By: Betty Cantley
LAS VEGAS, NV – The Las Vegas Aces bounced back from their Game 1 loss with a decisive 90-68 victory over the Indiana Fever in Game 2 of the WNBA Semifinals. The Aces came out with vengeance and meant business. The win tied the best-of-five series at 1-1 as it heads to Indianapolis.
A’Ja Wilson had a bounce back performance and returned back to her MVP form. After a subpar Game 1 where she was held to just 16 points on 6-of-22 shooting, she led all scorers with 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting and added 9 rebounds and a playoff career-high 5 steals. Her dominance set the tone for the Aces from the start
Unlike Game 1, where they were out of sync, the Aces came out with intensity, taking a 26-17 lead after the first quarter and extending it to 46-35 by halftime.
While Wilson led the war, she had great help from her teammates, NaLyssa Smith had a career playoff high with 18 points, and Jewell Loyd and Dana Evans each contributed 10 points. The Aces shoot an impressive 53.8% from the field as a team.
The Aces’ stifling defense was the most significant factor. They held the Fever to just 68 points and forced 22 turnovers, which they converted into 28 points. Kelsey Mitchell was shut down by the Aces, who had a career-high 34 points in Game 1 but was limited to just 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting in Game 2.
The Aces’ dominant performance in Game 2 has shifted the momentum of the series and with the series now tied, the Aces will look to continue their strong play as they head on the road for Game 3 on Friday.