Officiating Controversy & Fever Fight Back! | Indiana Fever vs Aces Game 3 Recap

Indiana Fever vs Las Vegas Aces Game 3 Recap (WNBA Semifinals 2025) — Fever Nation brought playoff energy back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the first time in 9 years. Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 21 points, Lexie Hull posted a double-double, and Aliyah Boston battled inside. But officiating controversies, disallowed challenges, and a nine-minute scoring drought shifted momentum to Las Vegas. Jackie Young dropped 25 points to power the Aces to an 84-72 win.

This breakdown covers every quarter, key player performances, officiating storylines, and what Indiana needs to do to bounce back in Game 4.

#WNBA #FeverNation #IndianaFever #LasVegasAces #WNBAPlayoffs #KelseyMitchell #AliyahBoston #JackieYoung #WNBASemifinals #WNBABasketball

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Transcript

00:00Controversy in Indianapolis.

00:03The Indiana Fever fought the defending champion Las Vegas Aces and the officiating crew in

00:07Game 3 as questionable calls and disallowed challenges marred a night that should have

00:12belonged to Fever Nation.

00:14Here's the full breakdown.

00:16Welcome to Jintotsky Sports, your spot for all things sports.

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00:34Gainbridge Fieldhouse was deafening.

00:37Nine years of waiting for playoff basketball had built into a roar that shook the rafters.

00:42The Fever fed off it early.

00:44Aya Wilson opened with a 3, but then missed her next 10 shots.

00:48Indiana's defense swarmed, Hull hit big shots, and Mitchell attacked the rim.

00:53But even in the first quarter, the whistles tilted.

00:57Two quick fouls on Boston slowed her rhythm, while similar contact on the other end went

01:02uncalled.

01:03Vegas led 26 to 20 after one, but the crowd was already restless with the officiating.

01:09The second quarter was a roller coaster.

01:12Indiana stormed back with three straight threes, cutting the deficit to one at halftime, 35 to

01:1834.

01:19But the frustration grew.

01:21Stephanie White twice attempted at challenge calls.

01:24One on a phantom foul against Sims, another on a clean block by Hull.

01:28And both were waved off by the officials without review.

01:31The Fever bench erupted, the crowd booed, and the sense of injustice hung over the game.

01:38The third quarter was Indiana's moment.

01:40Boston scored inside, Hull grabbed rebounds, and Mitchell drilled jumpers to give the Fever

01:45their first lead.

01:46Game bridge was deafening.

01:48But then came the drought.

01:50For nearly nine minutes spanning the third and fourth quarters, Indiana went without a

01:54field goal.

01:55Some of it was fatigue, some of it was Vegas defense.

01:58But several possessions ended with whistles that sent the aces to the line while swallowing

02:02contact on the Fever's drives.

02:04By the time the drought ended, Vegas had seized control.

02:08The fourth quarter was about survival.

02:10Jackie Young, playing in her home state, scored at will, finishing with 25.

02:16Melissa Smith added 16, Chelsea Gray 15 with six assists, and Wilson, despite her struggles,

02:22still managed 13 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks.

02:26Indiana's fight was embodied by Mitchell's 21, Hull's double-double of 16 and 10, and

02:32Boston's 12 and eight.

02:34But the combination of missed chances and officiating that felt one-sided left the Fever on the wrong

02:39end of an 84 to 72 loss.

02:42Game three was a test of resilience and of patience.

02:46Indiana proved again they could hang with the champions, leading for stretches and dominating

02:51the glass 16 to four on the offensive boards.

02:54But the nine-minute scoring drought was decisive, and the officiating only deepened the wow.

03:00The foul count was close on paper, but the timing and nature of the calls, early whistles

03:04on Boston, phantom fouls on Sims, and disallowed challenges by Stephanie White, broke Indiana's

03:10rhythm and inflamed the crowd.

03:13For Fever fans, the frustration is justified.

03:16This wasn't just about missed shots, it was about momentum stolen by whistles and the refusal

03:21to even review obvious plays.

03:23Yet, the bigger truth remains.

03:26Indiana is still in this fight.

03:28They've shown they can beat Vegas.

03:30They've shown they can outwork them.

03:32And now they must channel the anger into fuel for game four.

03:36Indiana's strength was their fight.

03:38Mitchell's 21, Hull's double-double, and Boston's steady 12 and 8 showed they have weapons even

03:43without Clark.

03:45Their 16 offensive rebounds were proof of their hustle and heart.

03:49Their weakness was the drought nearly 9 minutes without a basket and the officiating imbalance.

03:55Early fouls on Boston, phantom whistles on Sims, and disallowed challenges by White disrupted

04:01their flow and denied the momentum.

04:03Their opportunity lies in harnessing the home crowd again in game four.

04:07If they can turn that energy into sustained offense, they can push Vegas to the brink.

04:14Boston's playmaking and Hull's confidence are growing and Sims' steady hand remains vital.

04:19Their threat is simple.

04:20If Mitchell is forced into too many tough shots and the whistle continues to go against them,

04:25Vegas will pounce.

04:27In Stephanie White's war room, the message might be, control what you can control.

04:32Keep Mitchell aggressive, but get her cleaner looks off screens.

04:37Use Boston as a hub to force Vegas to defend multiple actions.

04:42Defensively, send earlier help at Young, who has now burned them twice.

04:46And above all, prepare mentally for the officiating.

04:50Expect the whistle to be uneven, but don't let it break composure.

04:54Channel the frustration into energy, feed off the game bridge crowd, and make every possession

04:59count.

05:00Las Vegas strength was balance.

05:02Jackie Young's 25 points carried them when Wilson faltered, Smith's 16 added efficiency,

05:08and Gray's steady hand kept the offense flowing.

05:11Their defense, especially in the second half, suffocated Indiana into that nine-minute drought.

05:17And yes, they benefited from the officiating flow.

05:20Key whistles slowed Indiana's momentum, and disallowed challenges preserved possessions.

05:26Their weakness was Wilson's inefficiency, 13 points on 6-for-20 shooting.

05:31Their reliance on Young's hot hand could be dangerous if she cools.

05:35Their opportunity lies in proving they can win clean.

05:39By spreading the scoring load, tightening their rotations, and executing with discipline,

05:44they can silence any talk of favoritism.

05:47Their threat is perception.

05:49If the narrative becomes that Las Vegas only advances because of officiating breaks, it

05:54tarnishes their championship horror.

05:56In Becky Hammond's film room, the message might be, let's win this the right way.

06:01Focus on execution, not whistles.

06:03Get Wilson easier touches in the mid-post and pick and rolls with Gray to restore her rhythm.

06:09Keep young aggressive, but balance her with Smith's inside presence.

06:14Defensively, continue to pressure Mitchell, but do it with clean rotations and discipline

06:18contests.

06:19By proving they can win on Merrick.

06:22The Aces not only strengthen their finals push, but also protect their reputation as champions

06:27who play the game the right way.

06:30This wasn't about Indiana being outclassed.

06:32It was about Indiana being undermanned and at times undermined.

06:36They led for much of the third quarter, they dominated the glass, and they had the crowd

06:40behind them.

06:41But the drought and the officiating swung the game.

06:44Fever Nation saw a team that refuses to quit, even when the deck feels stacked.

06:49Now the series stays at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 4.

06:53The Fever's first chance in 9 years to win a home playoff game with elimination on the line.

06:58The Aces are one win for the finals, but Indiana has shown they can push them.

07:03For Fever fans, Sunday could be the night that defines this season.

07:06A chance to force a decisive Game 5 and keep the dream alive.

07:10If that video hit home or gave you something to think about, drop a like and let me know

07:18what you think in the comments.

07:20Don't forget to subscribe for more stories that bring the heart of sports to life.

07:25Until next time, stay inspired and keep chasing greatness.

Officiating Controversy & Fever Fight Back! | Indiana Fever vs Aces Game 3 Recap

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