The Las Vegas Aces are chasing dynasty status. The Indiana Fever are chasing belief turned reality. When the two teams meet in the 2025 WNBA semifinals beginning Sunday at Michelob ULTRA Arena, it will mark a collision between the league’s most accomplished program of the past decade and one of its most resilient underdogs.
Game 1 tips off at 12 p.m. PT and will air nationally on ABC.
Aces Tested, but Wilson Steady
The Aces entered the playoffs riding a 16-game winning streak, but their first-round series against the Seattle Storm showed vulnerabilities. After controlling Game 1, Las Vegas stumbled in Game 2 on the road, surrendering a late lead and failing to match Seattle’s physical edge. Head coach Becky Hammon admitted her team had been outworked.
“They’re playing for their lives. They better be physical,” Hammon said. “We didn’t match the physicality in the first half. … You got a eight, nine point lead going in the fourth quarter. You got to protect that.”
https://t.co/xcn1qCBLM8 pic.twitter.com/5gwrHQhRsj
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) September 19, 2025
The Storm also found success from beyond the arc, making 10 3-pointers, and Hammon was blunt about her team’s defensive breakdowns.
“We guarded poorly at the three-point line. Our hands were down. We were not disrupted. We weren’t even guarding. … No, it’s trash, garbage,” she said.
Jackie Young, Chelsey Gray: Players to Watch
Despite those struggles, Las Vegas advanced behind A’ja Wilson’s brilliance. The MVP finalist averaged 29.3 points on 55.4 percent shooting across three games, along with 8.7 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.0 blocks. Her 38-point performance in a 74–73 Game 3 victory was the difference between moving on and being sent home early.
“No pun intended but we weathered the Storm,” Wilson said. “They punched us and we punched back and we kept punching. … The job is not done. This is the first round, we gotta get ready for the next one.”
good morning jackie young saved my broke ass life pic.twitter.com/MPr4aUczMk
— mrs o’nomatopoeia (@nasgioia) September 19, 2025
Jackie Young also elevated her game, scoring 19.0 points per contest on 52.6 percent shooting. Her third-quarter surge in Game 2 gave the Aces a chance, and Hammon noted that her energy is vital to the team’s success.
“We’re not going anywhere without her, so we got to get her going,” Hammon said.
Chelsea Gray, meanwhile, provided stability at the point guard spot. She averaged 7.7 assists in the series, up from her 5.4 average during the regular season, as she orchestrated the offense and helped steady the Aces when possessions stalled.
Fever’s Breakthrough Run
Indiana reached the semifinals for the first time in 10 years by upsetting the third-seeded Atlanta Dream. The Fever closed out the series with an 87–85 victory on the road, rallying late behind Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston.
Mitchell, a finalist for the league’s MVP award, averaged 23.3 points in the quarterfinals, carrying the scoring load as the Fever overcame the absence of several injured contributors.
Boston averaged 12.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in the series. In Game 3, she delivered a decisive double-double and scored the winning basket to seal Indiana’s advancement.
Veteran guard Odyssey Sims, who joined the team late in the season, said the quick connection within the locker room has been essential to the Fever’s surge.
Game 3, the movie 🎥🍿
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 20, 2025
in an epic comeback, Kelsey Mitchell dropped a game-high 24 points, Aliyah Boston recorded a dominant double-double & scored the go-ahead bucket late in the fourth & the bench brought the energy to lead us to an 87-85 victory over the Dream. pic.twitter.com/qrCjSH9lfr
“Everybody’s genuine. I got welcomed with open arms from day one,” Sims said. “And we’re in the semifinals—it feels amazing. But we’re just getting started. Every game, every possession matters more than ever.”
Lexie Hull pointed to the team’s resilience, noting that a comeback against Connecticut earlier this year convinced them they could compete with anyone.
“People think we aren’t going to win, but the game’s never over until the final buzzer,” Hull said.
Head coach Stephanie White said this playoff run reflects the team’s growth and determination through adversity.
“You could see how special this group was, how much they fought for one another, refused to give in,” White said. “So many great life lessons with this group; it was a turning point.”
Regular-Season Lessons
Indiana won the regular-season series 2–1, claiming both games in Indianapolis. Las Vegas earned an 89–81 victory at home on June 22, but the Fever responded with an 81–54 blowout on July 3 and an 80–70 win on July 24.
The Fever dominated the glass across those meetings, averaging 43.7 rebounds to the Aces’ 31.3. Las Vegas, one of the league’s most efficient offensive teams, managed only 71.0 points per game on 37.7 percent shooting in the three contests, far below its season averages of 83.6 points and 43.9 percent shooting.
Wilson still averaged 24.3 points in the series, but Indiana dictated tempo and forced the Aces into stagnant possessions. Mitchell and Boston powered the Fever on offense, while the defense controlled the paint.
Milestones in Focus
The semifinals also provide a stage for history. Wilson is 17 points away from passing Lindsay Whalen for seventh on the WNBA’s all-time playoff scoring list. She also needs just one more block to become the seventh player in league history to reach 100 in postseason play, while closing in on Angel McCoughtry in free throws, Rebekkah Brunson in defensive rebounds, and Seimone Augustus in field goals made.
Gray is within reach of a milestone of her own. With 13 more points, she will become only the second player, alongside Whalen, to record at least 800 playoff points and 300 assists.
Young is poised to move up the record books as well, entering the series tied with Candace Parker on the all-time playoff three-pointers list. One more make will put her ahead. Hammon, meanwhile, is one victory away from tying Dan Hughes for eighth in career postseason coaching wins.
Contrasting Styles
Las Vegas leans on offensive efficiency and star power, raising its shooting percentage to nearly 48.9% in the first round while averaging 86.3 points per game. Indiana thrives on toughness and defense, holding Atlanta to 75.0 points per game on 42.4% shooting and just 28.1% from 3-point range in the quarterfinals.
Mitchell said the Fever’s best chance comes from their ability to set the tone defensively.
“At the point of attack defensively, you got to be there,” Mitchell said. “Obviously you’re dealing with one of the best players in the world, so … if we wait, they’ll make us pay every time.”
For the Aces, the focus will be on maintaining pace, protecting the glass, and giving Wilson enough support to keep the offense flowing. For the Fever, limiting Wilson’s efficiency and winning the rebounding battle could provide the equalizer.
Becky Hammon talking about the Fever-Aces matchup in semis:
— Ashwin (@Sudharsan_ak) September 19, 2025
“They haven’t seen the real Aces yet. They caught us when we were in a turmoil. We’ll buckle in, hone in where we can and take care of business” pic.twitter.com/bSogghgx1K
Stakes Ahead
The winner of this series will face either the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx or the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA Finals. Minnesota swept Golden State in the first round, while Phoenix knocked out the defending champion New York Liberty in three games.
For Las Vegas, the task is clear: continue the march toward a third championship in four years and reinforce its claim as the WNBA’s modern dynasty.
For Indiana, the semifinal berth is both validation and opportunity. Despite losing Caitlin Clark and several other players to season-ending injuries, the Fever have found a way to advance, led by Mitchell’s scoring, Boston’s poise, and the contributions of veterans like Sims.
Wilson said the Aces will keep the focus inward as the stage grows larger.
“Same mindset,” she said. “It’s really never about the other team; it’s always going to be about us. We gotta play Aces basketball, and we’ll see what the game gives us.”
Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday in Las Vegas before the series shifts to Indiana for Game 3.
