Indiana Fever learn WNBA playoff matchup hours after blow out loss to Lynx. Meet the Aces
· Yahoo Sports
MINNEAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever will face the Las Vegas Aces as the 6 seed in the opening round of the WNBA playoffs.
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The Fever (28-16) suffered their second loss in three games Thursday, dropping an 86-66 decision to the Minnesota Lynx. That setback coupled with wins by the Washington Mystics and Golden State Valkyries moved Indiana to sixth in the standings.
Las Vegas (31-13) beat the Phoenix Mercury and enter the postseason on a seven-game win streak.
Game 1 is set for Sunday in Las Vegas. Tip time is TBA.
The Fever finished 2-1 vs. the Aces during the regular season, with the lone loss coming in overtime on Aug. 6.
Caitlin Clark averaged 16 points and totaled 14 assists in the two games she played vs. Vegas. She missed the Fever's 84-68 win in Vegas on July 5 with a back injury.
Kelsey Mitchell participated in all three (27.3 ppg on 48% FG), as did Aliyah Boston (19.3 ppg on 59.5% FG, 11 rpg). Among the other Fever players with notable splits vs. Las Vegas this season: Sophie Cunningham totaled 31 points and nine 3-pointers, and Monique Billings clocked 24 points, four steals, a block and 15 rebounds. Both appeared in all three games.
The Aces are led by four-time MVP A'ja Wilson. Widely regarded as the league's top talent, the veteran center averages 26 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2 blocks and 1.4 steals.
Wilson has a strong supporting cast surrounding her, one which includes 2016 Indiana Miss Basketball Jackie Young, who's good for 19.3 points, 6.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game, and six-time WNBA All-Star Chelsea Gray, who's clocking 12 points (43.9% FG) and 6.6 assists per game.
Vegas lost forward NaLyssa Smith to a season-ending leg injury in August. The former Fever draft pick was in the midst of her best season since her Indiana days (2022-24), averaging 11.7 points and 6.4 rebounds.
The Aces' 91.3 points per game ranked third-best in the league entering Thursday, while their 85.9 points allowed per game is good for sixth. They have a nearly even rebounding differential, and lead the league in blocks (4.9 per game).
Vegas averages just 12 turnovers and commits fewer than 18 fouls per game, both top-3 in the W.
This is a rematch from last year's WNBA semifinals. The injury-ravaged Fever pushed the eventual champions to the brink that series, forcing a decisive Game 5 then staging a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback on the road before falling in overtime.
WNBA playoff matchups 2026
Here is a look at the seeded pairings for the first round:
- (1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (8) New York Liberty
- (2) Golden State Valkyries vs. (7) Dallas Wings
- (3) Las Vegas Aces vs. (6) Indiana Fever
- (4) Atlanta Dream vs. (5) Washington Mystics
Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen. Get IndyStar's Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar TV: Fever for in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes coverage and more.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever learn WNBA playoff matchup hours after blow out loss to Lynx. Meet the Aces
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