The Indiana Fever, currently seeded sixth in the WNBA playoffs, have shown remarkable improvement following a challenging 1-8 start to their season, with a recent record of 19-17. They trail only the Minnesota Lynx, who have won 10 games since the All-Star break, in victory count during this period.
The Fever, who have secured wins against top teams like Minnesota, New York, and Connecticut, aim to extend their streak by facing the Las Vegas Aces on Wednesday night. Previously, the Aces dominated both matchups at home, winning comfortably and covering double-digit spreads. In their most recent encounter, the Aces were 13-point favorites, but the spread has since tightened to as little as two points, likely influenced by the uncertain status of A’ja Wilson’s injured ankle.
Las Vegas has experienced a drop in net rating this season, coming in at 5.5 compared to last year’s 15.3. This year, the team, which was a leader in defensive efficiency, has dropped out of the top four as defensive metrics across the league have improved. Despite this, the Fever’s offensive efficiency ranks among the best, with an impressive rating of 103.8, upgraded to 106.2 when playing at home.
Rookie point guard Caitlin Clark has emerged as a standout player for Indiana, breaking several records in her debut season, including most assists in a game and fastest to reach key scoring milestones. With four games remaining, she is just 52 points shy of breaking the rookie scoring record.
In their previous meetings, while Indiana started strong, they could not sustain their performance. However, the Fever’s recent momentum and home-court advantage could play a pivotal role. With Wilson’s availability in question, the Fever may capitalize early in the game.
Overall, the Fever are anticipated to start strong, making them a strong contender for a fast start despite past challenges against the Aces.