Aces beat Fever 107–98 in OT to reach the WNBA Finals — A’ja Wilson 35-8-4, Jackie Young 32-10, Gray seals it in OT; Fever’s gallant run ends. Recap & analysis.

Aces vs Fever: In short

The Las Vegas Aces edged the underdog Indiana Fever 107–98 (OT) in a dramatic Game 5 to win the WNBA semifinal series and advance to the Finals — powered by A’ja Wilson’s 35/8/4 and Jackie Young’s 32/10, with Chelsea Gray delivering the late overtime dagger.

Why Fever vs Aces Game 5 mattered

This decisive Game 5 mattered for every reason a playoff basketball game should: it was a winner-take-all for a spot in the WNBA Finals; it pitted the league’s top roster-building project against a gutsy, injury-depleted Fever squad; and it produced a narrative-rich script (star power vs. depth, coaching adjustments, and an overtime finish) that will be talked about all offseason. The Aces’ victory sends Becky Hammon’s club to the Finals; the Fever’s valiant season ends as one of the most improbable runs of 2025.

The five most important facts (load-bearing highlights)

1. Final score: Las Vegas Aces 107, Indiana Fever 98 (OT).
2. A’ja Wilson: Led the winners with 35 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks — a dominant two-way night.
3. Jackie Young: The Aces’ secondary engine posted 32 points and 10 assists and was crucial in late-game sequences.
4. Chelsea Gray: Hit the key plays in overtime (including crucial scoring/assists) to seal the win and tip the Finals slot to Las Vegas.
5. Kelsey Mitchell & Aliyah Boston: Mitchell’s earlier series heroics and Boston’s endurance represented the Fever’s heart — Mitchell left Game 5 with severe cramping late in the semifinal; Boston had been the team’s bulwark all series. The Fever pushed Las Vegas to the brink despite injuries.

Those five facts form the spine of any reliable recap — final, the stars, the closer, and the injury/human subplot.

How Aces vs Fever unfolded — full play-by-play narrative

First quarter — tenths and margins

Game 5 opened with both teams trading blows. The Aces tried to lean on paint dominance from A’ja Wilson, while the Fever countered with pick-and-roll ball-movement and sharpshooting from Kelsey Mitchell and veterans off the bench. Early on, Las Vegas’s size tested Indiana’s defense; Indiana’s schematic responses (switching, zone looks) generated early second-chance opportunities. The quarter set a pattern: Aces with interior advantage, Fever with speed and perimeter punch.

Middle quarters — lead changes and the Fever fightback

The middle part of the game saw momentum trade hands. Indiana, despite a short-active roster due to injuries in prior rounds, found stops and rode a combination of Aliyah Boston’s post play and Odyssey Sims or other guards’ scoring bursts. Vegas answered through balanced scoring from Wilson, Young, and Gray — but few teams are surprised when a five-game series boils into small margins: transition buckets, free throws, rebounds and late-shot clock decisions were decisive. The Fever’s resilience kept the game close enough to force a tense final stanza.

Fourth quarter — a furious push and overtime

Indiana rallied in the fourth — the crowd felt the probability of an upset as the Fever clawed back. The Aces’ margin of control narrowed, and a sequence of clutch shots from Fever role players forced overtime. Kelsey Mitchell, who had earlier arced the series with a 34-point Game 1, battled valiantly but later suffered severe cramping that required medical attention and fluids — a dramatic subplot that underlined how thin Indiana’s margin for error had been. Mitchell walked off with assistance, and her absence late in OT compounded the Fever’s challenge.

Overtime — star power closes the deal

OT belonged to the Aces’ veteran core. A’ja Wilson kept imposing herself inside while Jackie Young orchestrated and finished. Chelsea Gray hit decisive shots and created the kind of late possessions that seal close playoff games. When the final horn sounded the scoreboard read 107–98, the Aces’ roster depth and postseason experience — anchored by Wilson/Gray/Young — had carried the day. They now advance to the WNBA Finals.

 

Player spotlights — the MVP-caliber nights and the heroes on both sides

A’ja Wilson — the two-way anchor

Wilson’s stat line (35 pts, 8 rebs, 4 blocks) is the kind of performance that separates great postseason minutes from the merely excellent. She dominated the paint, altered shots, and her rim presence opened driving lanes for Jackie Young and others. When the Fever tried to double, Wilson’s passing and footwork found open shooters — she was the fulcrum of the Aces’ attack. This was a Finals-clinching performance that will be featured in highlight reels and coaching film rooms alike.

Jackie Young — playmaker and closer

Young’s 32/10 showed how she can function as both scorer and primary facilitator. Her ability to attack closeouts, run the Aces’ half-court sets, and deliver in clutch possessions in the fourth and OT was crucial. Young’s season-long development into a complete lead contributor is now postseason validated.

Chelsea Gray — the veteran closer

Gray’s late-game composure — scoring and threading assists in OT — is classic veteran playoff stuff. She has a reputation for late-game orchestration, and Game 5 reinforced that: when the pressure ratchets up, Gray’s IQ and steady hands matter. Her actions in OT removed doubt and secured the Aces’ spot in the Finals.

Fever standouts — Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell & role players

Boston continued to give the Fever a rugged interior anchor (24/14 in Game 4 earlier in the series), playing heavy minutes and fighting on the glass and on defense. Kelsey Mitchell’s playoff scoring across the series (Game 1: 34 pts; Game 5: 15 pts before cramping) was the offensive engine that kept Indiana alive; even injured or limited, her earlier scoring bursts set the tone for the Fever’s upset-minded run. Odyssey Sims and Shey Peddy provided veteran lift, and their energy was a recurring threat. The Fever’s run to the brink was a team effort despite the injuries that stacked against them.

Tactical & coaching analysis — what Hammon did right and what the Fever executed masterfully

Becky Hammon & the Aces — balance, depth and late adjustments

Las Vegas’s tactical strength is its balance. Hammon mixes pick-and-rolls, inside-out feed to Wilson and off-ball movement that turns defensive help into kick-out shots. In tight playoff games, Hammon’s rotation decisions and late-game adjustments (who defends closeouts, when to call timeouts, matchups for isolation plays) often determine outcomes — Game 5 was no different. The Aces reset under pressure and trusted veterans to close.

Indiana — grit, flexibility and the coaching staff’s allocation of minutes

The Fever were repeatedly praised for their game planning and the way they maximized limited resources. With key absences at times during their playoff run, Indiana leaned on smart sequencing: run P&R to create early closeouts for Mitchell, attack mismatches in transition, and trust Boston to protect the paint. Their Game 5 performance — pushing the Aces to OT — is a credit to the coaching staff’s scheming and players’ will. It also raised questions about whether a fuller, healthier roster could have flipped the series.

Injuries & availability — the Mitchell cramping episode and roster context

One of the most talked-about moments from the night was Kelsey Mitchell leaving Game 5 due to severe lower-body cramping. According to Reuters and team statements, Mitchell had to be treated and transported for fluids; she walked off the court with assistance. That moment crystallized how thin the Fever’s margin for error had become and added a human element: playoffs are also battles with fatigue and wear. Indiana had already faced roster challenges earlier in the postseason; to push Las Vegas to overtime under those conditions made their effort all the more notable.

Las Vegas’s injury picture was steadier heading into the game, and their capacity to rotate heavy minutes among more rested veterans arguably contributed to their late-game edge. The Aces will now shift recovery and Finals prep toward the next opponent (reported as Phoenix Mercury in some previews).

[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]

 

Advanced metrics & numbers that mattered

(Useful for social graphics, live updates and embedding in a publisher’s boxscore)

• Aces scoring efficiency in clutch: Las Vegas converted a higher share of late possessions in the fourth quarter and OT — part veteran poise, part matchup advantage inside.
• Fever minutes & wear: Several key Fever players logged high minute counts across the series; cumulative fatigue (and Mitchell’s cramping) shows in late-game dropoffs and recovery needs.
• Rebounding & second-chance points: Games 4 and 5 saw Boston and Wilson battling for boards; Aces’ offensive rebound control in key moments kept possessions alive.

What the win means for Las Vegas — short & medium term

• Finals berth & legacy narrative: The Aces will return to the WNBA Finals (their third Finals in four years) — a period of sustained contention that builds the franchise’s championship window. It will also elevate the legacy conversations around core contributors like A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young.
• Matchups & rest: Aces’ staff will manage recovery for Wilson and Gray while scouting the Finals opponent. The Finals present new matchups — Phoenix (if that’s the opponent) will test Las Vegas differently than Indiana did. Hammon’s management of minutes and rotations in the Finals will be crucial. (CBSSports.com)

What the loss means for Indiana — immediate takeaways & silver linings

• Valiant season & momentum for the future: Fever’s run to Game 5 against one of the league’s deepest rosters should be framed as a success — a program-building moment. The experience of late-game pressure, postseason travel and physical play is invaluable for young pieces like Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell.
• Roster questions & health management: The Mitchell cramping moment will be a priority for medical staff; ensuring the team can avoid similar late-game fatigue will be part of offseason conditioning. The Fever’s front office now has clear blueprint items: maintain depth, protect health, and build around Boston’s interior presence and Mitchell’s scoring. (Reuters)

Snuck one by 🪡@Danaaakianaaa 👉 @_ajawilson22 pic.twitter.com/OTprZBRr9H

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 1, 2025

 

Fan reaction & social media pulse

Social platforms lit up with two dominant themes: Las Vegas jubilation and feverish respect for Indiana’s fight. Highlight clips — Wilson’s big plays, Young’s facilitations, Gray’s OT heroics and Mitchell being helped off the court — trended across X and TikTok. National commentators praised the series as one of the best semifinal showdowns of the season and noted the WNBA’s rising parity and narrative depth heading into the Finals.

Where to watch & how to catch replays (U.S. & global viewers)

• Live rights: WNBA playoff rights vary by cycle — ESPN/ABC/ESPN2 have frequently carried marquee playoff windows; check local listings for replay scheduling. Several Wire outlets reported that Game 5 carried on ESPN2 due to scheduling conflicts with MLB Wild Card coverage — that move slightly changed national reach yet the game still drew strong eyeballs given the competitiveness. (The Sun)
• Highlights & condensed games: Official WNBA and team channels (WNBA.com, Aces.com, Fever.wnba.com), plus ESPN and YouTube, post highlights and condensed replay packages quickly after final. For broadcasters and digital teams: embed the official highlight reel and full boxscore for SEO impact. (Indiana Fever)

FAQs fans search for (short & searchable)

Q: What was the Aces vs Fever Game 5 final score?
A: Las Vegas Aces 107, Indiana Fever 98 (OT). (Swish Appeal)

Q: Who led the Aces in Game 5?
A: A’ja Wilson with 35 points and Jackie Young with 32 points and 10 assists; Chelsea Gray closed it in OT. (Swish Appeal)

Q: Did Kelsey Mitchell get injured?
A: Mitchell exited Game 5 due to severe cramping and was treated/transported for fluids after the game; she walked off with assistance. The team will provide medical follow-ups. (Reuters)

Q: Where can I watch the highlights?
A: Official WNBA and team channels, ESPN and YouTube host highlights and condensed game packages shortly after final. Check WNBA.com for the official video hub. (ESPN.com)