The Indiana Fever are making a habit of shocking the WNBA world. Just days after stunning the Atlanta Dream on the road, Indiana went into Michelob ULTRA Arena and toppled the Las Vegas Aces, sending the home crowd of 10,409 into silence. Even Aces head coach Becky Hammon had to admit her squad got a reality check.
Hammon revealed postgame that the Fever’s ability to neutralize A’ja Wilson was the turning point. “It’s a level of concern. I know we’re capable, but not when we play like that. You know, God forbid A’ja doesn’t drop 40 for us,” Hammon said.
The Fever executed a near-perfect game plan, holding the four-time MVP to just 16 points on 6-of-22 shooting. Wilson had entered the playoffs averaging 23.4 points and 2.3 blocks per game, while leading the league in 20- and 30-point double-doubles.
The Fever did what they wanted on the court
Despite the Aces dedicating 90% of Saturday’s practice to defensive prep, Indiana dominated across the board – 50-38 in the paint, 16-10 at the free-throw line, and 50% shooting overall. They even cracked Hammon’s famed “73-point magic number” with nine minutes to spare, something no team had done against Las Vegas all season.
It wasn’t just Wilson’s off night. Indiana’s depth shined again, with guards beyond Caitlin Clark stepping up to deliver crucial buckets and defensive stops that kept the Aces chasing all night.
For Hammon and the defending champs, the loss was more than just a bad night – it was a wake-up call. For the Fever, it was proof their Cinderella run is no fluke.
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