Aces Eliminate Fever 94-83 to Advance to WNBA Semifinals

The defending champion Las Vegas Aces secured a spot in the WNBA semifinals on Thursday night with a 94-83 victory over the Indiana Fever in a decisive Game 3. Frontcourt star A’ja Wilson scored 36 points to lead the third-seeded Aces past the sixth-seeded Fever in Las Vegas. With the series win, Las Vegas advances to face either the Golden State Valkyries or the Dallas Wings on Sunday.

Decisive Performances and Lineup Adjustments

Wilson logged 37 minutes, delivering 36 points to anchor the Las Vegas attack. The Aces were forced to modify their starting lineup shortly before tip-off after forward Stephanie Talbot was ruled out due to a leg injury. Guard Jewell Loyd made her fourth start of the season in Talbot’s place, playing 35 minutes and contributing 11 points and three rebounds while taking on primary defensive duties against Indiana guard Caitlin Clark.

For the Fever, guard Kelsey Mitchell led the scoring with 23 points, while Clark added 18. However, Las Vegas successfully neutralized Indiana’s transition game and perimeter shooting in the closing stretches of the elimination match.

Indiana’s Offense Stalled After Record Regular Season

Indiana entered the postseason boasting the league’s top-ranked scoring offense, having set a WNBA regular-season record with 96.0 points per game while earning a franchise-best 28 victories. The Fever had also led the league in three-point accuracy during the regular season at 38.6 percent. In Game 3, however, Las Vegas restricted Indiana below its typical scoring output and limited the Fever to 28 percent from beyond the arc on 9-of-32 shooting.

The first-round exit concludes a campaign in which Indiana matched its sixth-seed finish from the previous year despite individual scoring milestones from Mitchell and Clark. The organization now enters the offseason facing key roster decisions, notably regarding Mitchell, who becomes an unrestricted free agent.

WNBA Postseason Landscape

The Aces will monitor Friday’s series decider between Golden State and Dallas to determine their semifinal opponent. On the opposite side of the playoff bracket, the Atlanta Dream will face the New York Liberty, who became the first eighth seed in WNBA history to eliminate a top-seeded team.

Separately, an ESPN report citing an unnamed source indicated that Wilson will not face disciplinary action from the league following a reported confrontation with a fan.

Background

The Las Vegas Aces are seeking a second consecutive championship following their WNBA title win last season. The Indiana Fever entered the 2026 playoffs after winning a franchise-record 28 regular-season games, but have now recorded back-to-back first-round postseason exits.