AP Recap

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jackie Young scored 25 points in her home state, NaLyssa Smith added 16 points against her former team and the Las Vegas Aces beat the short-handed Indiana Fever 84-72 on Friday night in Game 3 of a best-of-five WNBA semifinal series.
The Aces lead 2-1 and would reach their third WNBA Finals in four years with a win Sunday in Indianapolis.
“We just have to get the job done Sunday,” said Young, who played on Las Vegas’ championship teams in 2022 and 2023 and finished her prep career as the Indiana girls’ basketball career scoring leader with 3,268 points. “The job’s not finished yet. Second round, right?”
To achieve its biggest goal, Las Vegas will need A’ja Wilson to shoot better than she did Friday. Wilson opened the game with a 3-pointer, then missed her next 11 shots. <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://x.com/i/status/1971752113048027167" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">The four-time MVP</a> finished with 13 points on 6-of-20 shooting and had eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Chelsea Gray had 15 points and six assists.
Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 21 points and Lexie Hull finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Aliyah Boston had 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Fever, who held a 16-4 edge in offensive rebounds.
The Fever got through the first round of the playoffs and beat Las Vegas in Game 1 despite having lost Caitlin Clark, Sydney Colson, Aari McDonald and Sophie Cunningham to season-ending injuries during the regular season.
Indiana wore down late on Friday, going nearly nine minutes between baskets, a stretch that began late in the third quarter. The Aces took full advantage by scoring eight straight to extend a four-point lead to 71-59 midway through the fourth.
“I thought we got a lot of good shots. Didn’t make a lot of them, you know,” Fever coach Stephanie White said. “We missed some opportunities at the free-throw line and then got a little stagnant. They were still in a good spot, though, because we were still getting stops until about the middle of the fourth quarter.”
Las Vegas controlled most of the first half, scoring the first six points of the second quarter to take a 26-16 lead.
But another boisterous home crowd — and Wilson closing the half with 10 straight misses — buoyed the Fever. Three straight 3-pointers helped Indiana charge back within 35-34 at halftime.
The Fever took their first lead on Boston’s layup to open the second half and led most of the third until the Aces clamped down on defense and pulled away.
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“We know how important defense is for us, that’s something that we’ve been really dialed into, something we’ve been focused on,” said Smith, who was traded from Indiana to Dallas during the offseason before landing in Las Vegas. “Defense is like our core focus. When our defense is on, our offense is 10 times better.”

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Game Recap: Las Vegas Aces vs. Indiana Fever (Semi-Finals, Game 3)

Semis Game Recap

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Game Recap: Aces vs. Fever (9/26/25)

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Kelsey Mitchell with 21 Points vs. Las Vegas Aces

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Indiana Fever vs. Las Vegas Aces - Game Highlights

Betting + Odds

The second round of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs has been both action-packed and highly competitive, with each series knotted at 1-1 heading into two big Game 3 matchups on Friday.
The Minnesota Lynx took care of business in Game 1 on Sunday against the Phoenix Mercury but dropped Game 2 in overtime at home, marking just their third home loss of the entire season. On the other side of the playoff bracket, the banged-up Indiana Fever stole Game 1 on Sunday against the Las Vegas Aces but struggled to match the energy in Game 2, losing by 22 points.
Let’s take a look at the latest<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba"> WNBA odds</a> for the WNBA Finals, preview Friday&#8217;s matchups, and I’ll share my WNBA best bets on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Stay locked into the playoffs with game previews, best bets, and predictions all postseason long on <a href="http://draftkingsnetwork.com/">DraftKingsNetwork.com</a>!
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<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=team-futures&amp;subcategory=champion">2025 WNBA Finals Odds</a>
The Favorite: MIN Lynx (-140)
The Lynx (-140) entered the postseason as the favorites, and continue to lead in terms of odds after sweeping the Golden State Valkyries in the first round. Minnesota played good basketball in Game 1 at home versus Phoenix, winning 82-69, but fell short in overtime of Game 2, thanks to forced turnovers and superb bench play from the Mercury. Still, the Lynx entered the postseason ranked first in both offensive (109.5) and defensive rating (97.5), and are a deep and hungry squad built to win their first championship since 2017.
The Aces (+200) have long held the second-shortest odds to win the Finals, thanks to otherworldly MVP-level play from A&#8217;ja Wilson, who posted 25 points, nine rebounds and five steals in Tuesday&#8217;s blowout win over the Fever. Jackie Young has contributed meaningfully, too, averaging 16.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in the semi-finals round thus far.
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WNBA Best Bets and Weekend Preview
Las Vegas Aces at Indiana Fever — Friday, September 26, 7:30 p.m. ET
Both the Aces and Fever have split the first two games of the series in opposite fashion. Indiana topped Las Vegas, 89-73, in Game 1, thanks to elite guard play from Kelsey Mitchell (34 points on 12-of-23 shooting) and a poor shooting night from A&#8217;ja Wilson (16 points on 6-of-22 shooting). Las Vegas is no stranger to the postseason, however, as it bounced back with a 22-point win in Game 2, which was backed by points off turnovers and strong bench play. Five different Aces posted double-digit points, and when Mitchell isn&#8217;t getting buckets like usual, the Fever struggle to find offensive consistency.
While Las Vegas is the superior squad, Friday&#8217;s Game 3 matchup may come down to who has the hotter hand –– Wilson or Mitchell? The series will shift to Indiana for the next two games, which should give the Fever a small edge, but I&#8217;m still leaning toward the Aces to cover on the road. On the other side of things, Mitchell leads the Fever in both usage rate and field goal attempts per game –– she will look to correct her poor shooting performance from Game 2 and give her team a chance to take the series lead.
Lean: LV Aces -4.5
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=player-points&amp;subcategory=points-o-u">PICK: Kelsey Mitchell OVER 20.5 Points (+100)</a>
Minnesota Lynx at Phoenix Mercury — Friday, September 26, 9:30 p.m. ET
While this series hasn&#8217;t nearly been as up-and-down as the Fever vs. Aces series, these two teams enter Game 3 with one win apiece. The No. 1-seeded Lynx came out on top in Game 1 with an 82-69 win, which was backed by Minnesota&#8217;s big three –– Napheesa Collier, Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride, its only double-digit scorers of the night. Phoenix may be one of the few teams that can keep up with Minnesota on both sides of the ball, and that was evident in its 89-83 overtime win in Game 2. The Lynx may have dominated the first half, but the Mercury made necessary adjustments and outscored the Lynx, 47-31, in the second half, including 10-4 in the overtime period.
This sets up a big Game 3 matchup on Friday in Phoenix. The Mercury&#8217;s offensive and defensive ratings rise slightly when playing at home, and the Lynx&#8217;s ratings fall slightly when playing on the road. Phoenix has home-court advantage and has beaten Minnesota twice this season, but one second-half collapse from the Lynx shouldn&#8217;t deter the public from backing them.. Alyssa Thomas, meanwhile, is coming off a historic season and hasn&#8217;t missed a step in either the scoring or playmaking department, averaging 17.2 points and 9.2 assists per game this postseason.
Lean: MIN Lynx -4
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/event/min-lynx-%40-pho-mercury/32833488?category=odds&amp;subcategory=player-combos">PICK: Alyssa Thomas 25+ Points + Assists</a>
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All odds and lines provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change.
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2025 WNBA Playoffs: Updated Finals Odds, Best Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A’ja Wilson bounced back from a rare off game with 25 points and nine rebounds, and the Las Vegas Aces evened their WNBA semifinals playoff series with a convincing 90-68 Game 2 victory over the Indiana Fever on Tuesday night.
The best-of-five series heads to Indianapolis, where Game 3 will be played Friday night.
Wilson made 10 of 18 shots to go with playoff career-high five steals, two nights after the <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/article/wnba-mvp-wilson-aces-9dbf1eb3125c59797f4fd57737684b01" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">four-time MVP</a> made just 6 of 22 field goals. NaLyssa Smith added 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting and Jackie Young scored 13, and Jewell Loyd and Dana Evans each had 10 points. Chelsea Gray finished with 10 assists.
Odyssey Sims led the Fever with 18 points and Lexie Hull, who was questionable with a back injury and wore a brace while on the bench, scored 15. Kelsey Mitchell had 13 points and Aliyah Boston 10.
Mitchell scored 34 points in Game 1 as the Fever rolled <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/article/indiana-fever-las-vegas-aces-aja-wilson-17faa1779c3bebbf1c701cf8fc890396" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">to an 89-73 victory</a>, but she was held to 4-of-14 shooting on Tuesday.
The second-seeded Aces <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/article/wnba-playoffs-fever-aces-wilson-clark-c4d0312e83d13a8f98c9e7de06dd163b" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">came into the playoffs</a> on a 16-game winning streak, but barely got by Seattle in the opening round and then were blown out at home to open this series. This game, in which the Aces led by as many as 26 points, more closely resembled the <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/article/aces-lynx-wnba-playoffs-19860936d5c33ee4cef60365ceb1ad05" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">WNBA’s hottest team</a> at the end of the regular season.
But the <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/article/indiana-fever-playoffs-aces-wnba-52f2b57247f2d9affcd8a5503becdd41" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">short-handed Fever</a> have proven to be a tough out. Sixth-seeded Indiana upset No. 3 Atlanta in the quarterfinals, and now head home with the chance to close out this series. That despite entering Game 2 with six players out with injuries, including superstar Caitlin Clark, and another in Hull at clearly less than full health.

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Game Recap: Indiana Fever vs. Las Vegas Aces (Semi-Finals, Game 2)

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Game Recap: Fever vs. Aces (9/23/25)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kelsey Mitchell scored a playoff-career high 34 points and the Indiana Fever beat the Las Vegas Aces 89-73 on Sunday in Game 1 of the best-of-five semifinal series.
After seeing their double-digit lead shrink to three points with 2:51 left in the third, the Fever closed the quarter on an 11-0 run to extend their advantage to 14 points, seizing control of the game and never looking back.
Mitchell, who finished fifth in MVP voting with 93 points, scored 17 points in the first half, setting the tone for the Fever’s offense. The veteran guard, who finished the regular season ranked third in scoring with 20.2 points per game, shot 12 of 23 (52.2%) from the floor, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range in her first-ever semifinal game.
“I think what you guys see is just me trying to just be a kid in the playground,” said Mitchell, whose scoring tally was the second-highest in franchise history.
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Odyssey Sims had 17 points, while Natasha Howard finished with a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds).
The Fever finished the game hitting 50% from the floor (34 of 68), while the Aces shot just 29 of 71 (40.8%).
“We wanted to come in and be the aggressor right away to make sure that we were dictating on the defensive end, and we were dictating from a pace standpoint,” Fever coach Stephanie White said. “We knew that they were going to make runs. They made a big one in the third and we responded with a big one. It’s one game, it’s a long series. &#8230; But to come in here and to be able to steal this one was big for us.”
The victory spoiled A’ja Wilson’s celebration for becoming the <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/article/wnba-mvp-wilson-aces-9dbf1eb3125c59797f4fd57737684b01" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">WNBA’s first player to win four MVPs</a> in her career. The 29-year-old, who was also named the AP Player of the Year, finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Wilson shot just 27.3% (6 of 22) from the field.
Jackie Young led the Aces with 19 points, while Dana Evans came off the bench to score 14 points and Chelsea Gray chipped in with 13.
Las Vegas hadn’t lost at home since Aug. 2, when the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx handed the Aces the worst home loss in WNBA history, a 53-point beatdown. From that point, the Aces closed the regular season on a 16-game win streak before defeating the Seattle Storm in the opening round.
The win was even more impressive, considering the Aces came into the game without a single player on the injured list, while the Fever had six.
Already shorthanded without Chloe Bibby (left knee), Caitlin Clark (right groin), Sydney Colson (left knee), Sophie Cunningham (right knee) and Aari McDonald (right foot), Indiana added Damiris Dantas to the list, as she was in concussion protocol.
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Game Recap: Indiana Fever vs. Las Vegas Aces (Semi-Finals, Game 1)

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Top Plays of the Day, 09/21/2025

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Game Recap: Fever vs. Aces (9/21/25)

Latest

Kelsey Mitchell

<div class="ewa-rteLine">Enters the 2023 season third in Fever franchise history in points scored (2,428), third in field goals made (855) and second in 3-point field goals made (347).</div>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">In 2022, Mitchell averaged career-highs with 18.4 points per game, 4.2 assists per game and shot 43.8 percent from the field, to go along with 1.9 rebounds and 32.6 minutes per contest in 31 games played.</div>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Before missing the last five games of the regular season in 2022 with an injury in her left foot, Mitchell played in all 153 games and was at the time the longest active streak in the WNBA.</div>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Finished the 2021 season as the eighth leading scorer in the WNBA.</div>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Finished the 2020 season as the sixth leading scorer in the WNBA</div>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">During the 2020 season, Mitchell completed her master’s degree in Sports Administration from the University of Cincinnati. Later that day against the Minnesota Lynx, Mitchell became the second fastest player in franchise history to reach 1,000 career points in her 74th game with the Fever.</div>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">In the 2019 regular season finale at home against Connecticut, Mitchell poured in the most points ever scored by a Fever player (38) and made the most 3-point field goals (9) in a game in franchise history.</div>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team in 2018 and was the only rookie participant in the 3-point shooting contest at the WNBA All-Star Game.</div>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">Drafted with the No. 2 overall pick by the Indiana Fever in the 2018 WNBA Draft.</div>

Kelsey Mitchell signed a Contract Amendment - Time-Off Bonus with the Indiana Fever.