A’ja Wilson scored 38 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as the defending champion Las Vegas Aces beat the Indiana Fever 102-85 in Game 1.
A’ja Wilson delivered another remarkable playoff performance as the defending champion Las Vegas Aces opened their postseason with a 102-85 victory over the Indiana Fever on Sunday.
Wilson finished with 38 points, 16 rebounds, four blocks, two assists and two steals as Las Vegas took control of Game 1. The four-time MVP also made history with one of the most efficient performances in WNBA postseason play.
She became the first player in WNBA history to record at least 35 points and 15 rebounds while shooting 75% from the field in a regular-season or playoff game.
Wilson also recorded her 11th career 30-point playoff game, extending her league record. Breanna Stewart is second on that list with nine. Wilson’s performance also gave her 18 career 20-point double-doubles in the playoffs, another WNBA record.
Wilson Sets the Tone for Las Vegas
Wilson made her presence felt early against Indiana, including a difficult fadeaway jumper over Aliyah Boston late in the first quarter. After making the shot while drawing a foul, Wilson celebrated as the Las Vegas crowd erupted.
Her scoring came from several areas throughout the game, including midrange jumpers, drives, offensive rebounds and three-point shots.
Aces point guard Chelsea Gray praised Wilson’s ability to take over games.
“Give her the basketball,” Gray said. “It’s a blessing being able to see this every single day.”
Wilson, however, played down the idea that she had an extraordinary night.
“I think I just did my job,” Wilson said. “I did what my teammates are expecting me to do.”
The Aces also received major contributions from Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray. Young recorded 21 points and 10 assists for her third career playoff double-double, while Gray added 14 points and eight assists.
Las Vegas shot 59.4% from the field, with Wilson, Young and Gray combining for 93 of the team’s 102 points.
Fever Struggle to Contain the Aces
Indiana had difficulty slowing down Las Vegas throughout the game, particularly on the defensive end.
Caitlin Clark finished with 15 points and a career playoff-high 10 assists, while Kelsey Mitchell scored 12 points. The two combined to shoot just 10-for-33 from the field as the Aces consistently made scoring difficult for Indiana’s leading guards.
The result puts the Fever behind in the three-game series, with Game 2 scheduled for Tuesday in Indiana.
Fever coach Stephanie White acknowledged the difficult opening game while looking ahead to the next matchup.
“Oftentimes, you have to be humbled first, right?” White said. “You don’t always learn from the successes, yet you learn from being humbled.”
The Fever will now try to respond on their home court, while the defending champion Aces look to move one step closer to another WNBA Finals appearance.
