Plum, Wilson lead Aces to win over Fever in front of record crowd

On Tuesday night, the red-hot Las Vegas Aces (11-6) hosted Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever (8-13). 

This game was played at T-Mobile Arena; it was the fifth most attended game in WNBA regular season history(20,366), and the most fans to attend a regular-season game since 1999.

The Aces’ Kelsey Plum had a season-high 34 points, A’ja Wilson added 28 points and nine rebounds, and Jackie Young had a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists as Las Vegas won their fifth straight and defeated the Fever 88-69.

Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 23 points, and Clark added 13 points and 11 assists.

The game was close throughout, but the Aces pulled away in the fourth as Plum caught fire. Las Vegas went on a 12-0 run to start the fourth, and 10 of those points came from Plum. The Aces led by as many as 19 points in the final quarter, their largest lead of the game. 

It was a great night for the league as the fans turned out, the energy was high, and Plum enjoyed it all.

“Tremendous fans, amazing environment, and I’m just grateful we got the win,” Plum said.

Clark, despite the loss, also enjoyed the environment at T-Mobile Arena.

“It was probably one of the best we’ve had,” Clark said. “There was just mobs of people watching us warm up… it’s great, super cool to be a part of; I hope everybody enjoyed it.”

Plum, Wilson, and Young shined, Clark shined, and the defending champions continue to show why they are one of the best teams in the league. 

Photo:  Las Vegas Aces

Notes:

Plum entered Tuesday’s game with 2,968 career points and scored her 3,000th on a driving floater with 6:07 to play in the game. She now has 3,002 career points.

Anticipation is high for the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, as the league announced the participants. The game will be a showcase of the WNBA All-Stars, split into two teams: one composed of members from the USA Basketball Women’s National Team and the other made up of WNBA All-Stars.

The 20th All-Star Game will take place on Saturday, July 20, at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

WNBA:

DeWanna Bonner, Connecticut Sun

Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever

Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream

Dearica Hamby, Los Angeles Sparks

Brionna Jones, Connecticut Sun

Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty

Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx

Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever

Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings

Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm

Angel Reese, Chicago Sky

Team USA:

A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun

Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury

Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas Aces

Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury

Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces

Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm

Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury

Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas Aces

Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx

Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty