Aces Collapse to Fever in 34-Point Loss Amid Caitlin Clark's Record-Breaking Performance

 

Just one game after defeating the Phoenix Mercury with a 48-point margin of victory, the Las Vegas Aces fall to the Indiana Fever in a 34-point loss as Indiana's big three took over.

From a 48-Point Victory to a 34-Point Defeat

Recapping the Aces' 48-Point Blowout Against the Mercury

Coming into this matchup with the Phoenix Mercury, it was clear that the Las Vegas Aces did not come to mess around. In her second game back since her brief sidelining with an ankle injury, A'ja Wilson had a seamless return. From putting up a 32-point 10-rebound double-double on July 9, 2026, to a 21-point 15-rebound double-double against the Mercury, her dominance was never in jeopardy. With both Chelsea Gray connecting on 3 three-pointers and Wilson already contributing 12 out of her 21 total points in the first quarter, the Aces were able to easily jump to a 20-point lead to end the opening quarter. Las Vegas' control didn't stop there as the lead grew to 54 points with over half of the fourth quarter remaining. From the surface, it appears that Wilson did much of the heavy lifting in this matchup to keep this lead considering she had a double-double. That said, it was because of Wilson's early success that the Aces' floor spacing opened on offense. This allowed Chelsea Gray to also flourish as she recorded a 15-point 12-assist double-double, helping create shots for her teammates with her elite passing ability. It was through the open floor spacing and Gray's perfect passes that the Aces were not only able to build on their lead with their starters, but also get the bench involved as Cheyenne Parker-Tyus had 15 points and 7 rebounds of her own as well as newly signed Justine Pissott chipping in 17 points on 6/7 shooting from three. This overall playstyle from the Las Vegas Aces proved the numerous ways that they can generate points while doing so selflessly and as a team even without Wilson playing in the fourth quarter for rest.

A 34-Point Loss in Indiana That Raised Questions

Although the Aces had a statement of a team performance against the Phoenix Mercury, the same could not be said in their matchup with the Indiana Fever. Per usual, A'ja Wilson had a great game as she put up a 20-point 12-rebound double-double, but she wasn't quite as efficient as we usually expect from her. Connecting on just 9 of her 23 attempted field-goals, Wilson's 39% field-goal percentage was quite underwhelming compared to her shooting 50% from the field last game. Not only did Wilson struggle, but the rest of the team did as well as the Aces shot 39% from the field and 24% from three. Following Wilson's 20 points, Jackie Young gave it all she had with 15 points of her own, though no other player for Las Vegas scored in double-figures. An underwhelming and unexpected outing for the Las Vegas Aces, the Indiana Fever were just too much for them to handle last night as no one on the Aces finished with a positive plus-minus rating.

The Indiana Fever Steal the Spotlight

Taking complete control of the game early, the Indiana Fever didn't even give the Las Vegas Aces a chance last night. Although the first quarter of this matchup was relatively competitive, the Aces never held a lead on the Fever. Beginning this contest with immense effort from the entire team, it was unity that allowed the Indiana Fever to dictate the tempo in which they played. Whether it was a deep Caitlin Clark three-pointer, attack on the basket from Kelsey Mitchell, or even a cleanup from Makayla Timpson, the Fever had success coming from all directions. Kelsey Mitchell caught fire early for Indiana as she led the team in scoring with 27 points. Following Mitchell's unmatched efforts, Aliyah Boston also chipped in a 19-point 11-rebound double-double. And it would be remiss to not include Caitlin Clark as she had a well-rounded game including 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists as she became the fastest WNBA player in history to reach 600 assists. While each of the Fever's big three did their thing in this matchup, it was Sophie Cunningham who gave the Aces the most trouble. Coming off the bench in this contest, Cunningham was on point as she put up 20 points on 6/7 shooting from behind the arc. Cunningham was a force in this matchup as her efficient sharpshooting further increased the Indiana Fever's lead to 34 points as they took the 109-75 victory.

Looking Ahead for the Las Vegas Aces

Putting this catastrophic loss to the Indiana Fever behind them, the Las Vegas Aces have an 8-day break before a 2-game road trip. As the Aces reflect on recent games, it will be interesting to see how they adapt to such an unexpected loss just after a demanding win. After their short break, Las Vegas will head to Toronto as they take on the Tempo on July 20, 2026. As the Tempo's Marina Mabrey continues to pour in shots from three and killing the rhythm of opposing defenses, it will be interesting to see how the Aces plan to defend against her. Following their matchup with the Toronto Tempo, the Aces will face the Washington Mystics and their incredible young core. With Washington's Sonia Citron back from briefly being sidelined due to injury, Las Vegas will have to not only control Citron and the pace of the game, but also the paint as the Mystics' Kiki Iriafen has continued to shine. Will the Las Vegas Aces be able to shake off the win and find their place in their short break as they hope to keep their spot at second in the Western Conference?