Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson led her team to a 94-83 victory over the Indiana Fever on Thursday, securing the Aces’ eighth consecutive trip to the WNBA semifinals. Wilson delivered a commanding performance with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks in 37 minutes, overcoming recent controversy to help close out the best-of-five series.

The win came just hours after the league confirmed Wilson would be allowed to play despite a technical foul penalty following an incident with a Fever fan during Game 2. The confrontation occurred late in that game after Wilson was fouled and responded to a fan’s taunts courtside. Although there was potential for ejection or suspension, Wilson was cleared to participate in Game 3, a decision that boosted the Aces’ confidence.

“She’ll be great tonight. I have no doubt,” Aces coach Becky Hammon had said before the game, a prediction Wilson exceeded with her dominant display. The No. 3 seed Aces used Wilson’s offensive versatility and defensive presence to gain control early and maintain a steady lead throughout. Wilson scored efficiently from midrange and extended her shooting beyond the arc, opening opportunities for drives and commands in the paint.

Despite strong efforts from Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell, who scored 23 points, and Aliyah Boston’s 19, the Fever were unable to overcome Wilson’s influence. Caitlin Clark added 18 points but was consistently challenged by Wilson’s defense, which disrupted the Fever’s perimeter offense and limited their ability to execute offensive sets.

With Stephanie Talbot sidelined, the Aces relied heavily on guards Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young, both of whom played 40 minutes without rest. Gray contributed crucial shots late in the game, including a fadeaway jumper that helped build a decisive lead, while Young took on a defensive assignment guarding Mitchell and created plays under pressure. Young’s ability to navigate traps and deliver timely passes was instrumental in maintaining the Aces’ offensive flow.

The physical nature of the game was notable, as the Aces focused on restricting Indiana’s effectiveness in the paint, a strength that had helped the Fever win Game 2. Las Vegas pressured the Fever defenders and forced several fouls, resulting in a significant disparity in free-throw attempts—Las Vegas took 15 more shots from the line. Indiana coach Stephanie White acknowledged her team struggled with the increased physicality and foul trouble, which contributed to their inability to close the gap in the final period.

“Our level of physicality made it hard for Indiana to get to the rim,” White said after the game. She also highlighted some missed calls, noting fouls that were not called against the Aces at critical moments, including one on a rebound when Clark was struck by Jewell Loyd.

The victory propels Las Vegas into the semifinals, continuing their streak of deep playoff runs, while the Fever’s bid to repeat their surprise semifinal appearance from last season comes to an end.