Indianapolis, IND – The Las Vegas Aces weathered a significant challenge from the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday night, using a dominant fourth quarter surge to secure an 84-72 victory in Game 3 of the WNBA Semifinals. In front of a raucous Indianapolis crowd, the defending champions took a pivotal 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series, positioning themselves one win away from a return trip to the WNBA Finals. The short-handed Fever, who have relied on grit and determination throughout the postseason, matched the Aces’ intensity for three quarters, but their offense stalled late as Las Vegas demonstrated its championship closing pedigree.

➡️  Fever v Aces photos

The contest was a game of dramatic momentum swings. The Aces initially appeared poised to seize control, jumping out to a 10-point lead early in the second quarter. However, the Fever, fueled by a scorching run of three consecutive three-pointers from Lexie Hull and Kelsey Mitchell, quickly closed the gap, trailing by just one point (35-34) at halftime. Indiana carried that energy into the second half, briefly taking their first lead of the game and holding a five-point advantage midway through the third frame. Las Vegas refused to break, however, countering with a 6-0 run to close the third quarter, headlined by a buzzer-beating connection from Chelsea Gray to Jackie Young, giving the Aces a narrow 59-56 edge heading into the final period.

In a game where four-time MVP A’ja Wilson struggled from the field for much of the night, it was Jackie Young who stepped up to carry the Aces’ offense, especially in the clutch moments. Playing in her home state, Young led all scorers with 25 points, adding 5 rebounds and 4 assists while shooting an efficient 9-of-14 from the floor. Veteran guard Chelsea Gray delivered 15 points and orchestrated the offense with 6 assists, while forward NaLyssa Smith contributed a strong 16 points and 4 blocks. Wilson, despite opening the game 1-for-12, showed her resilience, finishing with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks, making key plays when it mattered most in the decisive fourth quarter.

The final quarter proved disastrous for the Fever’s comeback hopes. Their offense went cold, enduring a nearly nine-minute stretch without a field goal late in the game. This prolonged drought allowed the Aces to go on a devastating 18-3 run, transforming a tightly contested matchup into a comfortable victory for Las Vegas. Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 21 points, but her 8-for-26 shooting night reflected the struggles against the swarming Aces defense. Lexie Hull provided a spark with a double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds), and Aliyah Boston added 12 points, but the team’s overall lack of depth and poor free-throw shooting (13-for-21) ultimately proved too much to overcome.

The Aces now hold a commanding lead and have the opportunity to clinch the series in Game 4 back in Indianapolis on Sunday. For the short-handed Indiana squad, who have surprised many by reaching the semifinals, the loss was a missed opportunity to seize series momentum, particularly on a night when their defense managed to limit Wilson for long stretches. They will need to find offensive consistency and efficiency—especially from the free-throw line—to force a decisive Game 5 and keep their impressive 2025 playoff run alive.