The Indiana Fever were supposed to be in trouble. Fresh off a raucous Commissioner’s Cup celebration—complete with the kind of hangovers that make you question every life decision—they stumbled into their matchup against the Las Vegas Aces looking like a team running on fumes. To make matters worse, Caitlin Clark, their electrifying rookie and the league’s newest sensation, was sidelined. The odds were stacked against them. The Aces, a powerhouse stacked with All-Stars and championship pedigree, were supposed to roll right over them.
But basketball isn’t played on paper.
What followed was a statement game—one that reminded the WNBA that the Fever aren’t just Caitlin Clark’s team. They’re a gritty, resilient squad capable of stepping up when it matters most. And step up they did, delivering a performance so dominant that it left the Aces looking more than just beaten—they looked downright silly.
### **A Hangover? What Hangover?**
Let’s be real—celebrating a Commissioner’s Cup win is no small thing. The Fever hadn’t just won; they’d earned it, and the party that followed was presumably legendary. The kind of celebration where teammates bond over bad karaoke, questionable dance moves, and maybe one too many drinks. By the time the Aces game rolled around, it wouldn’t have been surprising if some of the Fever players were still seeing double.
But if they were feeling the aftereffects, it didn’t show. From the opening tip, Indiana played with a fire that suggested they hadn’t just left the party behind—they’d brought its energy with them. The ball moved with purpose. Defensive rotations were sharp. Players who’d been quiet in previous games suddenly looked like stars.
### **Next Woman Up**
Caitlin Clark’s absence could have been a death knell for the Fever’s offense. After all, she’s been the engine that drives this team, the one who can pull up from the logo, thread impossible passes, and energize the crowd with her sheer audacity. Without her, many assumed Indiana would struggle to score.
Those assumptions were wrong.
Aliyah Boston, the reigning Rookie of the Year, played like a woman possessed. She dominated the paint, bullying defenders with her footwork and finishing through contact like a seasoned vet. Her mid-range jumper was automatic, and when the Aces tried to double-team her, she dished out assists like a point guard. This was the Aliyah Boston the Fever drafted to be a franchise cornerstone—and she delivered.
Then there was Kelsey Mitchell, who decided this was the perfect night to remind everyone why she’s one of the most underrated scorers in the league. Mitchell was a flamethrower, hitting pull-up threes, slicing through the defense for acrobatic layups, and even drawing a couple of and-ones that had the crowd roaring. When the Aces tried to adjust, she kept them guessing, mixing up her attack to keep the defense on its heels.
But the real surprise? The bench. Players like Lexie Hull and Erica Wheeler, who don’t always get the spotlight, came in and made immediate impacts. Hull knocked down clutch threes, while Wheeler’s veteran savvy kept the offense humming. This wasn’t just a win fueled by the starters—it was a full-team effort, the kind of performance that builds chemistry and confidence.
While the offense was clicking, the Fever’s defense was the real story. The Aces, a team known for their offensive firepower, looked completely out of sync. Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum, usually so lethal from the perimeter, were hounded into tough shots. A’ja Wilson, the reigning MVP, got hers—because she always does—but even she had to work for every single bucket.
Indiana’s game plan was clear: disrupt everything. They switched aggressively, closed out hard on shooters, and made sure every pass was contested. The result? The Aces, a team that usually operates with surgical precision, started forcing bad shots, turning the ball over, and even arguing with the refs out of frustration. By the third quarter, what was supposed to be a competitive game had turned into a blowout—and the Fever weren’t just winning, they were humiliating one of the league’s best teams.
This wasn’t just a random regular-season win. This was a declaration.
For weeks, the narrative around the Fever has been all about Caitlin Clark—her brilliance, her potential, her ability to change the franchise. And while that’s all true, this game proved something even more important: Indiana isn’t a one-woman show. They’re a team. A deep, tough, resilient team that can beat elite opponents even when their brightest star is watching from the sidelines.
That’s the kind of revelation that changes seasons.
If the Fever can play like this consistently—with Boston asserting herself as a force, Mitchell scoring at will, and the defense locking in—they’re not just a playoff team. They’re a team nobody will want to face in the postseason. And when Clark returns? That’s when things get scary.
On the flip side, this was a brutal wake-up call for Las Vegas. The Aces have been the gold standard in the WNBA for years, but this game exposed some cracks. Their defense, usually so stout, was shredded. Their offense, usually so fluid, looked stagnant. And their energy? Nonexistent.
Maybe they underestimated the Fever. Maybe they thought Clark’s absence meant an easy win. Whatever the reason, they got embarrassed. And in a league as competitive as the WNBA, that’s the kind of loss that lingers.
No Caitlin Clark? No problem.
The Indiana Fever just proved they’re more than ready to compete with—and dismantle—the best teams in the league, even when they’re not at full strength. They played with heart, with toughness, and with the kind of swagger that suggests they’re done being underdogs.
As for the Aces? They’d better hope this was just a bad night. Because if it wasn’t, the rest of the league should be on notice—the Fever are coming. And they’re not waiting for anyone to take them seriously anymore.
They’re forcing the world to pay attention.
