Aces' A'ja Wilson leaves Fever searching for answers after playoff clinic
· Yahoo Sports
LAS VEGAS — Blink. A'ja Wilson three-point play. Blink. Emphatic block from the Las Vegas Aces center. Blink. Another rebound for No. 22.
Every time you blinked in the Aces’ 102-85 win over the Indiana Fever in Game 1 of the WNBA playoffs’ first round on Sunday at Michelob Ultra Arena, the four-time MVP was adding to a historic stat line.
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There's no flow state, no alter ego. This is a regular-day at work for the four-time — soon to be five-time — MVP.
Wilson finished with 38 points, 16 rebounds, four blocks and two steals to lead the Aces to a 1-0 lead in the series. She's the first player in WNBA history to record at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in multiple playoff games. It was also Wilson's 11th career 30-point playoff game, extending her lead for the most in WNBA playoff history.
When asked if she felt like she and her team were in a different zone, Wilson briefly considered the idea.
“Honestly, we were just performing well because we handled what we needed to do on the defensive end," Wilson said. "I don't think I had an out-of-body experience. I think we just showed up to work and that's what we need to do moving forward -- just showing up for each other, showing up to work.”
Wilson only missed four of her 19 shots from the field. She was a perfect 2-of-2 from 3-point land.
When another reporter asked the Aces star how she’d evaluate her performance, Wilson kept it simple: “I think that I just did my job.”
This matchup is a rematch of the 2025 semifinals, where the Aces beat the Fever 3-2 in a five-game series last season before going on to win their third championship in four years. After the Aces dropped Game 1 at home in 2025, Las Vegas needed overtime in Game 5 to eliminate the short-handed Fever.
It wasn’t lost on Aces coach Becky Hammon that Wilson helped power her team into a different position this time.
“She understands the stakes always. She was a clinic tonight. She was, I mean, it was all over. She was all over the court, every way,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said of Wilson. “Defensive end, offensive end, blocks, steals, boards, scoring. I mean, there was nothing she couldn’t do tonight.”
Wilson’s counterparts in the Aces’ Big 3 also rose to the occasion. Jackie Young recorded 21 points and 10 assists and point guard Chelsea Gray added 14 points and eight assists.
As she spoke to reporters postgame, Gray didn’t take the same “just another day” approach to Wilson’s dominance.
“It's a blessing being able to see this every single day. I say this all the time,” Gray said. “You can't you can't wait until a person retires to appreciate greatness. Appreciate it when it's happening.”
Wilson’s efficacy in her role was certainly felt by the Fever, which gave up 28 points off turnovers.
Indiana center Aliyah Boston shouldered much of the defensive burden against Wilson and was one error away from fouling out. Boston, a fellow South Carolina product, chided herself for getting caught with her hand “in the cookie jar” with her two shooting fouls, but was blunt when she described the experience guarding Wilson.
“She had tough shots, she hit tough shots, you take it out of the net and you go down,” Boston said.
Fever coach Stephanie White said this is how a team of champions should play. She hopes her team will flip the script when the series continues with Game 2 in Indiana on Tuesday.
“They understand that playoffs require a different version, a different level of intensity and urgency. And they came with it. This is what they're supposed to do. They're supposed to win game one,” White said. “Now we have to be able to bounce back and go home and pick up a win.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aces' A'ja Wilson leaves Fever searching for answers after playoff clinic