The Las Vegas Aces are one victory away from returning to the WNBA Finals after a one-year absence.
The second-seeded Aces are seeking their fourth WNBA Finals trip in six seasons as they hold a 2-1 lead on the sixth-seeded Indiana Fever going into Game 4 of their best-of-five semifinals series Sunday afternoon at Indianapolis.
Las Vegas won WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023 before losing in the semifinals last season to the eventual champion New York Liberty.
“We just have to get the job done Sunday,” guard Jackie Young said after Las Vegas’ 84-72 victory in Game 3 at Indianapolis on Friday. “The job’s not finished yet.”
Young helped the Aces get the job done in Game 3 despite a sub-par performance from four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, who shot 6 of 20 from the floor while missing 11 straight attempts during one stretch. WIlson finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Young led the way with 25 points, while NaLyssa Smith scored 16, Chelsea Gray had 15 and Dana Evans 10 off the bench. Gray had six assists. Las Vegas also held Indiana to 35.6-percent shooting from the floor.
“We know how important defense is for us,” Smith said. “Defense is like our core focus. When our defense is on, our offense is 10 times better.”
Las Vegas’ defense was at its best in the fourth quarter. The Aces held a 59-56 lead after three quarters then pulled away in the fourth when Indiana managed just three free throws to open the final period until Lexie Hull made a layup with 2:25 remaining.
The Hull basket merely cut Las Vegas’ lead to 71-61 and Wilson made the Aces’ next two baskets for a 75-63 lead with 1:38 on the clock to effectively secure the victory.
The Fever has played the postseason without All-Star Caitlin Clark and three other guards lost to season-ending injuries.
“I thought we got a lot of good shots, but didn’t make a lot of them,” Indiana coach Stephanie White said. “We missed some opportunities at the free-throw line and then got a little stagnant.”
Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 21 points but went 3 of 11 from 3-point range as Indiana shot 30.4 percent from distance as a team. Indiana also shot 61.9 percent on free throws.
“At the end of the day, I felt like (Game 3) was about our shot making,” White said
Indiana did have a 16-4 edge in offensive rebounds, but that came off 47 missed shots.
“We’re not looking for a Game 5,” Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon said. “We want to come in, take care of business.”
–Field Level Media
