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.

The opening quarter set the tone for the night. Indiana came out fearless, riding the energy of star rookie Caitlin Clark, who dazzled early with deep threes and fearless drives. The Fever’s composure in the hostile Las Vegas environment immediately signaled they weren’t going to be intimidated by the defending champs. The Aces, though, responded with the steadiness of veterans like Chelsea Gray and Kelsey Plum, ensuring the game remained tight. The first half ended in a deadlock, a back-and-forth slugfest that hinted at the drama still to come.

By the third quarter, the stakes began to show. Las Vegas leaned heavily on A’ja Wilson, their centerpiece and MVP candidate, who imposed her will in the paint. Wilson’s rebounding and relentless scoring gave the Aces a narrow cushion, but Indiana never let go of the rope. Aliyah Boston, showing why she is already one of the league’s brightest young stars, responded with dominant interior play of her own. Her combination of poise and power kept Indiana in striking distance, and the Fever bench erupted with every momentum-swinging basket.

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.

The game also highlighted just how bright the future of the WNBA is. While the Aces move forward, the Fever walk away from this season with newfound respect and a belief that they’re only scratching the surface of their potential. Boston and Clark form one of the most exciting young duos in the sport, and Indiana’s run has energized a fanbase that had been waiting years for a reason to believe again.

In the end, it was a heartbreak for the Fever, but also a showcase of everything the league has been striving for: competitive balance, thrilling stars, and unforgettable drama. The Aces may have punched their ticket to the Finals, but Indiana’s Cinderella run will be remembered as one of the defining stories of this postseason.

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.

“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.

“I’m just, I’m so thankful to coach these women, and I’m just thankful for this experience with them,” she added.

The Las Vegas Aces are heading back to the WNBA Finals after delivering one of the most dramatic and heart-stopping performances in recent playoff history. In a winner-take-all Game 5 that had everything from clutch shots to overtime heroics, the defending champions managed to outlast the Indiana Fever in a thriller that left fans across the league stunned. The Fever’s Cinderella run may have ended, but not before they gave the Aces—and the entire basketball world—a game that will be remembered for years to come.

The matchup had been billed as a clash of styles and wills, and it lived up to every bit of the hype. Indiana entered the series as underdogs, a young team that had defied expectations and captured the hearts of fans with their grit and resilience. The Aces, by contrast, carried the weight of championship pedigree, battle-tested veterans, and a desire to make history with a potential third title in four seasons. By the time the final buzzer sounded in Las Vegas, both sides had left everything on the floor, and the league had been treated to an instant classic.

Then came the fourth quarter, a stretch of basketball that felt more like a heavyweight fight than a playoff game. With the season on the line, both teams traded blows. Clark hit another dagger three that sent Indiana fans into a frenzy, only for Plum to answer with a clutch jumper of her own. Wilson drew a crucial foul inside the final minute, but Boston tied the game with a contested layup that forced overtime. The arena was electric, and the tension could be felt through TV screens across the country.

Overtime belonged to the Aces, but only just. Wilson, locked in and determined, scored six of Las Vegas’s 12 points in the extra frame. Jackie Young made a pivotal steal that swung momentum, and Gray calmly knocked down free throws under immense pressure. Indiana had one final chance in the closing seconds, down three with the ball in Clark’s hands. The rookie phenom got a clean look from deep, the kind of shot she had hit countless times before. This time, though, the ball rimmed out, and the Aces secured the rebound. The final buzzer rang, and Las Vegas had survived.

The Aces celebrated with relief more than dominance, knowing they had been pushed to the brink. Wilson, named player of the game, embraced Boston at center court in a moment that perfectly captured the passing of the torch between established greatness and rising youth. For Indiana, heartbreak was etched on the players’ faces, but so too was pride. Few expected the Fever to make it this far, let alone nearly knock out the defending champions on their own floor.

“People counted us out all year, but we proved we belong here,” Clark said afterward, visibly emotional. “We’ll be back. This is just the beginning.” Her words resonated with fans who had watched Indiana grow from struggling franchise to legitimate contender in a single season.

For Las Vegas, the victory means another chance to cement their dynasty. They now advance to the Finals, chasing what could be a third championship in four years, a feat matched only by the legendary Houston Comets. Coach Becky Hammon praised her team’s resilience, noting: “It wasn’t pretty, but we found a way. That’s what champions do.”

And if Game 5 taught us anything, it’s that the WNBA has entered a new era—one where every possession, every shot, and every superstar matters. The Aces survived. The Fever inspired. And the fans, stunned and breathless, walked away knowing they had just witnessed history.