The Las Vegas Aces started the WNBA Semifinals on Sunday, Sept. 21, against the Indiana Fever. The Aces dropped game one 89-73 at home.
The Fever handled the ball to start the first quarter. Jackie Young sank a three-pointer for the Aces’ first bucket of the game. A’ja Wilson had a slow start, missing three straight shots and a free throw. Megan Gustafson entered the game and immediately had a defensive rebound, a steal and two made free throws. Indiana held the lead throughout the ten minutes, 19-18, despite not scoring for the last 2:55.
Las Vegas took its first lead of the game at the beginning of the second quarter. Wilson made a jump shot and a free throw to put the team ahead 21-19. Indiana quickly tied the game 23-23. It was back and forth until the last 55 seconds of the quarter. The Fever made a jump shot and four free throws, putting themselves ahead 41-34. After a two-minute scoring drought, Wilson made a jump shot to end the period 41-36.
The Fever jumped out with a 6-0 run in the third quarter. It was a battle of the free throws between the two teams due to multiple fouls. The Aces were consistent at the charity stripe, but missed multiple shots when they had possession. It wasn’t until six minutes into the quarter that Las Vegas connected with the basket. Wilson made a jump shot, and Chelsea Gray followed with a three-pointer. Two Indiana turnovers allowed the Aces to make two points in the paint, bringing them within four points of the Fever. The gap widened to a 14-point deficit after the Aces didn’t make a basket in the last 2:51. The Fever took a 69-55 lead.
Both teams came out hot in the final quarter. Dana Evans made a three-pointer and two layups. Jewell Loyd also made a three-pointer in the middle of the quarter, but the Aces were still 13 points behind. Both teams had missed shots and turnovers to slow the game down in the last four minutes. The Fever had an over two-minute scoring drought until Kelsey Mitchell sank a three-pointer. Gustafson made two free throws to end the quarter for the Aces, who fell 89-73.
The Aces didn’t reach 20 points in any quarter of the game, while Indiana had over 20 in three of the four quarters. Young led the team with 19 points. Wilson recorded a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Mitchell led the Fever with 34 points. Natasha Howard tallied a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The Aces host the Fever in game two of the semifinals on Tuesday at Michelob ULTRA Arena at 6:30pm PT.
