Aces Beat Fever 94-83: A’ja Wilson Leads Game 3 Series Win

The Las Vegas Aces defeated the Indiana Fever 94-83 on Thursday, October 1, 2026, behind A’ja Wilson’s 36 points and 10 rebounds to win their WNBA first-round playoff series 2-1. Playing at Michelob ULTRA Arena, Las Vegas used a strong fourth quarter and a substantial free-throw advantage to secure advancement.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: Teams Match Each Other at 31-31

Both teams opened with their highest-scoring quarter of the game, finishing the first period tied 31-31. Indiana matched Las Vegas offensively on the road, leaving neither side with an advantage heading into the second quarter.

Second Quarter: Aces Build a Six-Point Lead

Las Vegas outscored Indiana 23-17 in the second period to take a 54-48 halftime lead. After allowing 31 points in the opening quarter, the Aces held the Fever to 17 in the next, creating the first separation reflected in the quarter-ending scores.

Third Quarter: Fever Trim the Deficit

Indiana edged Las Vegas 17-16 in the third quarter, reducing the Aces’ lead to 70-65. The Fever remained within five points entering the final period, keeping the deciding game competitive despite their lower scoring output after the first quarter.

Fourth Quarter: Las Vegas Pulls Away

The Aces outscored the Fever 24-18 in the fourth, extending their five-point advantage to an 11-point final margin. Las Vegas finished the game in regulation with a 94-83 victory, closing out the series before an announced crowd of 10,388.

Key Performers

• A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas: Led all scorers with 36 points and added 10 rebounds for a double-double. She accounted for 38.3% of the Aces’ scoring.
• Jackie Young, Las Vegas: Led the Aces with seven assists, supplying nearly half of their 15 total assists.
• Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana: Led the Fever with 23 points.
• Aliyah Boston, Indiana: Contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds, giving Indiana a double-double of its own.
• Myisha Hines-Allen, Indiana: Recorded a game-high 12 rebounds.
• Caitlin Clark, Indiana: Led the Fever with four assists.

NerdSports Stat: Indiana outscored Las Vegas 69-66 on field goals, but the Aces’ 28-14 advantage at the free-throw line converted that three-point deficit into an 11-point victory.

Game Analysis: Efficiency and Free Throws Make the Difference

Indiana generated more shot attempts and made one more field goal, but Las Vegas was more efficient. The Aces shot 29-for-64 from the floor, or 45.3%, compared with the Fever’s 30-for-78, or 38.5%. That efficiency helped Las Vegas win despite taking 14 fewer shots.

The same pattern appeared beyond the arc. Indiana made nine 3-pointers to Las Vegas’ eight, but needed 32 attempts to do so. The Aces went 8-for-20, shooting 40.0%, while the Fever finished at 28.1%.

The largest scoring difference came at the foul line. Las Vegas made 28 of 35 free throws, an 80.0% rate, while Indiana converted 14 of 20 for 70.0%. Those 14 additional free-throw points more than offset the Fever’s slight advantage in scoring from the field.

Indiana held a 38-34 rebounding advantage and finished with 16 assists to Las Vegas’ 15. Those edges were not enough to overcome Wilson’s production, the Aces’ better shooting percentages and their six-point advantage in the final quarter.

Closing Context: Aces Advance With a 2-1 Series Victory

The Game 3 win completed a 2-1 first-round series victory for Las Vegas and ended Indiana’s playoff run. The supplied records list the Aces at 31-13 and the Fever at 28-16 for the regular season; this result determined postseason advancement rather than changing those regular-season records. Las Vegas moves on with Wilson’s double-double and its efficient scoring providing the foundation for the deciding win.

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