GAME RECAP: Las Vegas Drops Semifinal Game 1 to Indiana 89-73
Sun, Sep 21, 2025, 10:53 PM
LAS VEGAS (Sept. 21, 2025)—In a pivotal Game 1 of the WNBA Semifinals, the Las Vegas Aces suffered a 89-73 defeat against the Indiana Fever at the Michelob ULTRA Arena. The loss proved to be a tough start to the best-of-five series, with the Aces looking to bounce back in the subsequent games. Despite strong performances from standout players Jackie Young and A’ja Wilson, who scored 19 and 16 points respectively, the team couldn’t quite find their rhythm against a determined Fever squad.
Dana Evans contributed 14 points while Chelsea Gray rounded out the double-digit scorers with 13 points. The loss was marked by Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell, who exploded for a playoff career-high of 34 points, leading her team to victory with a dominant performance.
For those interested, you can explore the box score here, view photos from the game here, and catch the highlights here.
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
| Aces | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 73 |
| Fever | 19 | 22 | 28 | 20 | 89 |
First Quarter Highlights (Indiana 19, Las Vegas 18)
As the game opened, Indiana quickly jumped out to a 4-point lead before extending it to 15-7 at the 5:26 mark. The Fever continued to build momentum, leading 19-10 with less than three minutes remaining. However, A’ja Wilson, after a slow start where she missed her first six field goal attempts, ignited a quick scoring run. This marked the beginning of an 8-0 run to finish the quarter for the Aces, closing the gap to just one point. Las Vegas shot 7 of 18 from the field (.389), while Indiana managed 8 of 18 (.444).
Second Quarter Highlights (Indiana 41, Las Vegas 36)
The Aces kicked off the second quarter with an inspiring 5-0 run, momentarily taking their first lead of the game. However, Indiana quickly retaliated with a 6-0 spurt to regain the lead. The two teams exchanged leads multiple times, but Indiana closed the half strong, capitalizing on free throws while the Aces struggled to find their shooting rhythm, finishing the half with 8 of 22 (.364) shooting.
Third Quarter Highlights (Indiana 69, Las Vegas 55)
As the third quarter unfolded, Indiana ballooned their lead to 57-43. The Aces managed to put together a 10-0 run, closing the gap to just four points, but a strong finish from the Fever, who shot an impressive 9 of 11 (.818) from the field in this quarter alone, allowed them to extend their lead to a 14-point advantage going into the final frame.
Fourth Quarter Highlights (Indiana 89, Las Vegas 73)
In the final quarter, the Aces kept pace but failed to mount a serious comeback. Las Vegas shot 50% from the field but couldn’t close the gap, while the Fever maintained their lead and secured their victory with consistent scoring. Evans led the Aces in the fourth with 7 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Indiana’s solid performance.
KEY STATS
Las Vegas ended the game shooting 40.8% (29-71 FGs), including a disappointing 29.4% (5-17 3pt FGs) from beyond the arc, while Indiana shot 50% (34-68 FGs) overall and excelled at the free-throw line, converting 94.1% (16-17 FTs) of their attempts.
In terms of defense and rebounding, Indiana outplayed Las Vegas in the paint, scoring 50 points compared to the Aces’ 38. The story was similar with second-chance points (10-9) and fast break points (15-9), both in favor of the Fever. The Aces capitalized on Indiana’s turnovers, scoring 16 points off 10 miscues.
The Fever held a narrow edge in rebounding, with 35 boards to Las Vegas’ 33. The game featured five ties and four lead changes, but Indiana’s biggest lead of 16 proved too much for the Aces to overcome.
GAME NOTES
Chelsea Gray reached an impressive milestone, becoming just the second player in WNBA playoff history to record 800 points and 300 assists. With her postseason performances, she continues to cement her legacy as one of the league’s all-time greats.
A’ja Wilson added to her accolades by recording four blocks, becoming the fourth player in WNBA history to hit 100 playoff blocks, sitting behind legends like Brittney Griner and Lisa Leslie.
Furthermore, Wilson also recorded her 23rd career playoff double-double, breaking a tie with Sylvia Fowles and placing her fourth all-time in this category.
UP NEXT: As the Aces look to bounce back, they will face the Fever for Game 2 of the WNBA Semifinals on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the Michelob ULTRA Arena. The game is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on ESPN. Tickets are available for purchase online.