‘We came to work’: Aces rebound in Game 2, even series with Fever
Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White immediately turned toward the officials to signal for a quick timeout after Aces star A’ja Wilson snatched up a bad pass from guard Odyssey Sims and took the ball down the court for an uncontested layup.
The Aces had bullied their way to a 24-point lead with less than seven minutes left to play in Game 2 of their WNBA playoffs semifinals matchup with the Indiana Fever on Tuesday at Michelob Ultra Arena, and coach Becky Hammon’s pregame words lingered in the air.
“You can’t tip-toe into a bar fight,” Hammon said.
Hammon was talking about being prepared for the physicality the matchup would demand, but ended up summarizing how her team would win 90-68 on Tuesday to even the series.
Wilson scored a game-high 25 points for the Aces, who lost 89-73 in Game 1 on Sunday. Guard Jackie Young added 13 points, while guard Jewell Loyd had 10 off the bench.
Forward NaLyssa Smith added 18, her season-high with the No. 2 Aces.
Odyssey Sims had 18 points for the No. 6 Fever.
White said before the game Indiana expected the Aces to try to hit first. When they did, the Fever didn’t respond.
“We didn’t throw any (punches),” White said. “They came in, they were physical and they dictated. We were on our heels and we were passive and we were reactive to everything. We gave up 28 points off of turnovers, 14 points off of offensive rebounds. They’re too good.”
Here are three takeaways from the Aces’ win:
1. Squashing momentum with runs
Both teams exchanged buckets to start the game until Wilson capped a 14-4 Aces run with a midrange jumper. That caused White to call a full timeout with her team down 20-13.
The Fever had given up six turnovers and only recorded six field goals up to that point. Taking a break to talk things through didn’t stop the bleeding. The Aces, as they did throughout the game, continued their momentum through stoppages and small runs from the Fever.
Hammon wouldn’t even allow Indiana to get rolling after it started the third quarter on a 5-2 run. She called a full timeout, and later point guard Chelsea Gray sent a no-look pass to center Megan Gustafson to cap a 15-3 run for the Aces that put them up 67-47 with 1:21 left in the third quarter.
“The biggest thing we were just saying was, ‘No let up,” Wilson said of each huddle when the Fever attempted to regroup. “We need to continue to maintain on the defensive side and just have each other’s back. I think we really trusted each other’s game.”
2. Smith’s impact
Wilson blocked a shot by Fever center Natasha Howard with less than five minutes to play in the third quarter thanks to Smith’s help defense. Smith followed that possession up with a 3-point play on the other end.
Indiana center Aliyah Boston, who played with Smith before she was traded to the Wings and eventually the Aces, said her former teammate had an impact on the game.
“She’s super athletic, and she does a great job of getting to the glass,” Boston said of Smith, who also had seven rebounds.
Hammon said Smith was key to the Aces’ defense, which was simply better than it was in Game 1. They limited Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell to 13 points Tuesday after she scored 34 on Sunday.
“I thought we had more crowded spaces. We were just a lot more locked in. I just feel like we executed at a better level,” Hammon said.
Smith credited Wilson for her defensive performance.
“Having somebody alongside me like (Wilson), where she’s talking to me on the back side, I think that helps a lot,” Smith said.
3. Wilson bounces back
Wilson missed the most postseason shots of her career in Game 1. She said Tuesday she was more embarrassed by that game than the 53-point loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Aug. 2 that powered the Aces’ historic 16-game winning streak to close the regular season.
Wilson had 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting by the end of the first quarter in Game 2, showing her determination to turn things around.
The Aces are now 11-0 in the playoffs when Wilson scores at least 25 points. She credited their latest win to her teammates.
“I just think we came to work,” Wilson said. “We didn’t come to work (in) Game 1, and that’s on all of us, but no one panicked.”
Game 3 is Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.
