Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever suffered a 102-85 blowout loss to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 1 of their first-round series in the WNBA playoffs. Stephanie White’s team simply had no answer for A’ja Wilson, who exploded for 38 points, 16 rebounds, two assists, two steals and four blocks.
Jackie Young added 21 points for Las Vegas, as the team led by as many as 27 points before settling for the 17-point victory.
No one from the Fever scored more than 20 points, with Aliyah Boston leading the team in scoring with 18 points. Clark added 15 points and 10 assists, while Kelsey Mitchell dropped 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
After the game, Clark didn’t hide her frustration over the Fever’s performance, noting that their actions were “sloppy” during the game.
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“We want to play in transition, and obviously, when they score 102 points, like, it’s hard for us to kind of get that part of it going,” Clark told reporters when asked what the Aces did that led to Indiana’s struggles in the loss.
“I think they’re good defenders, but at the same time, we made it hard on ourselves, too. Like, I thought our actions were sloppy. I thought what we were running just wasn’t great and just nobody got an easy or open look. So I think a combination of both, but you know, got to just keep shooting at this point in the year like it is what it is.”
Indiana entered the game boasting the best offensive rating in the league. However, the Aces clearly prepared to slow down the focal points of that dangerous offense in Clark and Mitchell.
It remains to be seen what adjustments the Fever will make in order to bounce back from the loss, but they don’t have much time left. Since the first round is only a three-game series, a loss in Game 2 at home will eliminate them from the playoffs.
The Fever and Aces will play Game 2 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday.
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