A’ja Wilson bounces back as Aces eliminate Fever, return to WNBA semifinals

The defending champions are headed back to the WNBA playoff semifinals.

A’ja Wilson scored posted a game-high 34 points to lead the Aces over the Indiana Fever 94-83 in a series-deciding Game 3 on Thursday at Michelob Ultra Arena.

Wilson, who surpassed 1,250 playoff points, led an offensive attack that featured four players in double figures, including Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd, as the Aces claimed their 11th playoff series victory in the past five seasons.

After scoring 22 points in Indianapolis while making five shots from the field, Wilson responded with a 61 percent shooting performance while adding 10 rebounds and a block for her 167th career double-double.

Among the other two members of the Aces’ “Big Three,” Gray and Young totaled 23 and 18 points, respectively, while knocking down three 3-pointers.

Young also added eight rebounds and seven assists while passing Tamika Catchings for No. 9 on the all-time playoff assists list with 227.

Loyd also added three 3-pointers in her first start of the postseason, replacing Stephanie Talbot, who was added to the injury report pregame with a leg injury and was unable to suit up.

The win extended the Aces’ home winning streak to five games and knocked Caitlin Clark and the Fever out of the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Las Vegas improved to 30-9 in playoff games during the Becky Hammon era and moved one series closer to its fourth WNBA championship in five seasons.