In the first game of the WNBA semifinals, Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson, despite being a four-time league MVP, had an off night against the Indiana Fever, scoring only 16 points on 6-of-22 shooting. The Fever’s defense, particularly forward Aliyah Boston, played a crucial role in neutralizing Wilson. Boston effectively guarded Wilson on 35 possessions, holding her to a 16.7% effective field goal percentage.
Indiana’s defense strategy aimed to make Wilson’s scoring attempts as challenging as possible. “We know she’s the MVP, the best player in the world at the moment, so we just tried to make all her buckets tough,” said Fever’s Brianna Turner. With constant pressure, Indiana’s defense restricted Wilson to just five free throw attempts, well below her postseason average. Wilson also faced challenges with personal fouls, collecting her fourth in a pivotal third-quarter play, which impacted the Aces’ momentum during a 10-0 run.
The Aces struggled collectively, shooting 40% from the field and only 29.4% from beyond the arc. Fever coach Stephanie White emphasized the importance of remaining disciplined on defense and keeping the Aces’ players from working together effectively. Princeton’s Jackie Young led the scoring for Las Vegas with 19 points, showing some support around Wilson, while Dana Evans and Chelsea Gray contributed with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Looking forward to Game 2, Aces coach Becky Hammon is confident in her team’s ability to turn around their performance. She acknowledged the tough night but believes in the team’s potential to bounce back. “I know we’re capable of winning this series, but not when we play like that,” Hammon stated. Game 2 is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in Las Vegas.