Indiana Fever fall to Las Vegas Aces in first-round WNBA playoff series
The Indiana Fever were eliminated by the Las Vegas Aces 94-83 in Game 3 of the first round, ending their season after a mixed campaign that saw strong individual performances but limited playoff experience.
Indiana was knocked out of the WNBA playoffs on Saturday after a 94-83 loss to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 3 of the first-round series at Michelob Ultra Arena. Rookie guard Caitlin Clark, who posted a season-high in assists and finished second in league scoring, said the team faced “a lot of good moments and a lot of tough moments” and expressed disappointment that “things didn’t go our way tonight.”
The Fever entered the season with championship aspirations, setting offensive records and seeing Clark and teammate Kelsey Mitchell rank among the league’s top scorers. However, the roster’s collective playoff experience remained low, with the 11-player squad having logged only 19 postseason games, compared with the Aces’ 273 games.
Aces coach Becky Hammon highlighted her team’s depth, as A'ja Wilson (36 points), Chelsea Gray (23) and Jackie Young (18) combined for 77 of the 94 points. The Aces advanced to their eighth consecutive semifinals, aiming for a fourth straight appearance in the championship series.
Post-game, Clark noted a pivotal moment when a late foul call on a contested rebound gave the Aces free throws that extended their lead. She added that better shooting could have changed the outcome, saying, “If we had run it back, who knows, maybe we would have made another eight shots and it would have been a completely different game.”
The loss ends Indiana’s season, leaving the front office to consider roster adjustments. Mitchell, a free agent, is expected to attract interest from other teams, while the Fever look to build on the experience gained for future campaigns.