LAS VEGAS — The Indiana Fever’s season came to an end Tuesday night in a decisive overtime Game 5 loss to the Las Vegas Aces.
It was an improbable run to the WNBA semifinals, and the Fever persevered through losing two stars in the second half. Yet the remaining players had a chance to take the lead with fewer than 30 seconds left.
They tied the game and then got a defensive stand to force overtime, where they lost 107-98. Odyssey Sims scored 27 points on 7-of-14 shooting (12 of 13 on free throws) and Shey Peddy added 13. A’ja Wilson scored a game-high 35 points with eight rebounds, five assists, four steals and four blocks. Jackie Young had 32 points.
Here are three things that stood out.
Fever’s season ends in overtime loss to Aces
Indiana’s magical season, one that advanced to Game 5 of the WNBA semifinals despite six season-ending injuries, came to an end.
It was a season nobody expected: the Fever lost five players, including star Caitlin Clark, to season-ending injuries, and there were points of the season in August that many thought Indiana would miss the playoffs entirely.
But the Fever not only made the playoffs. They shocked the world. They made it to the WNBA semifinals for the first time in 10 years, and took the Aces to a decisive Game 5.
Kelsey Mitchell goes down with apparent leg injury in third quarter
The Fever suffered yet another blow on the injury front, and this time in the most important game of the season.
Kelsey Mitchell was rubbing the top of her knee after a 3-pointer, but pushed through. On the next possession, however, Mitchell had to hold onto a referee for stability, and the ref helped her to the floor. Aces and Fever players alike immediately rushed to the baseline to hold up towels, shielding her from cameras and the crowd.
She stayed down for several minutes, and paramedics brought out a stretcher for her. She refused the stretcher, but she was helped off the floor by two people, going down the Aces tunnel and getting well wishes from both her teammates and Las Vegas players.
The Fever quickly ruled her out for the rest of the game. She was still being evaluated, so the team did not have any specifics on her injury. She had 15 points, two rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes before exiting.
Mitchell was a finalist for WNBA MVP and had a breakout season.
Aliyah Boston plays through foul trouble
Aliyah Boston played through foul trouble most of the night, and that forced Indiana to switch up its defensive matchup.
Boston got called for her third foul with a minute remaining in the second quarter, forcing her to sit for the final minute of the half. She then picked up her fifth foul with over nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, putting her at risk of fouling out at any given moment.
But the Fever couldn’t take her off the floor — she was too much of a presence both offensively and defensively, especially with Mitchell out for the game.
So, they had to switch up their defensive process. Boston has guarded center A’ja Wilson, a four-time MVP, for most of the game. But guarding Wilson, someone who can draw a lot of fouls, put Boston in more risk of fouling out. Instead, Natasha Howard and Brianna Turner switched off guarding Wilson.
Wilson got two straight baskets while Howard was guarding her in the fourth quarter, so she checked out. Turner then held Wilson scoreless for about three minutes, before she got a crucial basket with three minutes left in the game.
Still, Boston didn’t get out of the game unscathed. She got called for her sixth foul, a loose ball foul, with 26 seconds left in a tied game. White challenged the call, but it was unsuccessful. So, the Fever were without Boston, who finished with 11 points and 16 rebounds in 32 minutes, for the crucial final seconds of regulation and all of overtime.
Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at capeterson@gannett.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar’s YouTube channel and join Fever Insiders Live postgame.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever score stats at Aces, Kelsey Mitchell injury, Aliyah Boston
