A’ja Wilson Drops 36 as Aces Eliminate Caitlin Clark and Fever in Game 3

A’ja Wilson delivered when Las Vegas needed her most. The four-time WNBA MVP scored 36 points and grabbed 10 rebounds Thursday night as the defending champion Aces defeated Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever 94-83 in the deciding Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. The victory sends third-seeded Las Vegas back to the WNBA semifinals and ends Indiana’s season for the second straight year at the hands of the Aces.

Wilson’s performance was the perfect response after a difficult Game 2 and the attention surrounding her verbal exchange with a courtside fan in Indianapolis. She put the controversy behind her and controlled the elimination game on the floor. Chelsea Gray added 23 points, while Jackie Young finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Clark scored 18 for Indiana and returned after suffering a bloody mouth late in the game, while Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 23.

The bigger takeaway is that Las Vegas still looks built for postseason pressure. Wilson bookended the series with dominant performances, and the Aces’ championship-tested core responded after Indiana forced a winner-take-all game. Las Vegas now advances to face the winner of the Golden State-Dallas series, keeping alive its pursuit of another WNBA championship.