The Indiana Fever silenced the crowd in Las Vegas, pulling off a stunning 89–73 Game 1 win over the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in the 2025 WNBA Playoffs. Kelsey Mitchell delivered a playoff-career high 34 points, Odyssey Sims added 17, and Aliyah Boston anchored the paint with all-around play as the Fever spoiled A’ja Wilson’s MVP celebration. Jackie Young led Vegas with 19, but Wilson struggled to find her shot against Indiana’s relentless defense.
In this breakdown, we’ll cover: ✅ Full game recap & key moments quarter by quarter ✅ Mitchell’s superstar performance and Fever’s balanced attack ✅ Wilson’s tough shooting night and the Aces’ struggles ✅ SWOT & War Room analysis of both teams heading into Game 2
The Fever now hold a 1–0 lead in this best-of-five semifinal series. Can Las Vegas bounce back, or is Indiana ready to rewrite the WNBA Playoff picture?
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Disclaimer: This video may contain game footage under fair use for commentary, analysis, and educational purposes. All rights belong to the WNBA and respective content owners.
00:00Fever shot the Aces, Indiana walked into Las Vegas, spoiled Aya Wilson's MVP night, and stole game one of the WNBA semifinals.
00:09Here's the full story. The Michelob Ultra Arena was dressed for a coronation.
00:14The banners, the lights, the roar, all of it was set to celebrate Aya Wilson, crowned earlier that day as the first player in league history to win four MVP awards.
00:24The defending champion Las Vegas Aces hadn't lost at home in over two months, riding a 16-game win streak.
00:31But from MVP cheers to stunned silence in just three quarters, the night belonged to the Indiana Fever.
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00:56From the opening tip, Indiana made it clear they weren't intimidated.
01:00Kelsey Mitchell buried her first jumper with confidence, a shot that cut through the noise and set the tone.
01:07Natasha Howard controlled the glass, Odyssey Sims pushed the pace, and Aaliyah Boston threaded passes from the high post.
01:14Jackie Young's mid-range scoring kept the Aces close, but Indiana edged ahead 19-18 after one.
01:21The fever had landed the first punch, and the Vegas crowd felt the unease.
01:26The second quarter deepened the tension.
01:28Mitchell kept attacking, scoring 17 in the first half alone.
01:33Boston found cutters, Sims slashed through the lane, and Indiana's defense swarmed Wilson, forcing her into contested jumpers.
01:40Gray hit a three, but Indiana's composure held.
01:44By halftime, the fever led 41-36.
01:48The MVP's night was turning sour, and the upset was no longer a whisper.
01:53It was a possibility.
01:55The third quarter was the Aces' chance to flip the script.
01:58Young scored at the rim.
02:00Gray hit another three, and Dana Evans came off the bench with energy.
02:04The lead shrank to three, and the arena roared back to life.
02:08But then came the defining stretch.
02:10Mitchell drilled a deep three.
02:12Sims floated one in.
02:14Howard muscled through contact.
02:16And Lexi Hull buried a corner triple.
02:18In just over two minutes, Indiana unleashed an 11-0 run.
02:23The building went silent.
02:25The defending champion Las Vegas Aces trailed 69-55 heading into the fourth, and the champs looked rattled.
02:31The final quarter was all about composure.
02:35Mitchell kept pouring it on.
02:37Boston added a driving layup, and Sims orchestrated with boys.
02:41Wilson battled for rebounds, finishing with 16 points and 13 boards.
02:46But her 6-for-22 shooting line told the story.
02:49Every time Vegas tried to mount a push, Indiana answered.
02:52When the horn sounded, the fever had 189-73, spoiling Wilson's MVP celebration and seizing control of the WNBA semifinals.
03:03Mitchell was the star of the night.
03:0434 points on 12-for-23 shooting, including four triples and a perfect 6-for-6 at the line.
03:11It was more than a stat line.
03:12It was her superstar moment on the road against the champs under the brightest lights.
03:18Sims added 17 with 8 assists.
03:20Howard posted a double-double with 12 and 11, and Boston dished 5 assists while anchoring the defense.
03:27For Las Vegas, Young led with 19, Evans added 14, Gray chipped in 13, and Wilson's 16 and 13 rebounds were overshadowed by her struggles from the field.
03:38For Indiana, Game 1 was the embodiment of belief.
03:43Their strengths were undeniable.
03:45Mitchell's 34 points weren't just numbers.
03:47They were a declaration that she belongs in the superstar conversation.
03:51Sims 17 and 8 assists gave them balance.
03:54Howard's 12 and 11 anchored the paint.
03:57And Boston's 5 assists underscored her evolution as a facilitator.
04:01Their defense held the aces to just 41% shooting, and their composure silenced the loudest arena in the league.
04:08Their weaknesses were brief, but real.
04:10A second-quarter lull nearly let Las Vegas seize momentum, and turnovers and spurts could have been costly.
04:17Perimeter defense also wavered at times, allowing Gray and Evans to hit timely threes.
04:23But the opportunities are enormous.
04:26Boston's playmaking can continue to unlock shooters.
04:29Hull's confidence as a floor spacer is rising after her big game three against Atlanta.
04:34And Sims' veteran calm is invaluable in late-game situations.
04:38In the Fever's war room, the message might be, don't reinvent the wheel.
04:43Keep Mitchell aggressive from the opening tip, because her scoring gravity bends defenses in ways no scheme can fully contain.
04:50Boston could continue to serve as the hub, not just scoring inside, but facilitating, forcing the aces to pick their poison.
04:58Sims' veteran calm is another card to play.
05:01When Vegas makes its inevitable runs, she's the one who can steady the offense.
05:05Defensively, the Fever may want to keep swarming Wilson early, forcing her into contested jumpers and living with the results.
05:14If Vegas adjusts by spacing the floor, Indiana's rotations will need to be crisp, but the principle remains the same.
05:21Make Wilson work for everything.
05:22And on the other end, trust the balance.
05:25Hull's confidence as a shooter, Howard's presence on the glass, Turner's hustle.
05:30These are the margins that can tell the series.
05:32The Fever don't need perfection, they just need to keep dictating pace, keep their balance, and keep believing.
05:39For the aces, game one was a clash between strength and frustration.
05:43Jackie Young's steady 19 points kept them afloat, and Dana Evans' spark off the bench gave them life.
05:50Wilson still dominated the glass with 13 rebounds, but the weaknesses were glaring.
05:56Wilson shot just 6 for 22, proof of Indiana's swarming defense.
06:00The offense stalled whenever Gray was bottled up, and the Fever's composure exposed cracks in the champion's armor.
06:08If you're Las Vegas, you might be thinking about how to free Wilson from Indiana's traps.
06:13Instead of letting her grind against double teams on the low block, perhaps you shift her to the elbows or mid-post,
06:19where she can face up, attack, or kick out to shooters.
06:22Chelsea Gray could benefit from more off-ball action, staggered screens, quick pin-downs, anything to shake her loose from Indiana's pressure.
06:30And maybe the aces lean harder into pace, pushing transition before the Fever's defense can set.
06:37Defensively, Becky Hammond's staff might consider throwing more length at Mitchell.
06:41Jackie Young, shading her early, with Gray, or Evans jumping traps off screens, could at least force the ball out of her hands.
06:49And if Boston is going to rack up five assists again, perhaps the aces look at cutting off those passing lanes, daring her to score more as a solo option.
06:58The adjustments don't need to be wholesale, but they need to be sharp, urgent, and immediate.
07:03By the final buzzer, the Fever had done more than win a game.
07:07They had flipped the series narrative.
07:09Their first semifinal victory since 2012 came on the road, against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, on Aya Wilson's MVP night.
07:18It was a shock, a statement, and a warning all at once.
07:22The Indiana Fever are back, and they're here to contend.
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