“They haven’t seen the real Aces yet…. So we’ll buckle in, hone in where we can, and take care of business,” said Becky Hammon in the hours leading up to Game 1 of the Semi-Finals against the Indiana Fever. Though the Aces had won 8 of the last 10 games against Kelsey Mitchell and co before the Semi-Finals, the 2 losses were from the 2 most recent games. Therefore, the Aces were conscious about the need to do better.
That didn’t work out too well for them, as the Indiana Fever won the Game 1 matchup by an 89-73 score. The narrative needs to be shifted in Game 2, and one of the best ways to do that is to ensure the Valkyries have the edge by having all of their players available and in their best condition. Fortunately, that won’t be an issue.
Las Vegas Aces vs Indiana Fever: Injury Report
According to the Las Vegas Aces Injury Report, as highlighted by ESPN, there are ZERO injured players listed. This means that all of the players on the current roster will be available to put out a better performance in Game 2.
Unfortunately, the same situation cannot be said about the Indiana side. The team is currently going through, as a recent USA Today article described, an “improbable journey”. 5 of its players, including Caitlin Clark, continue to remain ‘OUT’ in light of dealing with different ailments. Clark sustained a right groin injury and was ruled out for the rest of the season earlier this month.
So was Chloe Bibby, after she sustained a left knee injury pregame on August 22nd. Bibby initially dismissed any major cause for concern, stating that “Not so much a setback, it’s just, I think with all the travel and everything, it just swelled up and swelled up so much that it’s caused some issues”. However, her situation got bad enough to rule her out.
Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald were both declared out of the season after sustaining injuries during a matchup against the Phoenix Mercury back in August. Colson sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in her left knee during the 1st quarter, while McDonald suffered a broken bone in her right foot during the 4th quarter.
Additionally, Sophie Cunningham was forced into surgery after she tore her right MCL after a collision with Bria Hartley during a game on August 17th.
Las Vegas Aces vs Indiana Fever: Where to Watch
Game 2 of the Aces-Fever Semi-Finals will be held on Tuesday, September 23rd, at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Tip-off time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. PT/9:20 p.m. ET. Basketball fans can view the game on ESPN or live-stream it either from the official WNBA app or from Fubo. The Hollywood Reporter also promoted ‘Sling Orange’ as a streaming option for the WNBA Playoffs, as it reportedly has a low monthly price, and a selection of channels that includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3 (for ABC simulcast games), and more than 30 other sports, news, and entertainment networks.
Probable Starting Lineups
Las Vegas Aces
Head Coach: Becky Hammon
Players:
Guard – Chelsea Gray
Guard – Jackie Young
Forward – Kierstan Bell
Forward – NaLyssa Smith
Center – A’ja Wilson
Indiana Fever
Head Coach: Stephanie White
Players:
Guard – Odyssey Sims
Guard – Kelsey Mitchell
Forward – Lexie Hull
Forward – Natasha Howard
Center – Aliyah Boston
Prediction: Can the Indiana Fever win again?
According to the ESPN Matchup Predictor, the Aces stand tall with a 62.6% probability. The same is reflected in reports from BetMGM; the Las Vegas Aces’ loss does not seem to have affected their odds for Game 2. In fact, the Aces possess a -8.5 spread, while the Indiana Fever holds a +8.5 spread.
WNBA oddsmaker Jeff Sherman recently stated, “You can pretty much say this is a must win for the Aces. To go down 0-2 on their home court and have to go to Indiana for two (games) would be a difficult task.” Furthermore, he added that “I’d expect them to be a little bit more focused and get a win here, but I’m not saying they’re going to cover the number.” Becky Hammon recently defended A’ja Wilson after her Game 1 performance by stating, “I’ll tell you this, she doesn’t normally lay two stinkers in a row. She’s somebody who bounces back, makes the adjustments.” Therefore, we can certainly expect a better performance from the 2025 WNBA MVP going into the next game.
There are a few other trends to keep in mind that give the Aces the edge:
The Aces are 18-2 straight-up (SU) in their previous 20 games.
Las Vegas is 15-8 ATS in its previous 23 outings.
The Fever are 3-16 in their last 19 contests against the Aces.
Indiana is 7-1 ATS in its previous seven matchups.
The Las Vegas Aces or the Indiana Fever? Who will you be rooting for? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.