For the final time this season, the Las Vegas Aces took on the Indiana Fever. The Aces were looking to complete the season series sweep while the Fever looked to defeat the Aces for the first time since 2019.
Caitlin Clark came into the game five assists away from breaking the record for the most assists in a season. It was also Lexie Hull's birthday, so there was a lot to look forward to on top of a huge upset win.
Game Recap
Unlike the previous game where Indiana got off to a quick start, both teams kept each other from getting it going offensively. It was the battle of the bigs as Aliyah Boston scored the first four points for the Fever and A'ja Wilson did the same for the Aces.
Las Vegas ended the first quarter on a 9-2 run to lead by six. Caitlin Clark picked up two quick fouls as well as a technical, leading to her checking out of the game earlier than usual. Boston would also check out of the game after taking an elbow to the face.
The Fever finally got their offense going, starting the second quarter on a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the game. Damiris Dantas scored five of the team's seven points in that run. She made the team's first three after an 0/5 start.
The Aces answered with an 11-2 run and pushed the lead to eight. Kelsey Mitchell went on a personal 5-0 run to cut into the Aces lead. Boston came back into the game midway through the second quarter, which was a good sign for the Fever.
But Las Vegas went on another run to increase their lead. No one outside of Kelsey Mitchell could get anything going. She had 19 points while no one else had more than five. The Fever also left points at the free throw line, shooting ⅙ from the line in the first half.
Caitlin Clark started the second quarter on the floor, but could not get any of her shots to fall. She also got called for an offensive foul, which would be her third foul causing her to watch the rest of the first half on the bench.
The Aces began the third quarter with a 5-0 run to increase their lead to 13. The Fever's offense was stagnant, and they allowed too many open threes on the defensive end. They eventually got something going with a 6-0 run to cut into the lead, but the Aces answered with a 5-0 run.
Caitlin Clark finally scored, and that is when the momentum started to shift. She had 14 points in the quarter. Indiana started to lock in defensively as the Aces started to go cold. They went on a 16-5 run and got it within one. Chelsea Gray made a jumper to end the third quarter, putting the Aces back up by three.
The momentum continued as Dantas hit a three on the Fever's first possession of the fourth quarter to tie the game. But the Aces immediately retook the lead on a 5-0 run. The run would increase to a 9-2 run as Indiana continued to commit unforced turnovers and leave points at the free throw.
The Fever were able to regain some momentum with an 8-3 run. They made four straight free throws and got the game within two. They had a chance to either tie the game or take the lead for the first time since early in the second quarter.
Caitlin Clark's three point attempt was short, and Kelsey Plum hit a three on the other end which would ultimately be the dagger. The Fever went back and scored to cut the lead to three, and once again had a chance to tie the game after getting the stop.
Boston had a wide open three, but it rimmed out and they were forced to foul. They fouled Chelsea Gray, and she iced it by making both free throws. She was fouled again after a quick layup by Mitchell, but Gray was fouled again and went ½ at the line. It was a two possession game plus not enough time, so the Aces pulled out the win.
Gray led the Aces with 21 points on 63.3 FG% and six assists. This was just her second 20-point game of the season. Kelsey Plum had a bounce back game with 18 points, three rebounds and three assists. Jackie Young finished with 12 points and six assists.
Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 20 points on 50 FG%. Aliyah Boston finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. Damiris Dantas finished with 11 points and three rebounds.
Historic Seasons
A'ja Wilson finished with 15 points, 17 rebounds and two blocks. She is 29 points away from 1,000 points in the season. She is also 12 rebounds away from passing Angel Reese for the most rebounds this season and four blocks away from 100. Wilson can become the first player in WNBA history to lead the league in three statistical categories.
Caitlin Clark finished with 18 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. With those eight assists, she broke the record for the most assists in a single season. The record was previously set last season by Alyssa Thomas, who had 312. Clark is also 19 points away from breaking the record for the most points in a season by a rookie, which was set by Seimone Augustus in 2006 with 744.
With Wilson and Clark having historic seasons, it is safe to say that they have locked up MVP and ROTY respectively.
Photo Courtesy: @LVAces/X
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