an unsuccessful challenge of a loose ball foul followed, and Las Vegas held on. [5]
ESPN reported that Aces starting forward Stephanie Talbot was ruled out before the game because of a leg injury, and guard Jewell Loyd moved into the starting lineup. Loyd scored 11 points. [5]
Wilson also spoke about a confrontation with a fan in Indiana during Game 2 on Tuesday, a loss for the Aces. ESPN reported that Wilson received a technical foul but no further discipline from the league. "But after a while, I understood I didn't want to be a distraction to myself and my team. And I knew what we had to do coming into tonight. So I put it behind me," Wilson said. [5]
The No. 3 seed Aces are in the semifinals for the eighth season in a row, ESPN reported. They will face either the No. 2 seed Golden State Valkyries or the No. 7 seed Dallas Wings in a best-of-five series. The Fever's Clark said of the Aces: "You've got to give credit to the Aces." [5]
RECEIPTS · 4 SOURCES
- 1POST ON X · @WNBA (WNBA)THE @LVACES ARE HEADED BACK TO THE SEMIS ♠️ The Las Vegas Aces advance after defeating the Indiana Fever 2-1 in the First Round. 2026 WNBA POpen source ↗ Archived copy
- 2POST ON X · @WNBA (WNBA)The @LVAces defeat the Fever 94-83 at home to advance to the Semifinals A'ja Wilson: 36 PTS | 10 REB | 2 3PM | 2 BLKS | 11-18 FG 12th careerOpen source ↗ Archived copy
- 3POST ON X · @WNBA (WNBA)A'JA. WILSON. 🚨 36 PTS | 10 REB | 2 BLKS | 2 3PM | 11-18 FG 2026 WNBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel | @madebygoogle https://t.co/qBBvzLOpen source ↗ Archived copy
- 5REPORT · ESPNA'ja Wilson stars as Aces oust Fever from WNBA playoffsOpen source ↗ Archived copy