A’ja Wilson: Aces to have better sense of urgency vs. Fever for deciding Game 3

The defending champion Las Vegas Aces were unable to close out their first‑round series against the Indiana Fever on Tuesday, as Caitlin Clark and the Fever forced a decisive Game 3 at Michelob Ultra Arena on Thursday. Containing Indiana’s three‑headed offensive threat of Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston was a key factor in the Aces’ Game 1 victory; the trio, which averages a league‑best 63.1 points per game during the regular season, struggled to generate momentum in the opener. Clark and Mitchell combined for 27 points while shooting 30 percent from the field, and Boston had difficulty creating chances early as the Aces built a game‑high 27‑point lead before she finished with a team‑high 18 points. Game 3 is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, broadcast on USA Network and CNBC, with the winner advancing to meet either the Golden State Valkyries or the Dallas Wings in the WNBA semifinals. Las Vegas will need to sharpen its offense in Game 3. The Aces were held to fewer than 20 points in both the second and third quarters of Game 2 and failed to make sufficient defensive stops as Indiana increased its physicality and strength. With their backs against the wall, A’ja Wilson noted the noticeable shift in Indiana’s approach. “(Indiana’s) strength was conscionable a batch higher, truthful I deliberation they made an accommodation there,” Wilson said. “It was conscionable a consciousness of urgency that they were playing with and had america connected our heels the aforesaid mode that we had them successful Game 1.” “We volition beryllium back, we volition set and we volition travel backmost with a amended consciousness of urgency, effort and heart.” Indiana’s scoring trio each topped 20 points in Game 2, led by Clark, who became the first player in WNBA history to record a double‑double with points and assists in a half after entering halftime with 14 points and 11 assists. The former No. 1 overall pick finished with 27 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds despite fouling out with more than two minutes left on the clock. Mitchell added 26 points, including three 3‑pointers, shooting 43 percent from the field and 81 percent from the free‑throw line. Indiana’s leading regular‑season scorer rebounded from a 25‑percent shooting night on 16 attempts in Game 1 to surpass 20 points in Game 2. Boston also exceeded 20 points, giving Indiana three players with at least 20 points for the first time in the series. Aces head coach Becky Hammon insisted the defensive performance fell short of Las Vegas’ usual standard. “We cognize erstwhen we’re a bully antiaircraft squad we go precise elite offensively,” Hammon said. “I didn’t deliberation we were a bully antiaircraft squad tonight, not successful immoderate area, not successful station defense, not successful defender play.” “We were not bully defensively tonight.” The Game 2 loss extended a recent trend in the matchup. Since 2025, the Aces are 6‑7 against Indiana in regular‑season and playoff games combined, while the Fever have averaged 86.1 points per game versus Las Vegas. The defeat marked the fourth occasion Indiana has scored more than 90 points against Las Vegas during that span, including a 3‑2 record at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Nevertheless, as the series returns to Las Vegas, the Aces retain one more opportunity to advance on their home floor. Wilson acknowledged the advantage of holding home‑court for the decisive contest but stressed the need for improvement. “It is simply a beauteous happening to person the higher effect and to spell backmost home, but it doesn’t matter,” Wilson said. “We person got to person a amended showing than what we did and we will.”