The Las Vegas Aces survived a thriller Tuesday night to advance to the WNBA Finals for the fourth time in six years after a dramatic 107-98 overtime win against the Indiana Fever.

For Indiana, the loss was devastating but hardly a failure. No one expected them to push the defending champions to the edge, let alone force overtime in a decisive Game 5. Clark, despite the loss, finished with 27 points and 11 assists, once again proving why she’s already one of the league’s brightest stars. Boston added 21 and 13 rebounds in a performance that showcased her growth and grit.

Fever coach Christie Sides praised her team’s effort through tears. “This hurts. It’s supposed to hurt. But I couldn’t be prouder of this group,” she said. “They’ve shown the league—and themselves—what’s possible. This is just the beginning.”

The Aces now turn their focus to the WNBA Finals, where history awaits. After back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, they have the chance to join the legendary Houston Comets as the only team to win three championships in four years. With Wilson playing like the league’s undisputed best, and Plum and Young finding their stride at the perfect time, Las Vegas once again looks like the team to beat.

Behind the immense offensive contribution of veteran guard Chelsea Gray in overtime, the Aces clinched a Finals berth against Phoenix after the Mercury toppled the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday.

Although A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young were dominant – pouring in a combined 67 points on the night – the Aces could not shake off a pesky Indiana team. Neither team led by more than five points in a first half that included 13 lead changes and 14 ties in the first 20 minutes.

During the third quarter, Fever star Kelsey Mitchell left the court due to extreme cramping in her lower body. The team confirmed on Wednesday that she was transported to local hospital late Tuesday night and is expected to make a full recovery.

Simultaneously, center Aliyah Boston committed her fifth foul of the game – victory seemed destined for the Aces. But giving up hasn’t been Indiana’s MO these playoffs following untimely injuries to key players throughout the year, and that was evident as the game entered the final going.

Six Fever players hit double digits on the night – Odyssey Sims leading the way with 27 points, Natasha Howard with 16 points and Boston racking up a double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds before fouling out with a little under 30 seconds left.

Sims came up big when Indiana needed her most, scoring 10 points in the final quarter – including a clutch layup that tied the game 86-86 with 22.5 remaining.

Las Vegas failed to score on the final possession of regular time as Young missed at the rim and Jackie Loyd’s putback bounced out, sending the game to a tense overtime period.

With the basketball gods seemingly siding with Indiana, the Aces needed someone to step up with Young and Wilson the only Vegas players in double figures – up stepped Gray.

Midway through the third quarter, the three-time WNBA champion headed to the locker room after Sims accidentally stepped on her foot. But three minutes later, she returned and made a huge impact.

Gray shoots over Indiana Fever guard Odyssey Sims in the fourth quarter.
Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images/Reuters

The 32-year-old proceeded to score eight of her 17 points in OT, including back-to-back threes – the latter of which gave the Aces a 95-90 lead.

Gray later had a crafty layup off an inbounds pass that put the Aces up six with 1:09 remaining. The Fever responded with a driving layup from Sims, taking her to 27 points in a career playoff-high performance.

Shey Peddy drained a three to bring the score to 101-98, but the Fever’s immense efforts fell short as Young and Wilson sunk six free throws between them in the final 20 seconds to close out the series and advance to the Finals.

After the game, Gray’s heroics were all that four-time WNBA MVP Wilson could talk about.

“It’s a blessing to play alongside Chelsea Gray,” Wilson said to reporters post-game. “The way that I saw the look in her eyes after we lost in Indiana, I knew the Chelsea Gray that we were going to get this game. These are the moments, these are the experience she’s been through time after time after time, and she shows up.

“It was a lot of fun watching vintage Chelsea out there,” she added.

Vegas will open the best-of-seven Finals series by hosting the Mercury on Friday.

Aces head coach Becky Hammon shouts during the fourth quarter.
Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images/Reuters

For Indiana, the shorthanded Cinderella run is over. Without superstar point guard Caitlin Clark as well as key injuries to Sophie Cunningham, Sydney Colson, Chloe Bibby and Aari McDonald, overcoming the Aces was too steep a hill to climb. But the resilience the team showed is beyond commendable.

The Las Vegas Aces have done it again. In one of the most intense, heart-stopping playoff battles the WNBA has seen in years, the defending champions clawed their way back from the brink to eliminate the Indiana Fever in overtime of a Game 5 thriller. The win didn’t just punch the Aces’ ticket to the Finals—it crushed the Fever’s fairytale run that had captivated fans across the league.

From the opening tip, the stakes were clear: Indiana’s miracle season against the league’s most battle-tested powerhouse. The Fever came in hungry, powered by youthful confidence and the league’s most talked-about rookie core. Las Vegas, meanwhile, had experience, composure, and a burning desire to cement their dynasty with another Finals berth. What unfolded was a clash of styles and wills that left fans in awe, glued to every possession.

The Fever shocked Las Vegas early, jumping out to a double-digit lead by the second quarter. Aliyah Boston was relentless in the paint, punishing the Aces’ frontcourt with her combination of size and finesse. Rookie sensation Caitlin Clark drilled deep threes and ignited the crowd every time she touched the ball, seemingly unshaken by the moment. By halftime, Indiana held a 12-point advantage, and whispers of an upset began to feel like a genuine reality.

But the Aces didn’t panic. Instead, A’ja Wilson did what legends do—she took over. Scoring from everywhere on the floor, grabbing crucial rebounds, and anchoring the defense, Wilson refused to let her team fade. Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young found their rhythm as the third quarter tightened, slicing Indiana’s lead to just four points heading into the final stretch.

The fourth quarter was pure chaos. The Fever, playing with house money, looked fearless as Boston and Clark traded buckets. But every time Indiana tried to pull away, Las Vegas had an answer. A dagger three from Plum tied the game with under two minutes left, sending the arena into a frenzy. Then, with seconds remaining, Clark drove the lane and kicked it to Boston, who hit a hook shot that gave Indiana the lead. On the next possession, Wilson calmly rose up over Boston to drain a mid-range jumper, tying it again and forcing overtime.

In the extra period, the experience gap showed. Las Vegas locked in defensively, suffocating Indiana’s ball movement and forcing Clark into tough, contested shots. Wilson and Plum combined for nine of the Aces’ 11 overtime points, while the Fever mustered only four. When the final buzzer sounded, the Aces had survived 98–91, booking their spot in the Finals while Indiana’s dream season came to a crushing end.

After the game, Wilson reflected on her team’s resilience. “We’ve been through too much together to give up now,” she said. “People counted us out, but we’re here—and we’re not done.”

But the Fever, even in heartbreak, left their mark. Their Cinderella run has injected new life into the league, drawing record crowds and sparking national conversation about the WNBA’s rising stars. Their fight, flair, and refusal to quit turned a rebuilding season into one of the most memorable playoff journeys in recent history.

For Las Vegas, this was a test of survival, a reminder that championships aren’t handed out—they’re seized in moments of pure grit. For Indiana, it was a taste of what’s to come, a heartbreak that could very well fuel the foundation of the league’s next great contender.

One dynasty advances, one dream collapses, but together they delivered a game—and a series—that fans will never forget.

“They have been an absolute joy to coach,” said a tearful Fever coach Stephanie White postgame. “It’s an incredible group of women, an incredibly connected group. They’re a great example to everybody what it means to just put one foot in front of the other, to persevere, to welcome people into the fold, to not give in to circumstance.