Kelsey Mitchell delivered one of the best playoff performances in franchise history, scoring 34 points to lead the Indiana Fever past the Las Vegas Aces 89-73 in Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals Sunday at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Mitchell, who ranked third in scoring during the regular season, shot 12 of 23 from the field, 4 of 6 from 3-point range, and a perfect 6 of 6 at the free-throw line. Her scoring mark was the second-highest in Fever playoff history and set the tone in her first-ever semifinal appearance.
Through four playoff games this year, Mitchell is averaging 26.0 points, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 rebounds, carrying Indiana’s offense in its first postseason run since 2016.
“I just try to be myself and do what I love,” Mitchell said. “As a competitor, you want to win—so it’s about adjusting the room and controlling what you can. I see it as trying to be a kid on the playground, just focused on basketball.”
KELSEY MITCHELL HEAT CHECK 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) September 21, 2025
With 31 PTS & counting… she’s already set a new playoff career-high in Game 1!
IND-LVA | ABC | WNBA Playoffspic.twitter.com/tNptYV6qli
Fever Set the Tone Early
Indiana jumped out to a 19-10 lead in the first quarter behind Mitchell’s shot-making and an aggressive pace. Las Vegas answered with 13 straight points across the first and second quarters, taking its first lead at 23-19. But the Fever’s composure was evident. Indiana closed the half on an 8-4 spurt, hitting six free throws in the final three minutes to enter the break up 41-36.
Fever head coach Stephanie White credited the group’s mindset and execution in key moments.
“We wanted to come in and be the aggressor right away to make sure that we were dictating on the defensive end, and we were dictating from a pace standpoint,” White said. “They made a big run in the third and we responded with a big one.”
She also pointed to Indiana’s discipline on the defensive end as a difference-maker, particularly against A’ja Wilson.
“It was about discipline everywhere else, too,” White said. “We needed to limit their threes and free throws and force them to play individually instead of pinging the ball around. Our attention to detail was really good.”
Game-Changing Third Quarter
The third quarter proved to be the decisive stretch. Indiana came out of halftime with crisp execution, extending its lead to 57-43 behind Mitchell’s relentless scoring and a pair of strong drives from Odyssey Sims. At that point, the Fever looked poised to run away with the opener.
Las Vegas, however, reminded the arena of its championship pedigree. Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray combined to spark a 10-0 run, capped by a Gray three-pointer that electrified the home crowd and cut Indiana’s advantage to just three at 57-54.
That surge forced the Fever to regroup. White said the message in the huddle was about composure.
“Honestly, I don’t remember the exact words, but it was about reminding our team that they’re champions and we had to expect runs,” she said. “We just had to regroup, get back to basics—many of those runs resulted from our turnovers, so it was about caring for the ball and regrouping to create a run of our own.”
Indiana responded with perhaps its sharpest sequence of the season. Mitchell buried a contested jumper on the wing, Sims forced a steal and converted in transition, and Natasha Howard muscled in a putback. In the span of less than three minutes, the Fever had rattled off an 11-0 burst to end the period up 69-55.
Fever Won Game 1 with Pace
From there, the Aces struggled to regain their footing. Each time Las Vegas looked to mount a push, Indiana answered with timely baskets, whether it was Mitchell curling off a screen for a mid-range jumper or Sims slicing into the lane to collapse the defense. The Fever’s pace forced the Aces to defend deeper into possessions than they wanted, and their aggression at the rim drew fouls that slowed any chance of a fast-break response.
“Playing with pace makes us tough to guard,” Sims said. “When Kelsey and I are aggressive, coming off ball screens, we draw attention and open things up for teammates. We just have to maintain that mindset going into Game 2.”
The momentum swing was so sharp that the home crowd, loud during the 10-0 run, grew restless as Indiana closed the period on a surge of its own. The defending champions found themselves staring at a 14-point deficit entering the fourth, and the rhythm they had rediscovered briefly in the third evaporated.
“We’ve talked a lot about closing quarters strong, but we haven’t been able to do that lately and it showed,” Young said. “They went on an 11-0 run to close the third and start the fourth. We just have to lock in during those last few minutes, get stops, trust the process, and buy into what the coaches are telling us.”
Balanced Support for Mitchell
While Mitchell carried the scoring load, Indiana’s supporting cast provided the backbone that allowed her offense to shine. Sims brought energy in the backcourt, finishing with 17 points and three steals while relentlessly attacking ball screens to keep Las Vegas off balance. Her drives not only created scoring chances but also forced the Aces to collapse, opening kick-outs for Mitchell and others.
Howard added a steady presence in the frontcourt with 12 points and 11 rebounds. She punished mismatches inside, converted putbacks at key moments, and gave Indiana a reliable rebounder against one of the league’s best frontcourts.
Odyssey Sims is turnin’ up 🔥
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 21, 2025
12 PTS & counting for her! pic.twitter.com/Mn9QY1t1bb
Aliyah Boston, though limited to six points, still controlled the paint. She hauled in 11 rebounds and tied for the team lead with five assists, often serving as a hub when the Aces sent double-teams at her on the block. Her ability to draw attention created backdoor lanes for guards and passing angles that kept the Fever’s offense fluid.
“Wouldn’t have expected to be in this spot with AB scoring six points, but her decision making, gravity, and discipline were crucial,” White said. “Vegas collapsed hard and didn’t give her easy catches, but that opened up lanes and cuts for others.”
The balance showed in the team totals. Indiana shot 50 percent from the field and converted 16 of 17 free throws, while limiting the Aces to 40.8 percent overall. The Fever also outscored Las Vegas 50-38 in the paint, turning Boston’s presence and Howard’s activity into a decisive advantage.
Wilson Contained, Aces Stumble
For Las Vegas, Young scored 19 points and pulled down seven rebounds, Wilson posted 16 points and 13 rebounds, and Gray added 13. Evans sparked the bench with 14 points.
But the defending champions struggled to find rhythm. The Aces assisted on just 12 baskets while committing 12 turnovers, and their defense failed to contain Mitchell.
“They won all three categories,” Aces head coach Becky Hammon said of pace, transition defense and physicality. “They played with a greater sense of urgency. We couldn’t catch up with their pace.”
Becky Hammon on the Aces’ struggles in Game One against the Fever.#ALLINLV #RaiseTheStakes #WNBA #WNBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/c7cKAlyHOn
— Dice City Sports (@DiceCitySports) September 21, 2025
Hammon didn’t shy away from the central issue — Mitchell’s shot-making dictated the game’s flow and left Las Vegas scrambling.
“She made every freaking shot,” Hammon said. “You can’t ask one person to guard her; it takes multiple actions and bodies. But I don’t think we tried hard enough in that category.”
Wilson’s double-double still added to her postseason legacy. With four blocked shots, she became the fourth player in WNBA history to surpass 100 career playoff blocks. She also moved into the top 10 all-time in playoff scoring and free throws made, while recording her 23rd playoff double-double, breaking a tie with Sylvia Fowles.
Gray, meanwhile, joined Lindsay Whalen as the only players with at least 800 playoff points and 300 assists, reaching the milestone faster and at a younger age than Whalen.
What’s Next
The Fever’s victory spoiled Wilson’s MVP celebration and ended the Aces’ lengthy home winning streak. Las Vegas had not lost at Michelob ULTRA Arena since Aug. 2, when Minnesota handed them the worst home defeat in franchise history.
“It’s one game, it’s a long series,” White said. “But to come in here and to be able to steal this one was big for us.”
Game 2 is set for Tuesday night in Las Vegas at 9:30 p.m. ET, before the series shifts to Indianapolis for Game 3 on Friday.
