A'ja Wilson scores 38 as the Aces
steamroll the Fever 102-85 in Game 1
[September 28, 2026]
By MARK ANDERSON
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A'ja Wilson played like someone who has multiple
MVP awards, and the Las Vegas Aces looked like a team that has won
three of the past four WNBA championships.
Wilson had 38 points, 16 rebounds and four blocked shots Sunday, and
the Aces rolled to a 102-85 Game 1 victory over the Indiana Fever in
the first round of the WNBA playoffs.
“She understands the stakes fully,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said.
“She was a clinic tonight.”
Wilson was named the Associated Press WNBA Player of the Year
earlier in the day for an unprecedented third year in a row, and the
third-seeded Aces looked every bit like the team that has won three
of the past four championships. Wilson's scoring total matched a
personal career postseason high, and she was 15 of 19.
Las Vegas point guard Chelsea Gray said when Wilson is on it like
that, it’s best to “get out of the way. It’s a blessing to be able
to see this every single day. I say this all the time, you can't
wait till a person retires to appreciate greatness. You've got to
appreciate it while it's happening."
Caitlin Clark and Indiana, which is seeded sixth, will get a chance
to even the series on its court when the teams meet Tuesday night
and force a Game 3 in Las Vegas. A loss ends the Fever's season and
sends the defending champion Aces on to the semifinals.
It wasn't all Wilson for the Aces, who also received strong
contributions from Jackie Young (21 points, 10 assists), Gray (14
points, eight assists) and Jewell Loyd (10 points). Gray now has 397
career playoff assists to pass Courtney Vandersloot (390) for second
place in playoff history.
Aliyah Boston finished with 18 points and eight rebounds for the
Fever, despite being hampered by a lower leg injury. Clark had 15
points and 10 assists, and Kelsey Mitchell, who put together a
record 27-game streak with at least 20 points, scored 12 points on
4-of-16 shooting.
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Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston (7) goes to the basket against
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) during the first half in Game
1 of an WNBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, Sept. 27,
2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)
“Give Vegas credit,” Fever coach Stephanie White
said. “They’re defending champions for a reason. They understand the
moment. They understand the playoffs require a different level of
intensity and urgency, and they came with it.”
White bemoaned the 28 points the Aces scored off Indiana's 17
turnovers, and Clark gave her team an “F” for its defensive play and
said the Fever were their own worst enemies on the offensive end.
“I thought our actions were sloppy,” Clark said. “I thought what we
were running wasn't great and nobody got an easier open look.”
Wilson came out blazing, ending the first half with 22 points on
9-of-11 shooting to go with six rebounds and three blocked shots.
Fans chanted “M-V-P” when Wilson went to the free throw line.
“I think we just showed up to work, and that's what we need to do
moving forward,” Wilson said.
The Aces led 62-47 at halftime and were never seriously threatened
in the second half, leading by as many as 27 points. They just
missed the franchise record for most points in a playoff half. Las
Vegas scored 63 points against Phoenix on Aug. 20, 2022.
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