This Thursday, September 30, not only did the month come to an end, but so did the WNBA semifinals. Game Five between the Indiana Fever and the Las Vegas Aces lived up to expectations, sparking intensity and fireworks at the Michelob Ultra Arena, where every contact between the top players of the night added drama to a contest that defined the last ticket to the Finals.
Indiana Fever’s multiple setbacks
The Indiana Fever came out with energy, but it cannot be overlooked that the team has been hampered by a series of significant absences. From the regular season onward, injuries began to pile up. Without question, the most notable was the loss of their superstar and box-office magnet, Caitlin Clark. Later came the injury to Sophie Cunningham, and with both players sidelined, the team seemed destined to collapse. Yet, to the delight of their fans, staff, and organization, the Fever recovered and reached the semifinals, battling back to force a decisive Game Five.
The Fever’s starting lineup featured:
- Odyssey Sims
- Kelsey Mitchell
- Lexie Hull
- Natasha Howard
- Aliyah Boston
And, of course, from the sidelines, they still had the invaluable presence and support of Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham.
A first half of back-and-forth action
What a first half in Game Five of the WNBA semifinals between the host Las Vegas Aces and the Indiana Fever. The relentless back-and-forth left fans breathless. The Aces, physical and determined to assert their dominance, made it clear that the Fever would have to pay a heavy price in sweat if they hoped to steal a win in Las Vegas.
Neither side relented in this duel of titans. From the opening whistle, it was clear there would be no easy possessions, and the halftime stats told the story. The Aces led 47-45 at the break.
A’ja Wilson set the tone early
The Las Vegas Aces took the court with a lineup ready to fight for a spot in the Finals. With Wilson as their anchor, they embraced the challenge. Joining her were NaLyssa Smith, Kierstan Bell, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young.
The Aces had a slow start, which allowed Indiana to take an early lead. But as minutes passed, Las Vegas found consistency, gradually leveling the score and then dictating the rhythm. The Fever, however, refused to back down. They attacked the paint with grit and made it clear: “If you’re going to beat us, it won’t come easy.”
The Fever tried, but they ran into a superb A’ja Wilson
The unexpected then arrived. Just when it seemed the Aces had everything under control, the Fever found a second wind and forced the game into overtime with a basket by Odyssey Sims, coming with only 22.5 seconds left in regulation.
In the end, with a superb performance from A’ja Wilson, who recorded 35 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, the Aces secured the victory with a 107-98 final score.
On October 3, they will open the Finals against the Phoenix Mercury. The series is unpredictable, and while Las Vegas enters as a favorite, in basketball, anything can happen.
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