A'ja Wilson, Aces beat cold-shooting Caitlin Clark, Fever 89-81 to end three-game skid
LAS VEGAS — A'ja Wilson scored 24 points in a battle with cold-shooting Caitlin Clark on Sunday to lead the Aces to an 89-81 victory over the Indiana Fever and stop a three-game Las Vegas skid.
Wilson, the reigning MVP, was one of five Aces in double figures. Jackie Young scored 19 points and Chelsea Gray finished with 18.
Aliyah Boston scored 26 points for the Fever, including 18 in the first half. Clark, last season's Rookie of the Year, had 19 points and 11 assists but shot just 1 of 10 from 3-point range. She's 1 for 17 from deep over her last two games.
Kelsey Mitchell added 20 points for Indiana.
Wilson and Clark struggled early, combining to shoot 2 of 15 midway through the second quarter.
The game was even at 69-69 in the fourth quarter when the Aces outscored Indiana 9-2 to go ahead for good.
The Aces (6-7), who won their second WNBA championship in a row just two years ago and expected to contend again this season, entered having lost five of six. Beating the Fever (6-7) could get Las Vegas heading in the right direction. Indiana is 2-3 over its last five.
Going back to last season, the Aces are 5-0 against the Fever. The teams will meet twice in Indianapolis later this season.
The game was down Las Vegas Boulevard at T-Mobile Arena to accommodate a larger crowd than the Aces' usual home, Michelob Ultra Arena. Las Vegas usually has rowdy fans, but as expected, many spectators wore Clark shirts and jerseys.
Indiana's DeWanna Bonner missed her fourth consecutive game for personal reasons. Coach Stephanie White returned to the bench after missing the Fever's previous game at Golden State, also for personal reasons.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Paige Bueckers Passes Caitlin Clark to Make WNBA History on Sunday
Paige Bueckers Passes Caitlin Clark to Make WNBA History on Sunday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers and Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark have become two of the most exciting young guards in the WNBA. Advertisement While the Fever have seen some success to begin the 2025 WNBA season, the Wings haven't been as lucky, falling to 3-12 after a 91-88 overtime loss to the Washington Mystics on Sunday. Going into Sunday's loss, Bueckers had recorded 180 points and 58 assists through her first 10 career games. With 2:42 remaining in overtime, Bueckers hit a layup off a NaLyssa Smith assist, marking her 20th point of the game and 100th of her young career. In doing so, Bueckers now becomes the fastest player in WNBA history to record 200 or more points and 50 or more assists, doing so in just 11 games. The previous record was shared by three players, including Clark, Houston Comets legend Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, and former Charlotte Sting guard Andrea Stinson, each of whom reached the mark in 12 games. Advertisement Bueckers finished the game with 20 points on 7-of-17 shooting, nine rebounds and seven assists. The former UConn Huskies star also hit the game-tying 3-pointer with 11 seconds left to force overtime. Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers© David Butler II-Imagn Images The Wings now see their two-game winning streak come to an end and remain in last place in the Western Conference. Still, Bueckers is tracking to win the 2025 Rookie of the Year. Prior to the Washington game, she was leading Dallas in scoring (18.0 points per game), assists (5.8), steals (2.1) and blocks (0.9). Up next for Bueckers and the Wings, a battle with Brittney Griner and the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. ET. Advertisement Related: Caitlin Clark Makes WNBA History Against Las Vegas Aces This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox News
15 minutes ago
- Fox News
Pacers lose Tyrese Haliburton to nightmare leg injury in NBA Finals Game 7 matchup vs Thunder
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton managed to power through a calf injury he suffered in the middle of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder but the big guard appeared to reaggravate the issue in Game 7 on Sunday night. Haliburton was already off to an incredible start to the do-or-die game for the NBA championship, nailing three 3-pointers in the first quarter to give Indiana an early edge. Haliburton was near the Thunder bench when he tried to drive toward his left. He put the ball onto the floor with Thunder MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on him. He appeared to slip and fall forward, losing the ball in the process. As the camera panned to Haliburton, he was down on his stomach, hammering his first onto the ground, writhing in pain. The Pacers bench gathered around Haliburton as trainers attended to him. The game was paused for a few moments as Haliburton was helped off the floor. Indiana said Haliburton suffered a lower right-leg injury and would not return. Jonh Haliburton, Tyrese's father, said that his son had suffered an Achilles injury. Haliburton had been the catalyst for the Pacers' success throughout the playoffs. He made key shots in the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks, he brought heartache to Cleveland Cavaliers fans in the second round and sent a message to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. In the NBA Finals against the Thunder, Haliburton continued to make huge shots to help the Pacers stay afloat against the league's best team. He was injured in Game but had 14 points in the Pacers' Game 6 win on Friday night to force Game 7. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Indianapolis Star
15 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
Pacers fans in disbelief as Tyrese Haliburton leaves NBA Finals Game 7 with injury
Jacob Easter kept wiping his face in disbelief as he walked through the main concourse at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton had just collapsed to the ground with a lower right leg injury in the first quarter of Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Haliburton was dealing with a right calf strain heading into Sunday's contest but decided to play through the injury. Haliburton had nine points on three made 3-point field goals before he exited the game. 'I had to step away for a minute to gather thoughts about it,' Easter said. 'He's had a rough finals go but came out hot in the quarter. The team rallies behind him. He's our floor general. Just watching him go down, you can feel how bad it hurt the fans here. You watch that pop and it doesn't look pretty. 'I hope he has a good recovery; sometimes those can be career-ending injuries, but the Pacers have a great medical staff. We just hope and pray for the best.' Although Haliburton won't return to the game, fans like Ben Rudason still believe Indiana can win the NBA championship. 'There's no way we can come from the bottom to start the season and when we come to the top, we lose,' Rudason said. 'We got Siakam, we got Turner on defense. I feel like we are pretty good right now. Let me tell you one thing about T.J. McConnell, he's a magician. He got us today and we believe in him.' Terry Clayton, 25, of Indianapolis, said: 'Our superstar Tyrese Haliburton has carried us this whole playoffs with his miracle shots, so it's tough to see him down. But guess what, we have a bench that can lead us through. I'm hoping to see if they can pick up the slack and I want to see what coach (Rick) Carlisle can do. We are cheering for you guys from home. We need 19-25 points from TJ McConnell.' The moment Haliburton went down with a leg injury, fans around downtown Indianapolis could be making an audible gasp, questioning if this was the end of the Pacers' run in the NBA Finals. There was then a moment of silence as fans gazed at one another, looking for answers. Once Haliburton was helped off the court, some fans took that as a sign that the game was over and started leaving their spot in line or asking for the check.
