The Las Vegas Aces have punched their ticket to the WNBA Finals for the third time in four years, following a nail-biting 107-98 overtime victory against the Indiana Fever on Tuesday. The hard-fought Game 5 semi-final clash saw remarkable performances from A'ja Wilson, who exploded for 35 points, and Jackie Young, who posted career playoff highs of 32 points and 10 assists.
This decisive win sealed the best-of-five series 3-2 for the second-seeded Aces. They are now set to face the fourth-seeded Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA Finals, with Game 1 scheduled for Friday in Las Vegas. The Aces are eyeing another championship, having previously claimed titles in both 2022 and 2023.
History was made during the contest as Wilson and Young became the first teammates in WNBA playoff history to each score over 30 points in a single game.
**WNBA Finals Schedule (All Times Eastern):**
* Fri, Oct 3: Game 1 – Phoenix at Las Vegas, 8pm (ESPN)
* Sun, Oct 5: Game 2 – Phoenix at Las Vegas, 3pm (ABC)
* Wed, Oct 8: Game 3 – Las Vegas at Phoenix, 8pm (ESPN)
* Fri, Oct 10: Game 4 – Las Vegas at Phoenix, 8pm (ESPN)
* Sun, Oct 12: Game 5 – Phoenix at Las Vegas, 3pm (ABC)*
* Wed, Oct 15: Game 6 – Las Vegas at Phoenix, 8pm (ESPN)*
* Fri, Oct 17: Game 7 – Phoenix at Las Vegas, 8pm (ESPN)*
*If necessary
Contributing significantly to the Aces' overtime surge was Chelsea Gray, who netted eight of her 17 points in the extra period. This victory caps off an incredible season for Las Vegas, who concluded the regular season with an impressive 16-game winning streak.
Despite being short-handed, the sixth-seeded Indiana Fever showcased immense resilience, forcing overtime even after losing their star guard Kelsey Mitchell to injury and seeing center Aliyah Boston foul out late in regulation. Odyssey Sims led the Fever with 27 points and six assists, supported by Natasha Howard's 16 points and Boston's double-double of 11 points and 16 rebounds.
Mitchell’s departure in the third quarter after scoring 15 points was a significant blow. The non-contact leg injury occurred as she clutched her left knee, necessitating several minutes of medical attention before she could be assisted off the court.
The Fever mounted a remarkable comeback in the fourth quarter, converting nine of 14 field-goal attempts to erase a 77-68 deficit within the final seven and a half minutes. Boston's layup and Sims' two free throws dramatically tied the game at 84. However, Boston's sixth and disqualifying foul on a loose-ball play with 27.1 seconds remaining, a call Indiana unsuccessfully challenged, proved pivotal.
Jackie Young capitalized with two free throws for the Aces, but the Fever, using a reset timeout, advanced the ball, allowing Sims to drive for a layup with 22.5 seconds left, knotting the score at 86-86 and sending the game into overtime.
The Aces dominated the start of overtime with three consecutive three-pointers, one from Jewell Loyd and two from Gray. While Shey Peddy's trey for Indiana momentarily halved a six-point deficit in the final minute, Young's pair of foul shots with 20 seconds remaining ultimately sealed the hard-fought victory for Las Vegas.
The first half of the game set the tone for the intense battle, featuring 13 lead changes and 14 ties, with neither team able to establish more than a five-point lead. The Aces held a slim 47-45 advantage at halftime. A'ja Wilson was instrumental in the third quarter, scoring 13 points, including the Aces' final seven – a triple, two free throws, and a two-pointer – to give Las Vegas a 71-63 lead heading into the final period of regulation.
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Originally published at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/oct/01/wnba-playoffs-2025-aces-fever-game-5-finals
