Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever saw their season end in heartbreaking fashion with a 107-98 overtime defeat to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 5 of the WNBA semifinals, as the loss ended a remarkable run.
The Fever entered Tuesday’s contest shorthanded on September 30, having already endured a season marred by injuries with the likes of Clark and Sophie Cunningham sidelined for the game.
Things then got worse when Kelsey Mitchell, the team’s three-time All-Star, suffered a non-contact injury in the third quarter, forcing Indiana to finish without one of its most reliable scorers as they looked for a first finals appearance since 2015.
Despite this, the team continued to battle against an Aces squad led by four-time MVP A’ja Wilson but it ultimately wasn’t enough as overtime edged away from them, the team losing the quarter 21-12 at the Michelob Ultra Arena.
Clark, who was restricted to just 13 appearances this season due to multiple setbacks, watched from the bench and after the final whistle, she turned to social media to deliver a message to fans and teammates.
“So much to be proud of shoutout the fans for staying with us all year @IndianaFever,” Clark wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter in a bid to try to lift up the franchise after a disappointing night.
The Fever‘s postseason campaign was emblematic of the challenges they faced all year but also their strength to continue fighting as they displayed the never-give-up attitude instilled by Stephanie White.
Losing five players to season-ending injuries could have derailed any team’s ambitions, yet Indiana managed to push the defending champions to the brink in a decisive Game 5.
Clark‘s own absence from much of the season placed greater pressure on the supporting cast, yet the team still advanced to the semifinals round, and that growth under pressure provides a foundation for next year.
With the 23-year-old due to return fully healthy for the 2026 campaign and her team having so much success without her on the court, could the Fever become title favorites next time out?
A’ja Wilson once again proves why she is the MVP
On the other side, the Aces were carried by Wilson, who delivered 35 points on 13-of-27 shooting, along with eight rebounds as she speared her team forwards to a clash with the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA Finals.
She wasn’t alone, however, as Jackie Young also dded 32 points and 10 assists, making them the first pair in WNBA history to each record 30 or more points in a playoff game.
Wilson‘s performance not only secured the Aces‘ return to the Finals for the third time in four years but also reinforced her position as one of the game’s defining figures, weeks after bagging consecutive MVP honors.
Her fourth MVP award cements her standing among WNBA greats, and her record-tying eighth 30-point playoff performance underscores her ability to rise in the league’s biggest moments and this time it came at the expense of Clark.
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