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.
“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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