Fever must win at home
Indiana Fever trail the Las Vegas Aces 1-0 in their best-of-three first-round series and faced elimination in Game 2 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Aces won the opener 102-85, shooting 59.4% from the floor and scoring 28 points off 17 Indiana turnovers. Las Vegas also held a 31-24 rebounding edge.
Indiana coach Stephanie White said the Aces understand the moment and came with a different level of intensity and urgency. Guard Caitlin Clark, listed as probable with a back issue, said the Fever want to play in transition, which is hard when the other team scores 102 points. The Fever averaged a league-best 96.0 points in the regular season and went 15-7 at home. Both Clark and Aliyah Boston, who has a lower-leg problem, played in Game 1.
Other series on the brink
The top-seeded Minnesota Lynx also faced elimination in their first-round series against the New York Liberty. In the other half of the bracket, the Golden State Valkyries lead the Dallas Wings 1-0 and can close out their series. The first round is a best-of-three format, so one loss puts a team on the edge.
Injuries shape the matchups
Indiana is without Ty Harris and Damiris Dantas for the season. Las Vegas lost NaLyssa Smith to a knee injury, which thins its frontcourt. A Fever win forces a deciding Game 3 in Las Vegas on Thursday. A loss ends Indiana's season and sends the Aces through. Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon said she expects the arena in Indianapolis to be loud, and warned her team against assuming the opener repeats itself on the road.