By Rich Perez

The Las Vegas Aces (31-13) finished off their regular season Thursday night beating the Phoenix Mercury 100-82 and now enter the most important stretch of their 2026 season. They enter the playoffs as the number three seed taking on the number six seed the Indiana Fever (28-16) at Michelob ULTRA Arena today.

The Aces led for most of the opening quarter and at the 2:18 mark had gone on a 8-0 run. When the clock ran out on the first quarter, Las Vegas was holding onto a 27-23 lead. The second quarter got very tight in the early minutes but the Aces took back control leading at the half by a generous margin 62-47 their largest lead of the game.

The defending champs broke this game wide-open in the third quarter taking as much as a 27 point lead. When the quarter came to an end Las Vegas had an 86-65 lead. A’Ja Wilson after three quarters had shot for 30 points. Las Vegas continued to hang onto the lead although the Fever did cut the lead somewhat. Indiana had created a deep deficit in the third quarter and could not recover. The final was 102-85 and the defending champs had taken the first step toward another title.

GAME RECAP

The WNBA playoffs got underway Sunday with the third seeded Las Vegas Aces taking on the sixth seed, the Indiana Fever in game one of this three-game series. This could prove to be a very tough game for Las Vegas. The Fever have a 2-1 win/loss record during the regular season and the Aces will be looking to turn that around. Las Vegas led for most of the first quarter and at 2:18 left on the clock went on a 8-0 run. When the quarter came to an end, the Aces had a 27-23 lead. The largest lead of the game for Las Vegas so far in this game was 8 points.

This game got uncomfortably close as the second quarter got underway. The Fever continued to threaten the Las Vegas lead and at 7:47 Indiana took a 34-33 lead. Jackie Young had been unusually quiet with only three points mid-way through the second quarter. At 5:23 Young did indeed get going hitting a field goal giving the Aces a 42-38 lead. The Aces really got going in the second half of the quarter. Jackie Young made her second three of the day and Las Vegas had a 49-40 lead with 4:05 on the clock. Young continued to hit three’s another one at 2:57 her third and the Aces had a 54-42 lead. Las Vegas was shooting 67% in the first half. As the clock ran out on the half Jewell Loyd hit the teams seventh three of the day and Las Vegas took a 62-47 lead into the locker room.

The Aces outscored the Fever in the second quarter 35-24. A’Ja Wilson was on fire shooting at 80% finishing the half with 22 points and 6 rebounds. Chelsea Gray had 12 points and Jackie Young was heating up in the second quarter with 11 points. The Fever had two of their starters Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hull already with 3 personals and they had contained Caitlin Clark very well. The Aces would need more of the same energy in the second half.

It all seemed to come unglued for Indiana mid-way through the third quarter as the Aces took their largest lead of the game 74-52 going on a 9-0 run. With 1:32 left in the quarter, the defending champs had broken this game wide-open leading by 27 points 85-58. Las Vegas took an 86-65 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Fever began to chip away at the Las Vegas lead in the fourth quarter. The Aces 27 point lead had been cut to fifteen as Indiana controlled the early minutes of the final quarter. Both teams were out of challenges in the second half both of them losing challenges. Las Vegas got back on track building their lead back up to twenty 93-73. With under five minutes left on the clock Clark and Boston each had five personal fouls. The Fever continued to fight cutting a 23 point lead to 17 with under 2 1/2 minutes left in the game. The final was 102-85 and the Aces had game one all sewn up.

GAME NOTES

It was yet another amazing game from A’Ja Wilson. When you think that she cannot get any better, guess what, she does. She blew this game out of the water finishing with a double double, 38 points and 16 rebounds. She was 2 of 2 from beyond the arc and 15 of 19 from the field. Jackie Young did heat up after a slow start finishing with 21 points and 10 assists.

A’Ja Wilson started off this game efficiently inside. She forced Indiana to deal with her near the basket early where she is a major threat. They really made Caitlin Clark work defensively. Early on Clark was only 1-for-6 with two turnovers. Indiana couldn’t get it’s transition offense going in this game. The Aces shooting efficiency was improved shooting at 67.9% compared to the Fever’s 40.9%, a huge desparity. Both Young and Chelsea Gray had a hand in creating offense. Young had 10 assistss and Gray 8 so Indiana had to defend multiple playmakers and could not concentrate solely on Wilson. The one thing that the Aces were looking to improve upon was defensive plays. They were far improved in this aspect not giving up many second chances.

It will be a quick turn-around for both teams in game two. That game will get underway at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Tuesday with an early 3:30 tipoff.