No. 3 Las Vegas punched its ticket, taking down No. 6 Indiana 94-83 on Thursday to win the best-of-three first-round series and book a trip to the WNBA semifinals.
Four-time MVP A’ja Wilson made the difference for the defending champion. She posted 36 points and 10 rebounds while helping hold Fever duo Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell to less than 34% from the field.
“I was just trying to send a message not only to the Indiana Fever but to my teammates,” Wilson said. “We kept saying, ‘Empty the tank.’”
The Aces next face either No. 2 Golden State or No. 7 Dallas on Sunday, as the Valkyries and Wings gear up for tonight’s winner-take-all Game 3.
Golden State is hunting a first-ever semifinal berth after letting Game 2 slip away in overtime behind Dallas guard Arike Ogunbowale’s late-game burst.
“We’re not here to trade baskets with people, we’re a defensive team,” said Valkyries guard Gabby Williams. “We need to get stops.”
Golden State hosts Dallas tonight at 9 PM ET (ESPN2).
