A’ja Wilson, Aces advance as Caitlin Clark, Fever fall short in playoffs

LAS VEGAS — The superlatives are unending for A’ja Wilson. Four-time (and soon-to-be five-time) MVP, three-time Defensive Player of the Year, three-time champion and two-time Finals MVP. Best player alive. Maybe the greatest of all time.

On Thursday, all that mattered for Wilson to accomplish was not having a second off game in a row. An eighth straight trip to the WNBA semifinals was on the line for her Las Vegas Aces.

“She’ll be great tonight. I have no doubt,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said before the game.

Hammon might have been selling her superstar short. Wilson was transcendent in the Aces’ 94-83 closeout win over Indiana, finishing with 36 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.

Las Vegas awaits the winner of the Golden State Valkyries-Dallas Wings first-round series for Game 1 on Sunday.

“I don’t want my season to be over. I don’t want to go home,” Wilson said on the USA Sports post-game broadcast. “When you have that mindset in these elimination games, every possession counts. The value of two points matters.

“I was just trying to send a message not only to the Indiana Fever but to my teammates. We kept saying, ‘Empty the tank.'”

Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 23 points, while Caitlin Clark scored 18 and Aliyah Boston added 19.

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Indiana Fever, Las Vegas Aces, WNBA

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