LAS VEGAS — This was supposed to be Caitlin Clark’s spectacular return to the grandest stage, the playoffs.
This was supposed to be proof that their final week of the regular season was an anomaly and they could turn the page when it matters most.
This was supposed to be a continuation of what we saw during the regular season, when the Fever owned the first two matchups and would’ve swept the season series if not for several self-inflicted wounds.
But on this Sunday afternoon, it was just another reminder that too often, the house wins in Las Vegas. And in this case, they were in the Aces’ house.
Nothing went right for the Fever in this Game 1 loss, 102-85.
It started minutes before tip-off, as the Fever starters were introduced, and nobody could hear it. These were the quietest intros I’ve ever heard and this was before a playoff game!
So all five Fever players just came out at once.
The Aces then opened the game with a block from four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, found a rhythm on offense — getting whatever they wanted — and that carried into a strong defensive game.
They shot 59%, scored 28 points off Indiana turnovers, and got a dominant performance from Wilson (38 points, 16 rebounds) as the Aces took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.
That’s right, just best-of-three.
That made Game 1 especially important for the Aces. A loss would have sent them to Indianapolis, where the Fever would have had the chance to close out the series on their home floor.
“It was huge for us,” Wilson said postgame. “This is probably the most important time where you need to throw the first punch on the defensive end.”
The Aces wore their experience well, no moment too big and they knew exactly what to expect. They matched the stage with their intensity, played with an edge and pushed the limits of physicality. The Fever never matched them.
