Fever vs Aces score, highlights as Chelsea Gray 3s stun Indiana

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Fever vs Aces score, highlights as Chelsea Gray 3s stun Indiana

Look up the definition of “clutch” in the dictionary, and you should find a photo of Chelsea Gray in the Las Vegas Aces’ 86-84 win over the Indiana Fever on Thursday, Aug. 6, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

Gray hit back-to-back buzzer-beating 3-pointers to ensure the reigning champions didn’t suffer a regular-season sweep against the Fever.

“Witnessing all of this greatness is crazy,” said Aces forward NaLyssa Smith as she sat in the postgame press conference next to Gray, who was the only player on the court to play the entire 40 minutes.

First, Gray hit a 3-pointer to tie the game just as time in regulation expired. She recounted the highlight moment as if she was reciting her grocery list. It required some adjustment after the inbound pass from Stephanie Talbot on the sideline was intercepted by Fever center Aliyah Boston.

“We had a play, it wasn’t for me. It wasn’t drawn up that way,” Gray said. “Aliyah Boston deflected it as a pass to me and it was going to be a different shot. But Jackie (Young) kept playing, hit it back to me, and I looked up at the clock, only had one second. One dribble, pull, knocked it down.”

For the game-winner in overtime, it came down to a key defensive stop from A’ja Wilson against Caitlin Clark. Jackie Young made sure to get it back to Gray.

“I looked at the clock again, knocked it down,” Gray said.

She is the first player in WNBA history to make a game-tying buzzer-beater at the end of regulation and a game-winning buzzer-beater at the end of overtime in the same game, per ESPN.

Wilson finished with 26 points after a rough start to the game. She shot 7-of-21 from the field in regulation, then scored eight points on 3-of-4 shooting from the floor in overtime. Young added 22 points for the Aces, most of which she scored during a stellar solo run to close the first half.

Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 28 points. Boston and Clark added 21 and 20 points, respectively. Clark recorded eight turnovers to pair with eight assists.

This was the third meeting between the Fever and Aces this season. Indiana won both of the previous games, including the last meeting, 109-75, on July 13.

USA TODAY Sports provided highlights from the thrilling contest:

After Caitlin Clark missed two free throws, Aces point guard Chelsea Gray hit a perfect 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie it at 75 points and send the game to overtime!

9.2 seconds on the clock and Fever are up 75-72 after a make and a miss at the free throw line from Kelsey Mitchell.

With less than a minute left, Caitlin Clark fouled A’ja Wilson and she made both of her free throws to tie it at 72 points.

The Aces had the lead, but Caitlin Clark offered a reminder of why shooters should always keep shooting. She finished the third quarter with eight points on 0-of-6 shooting from three, but hit a 3-pointer when it mattered most and gave the advantage back to her team with 4:14 left to play.

The Aces outscored the Fever 19-9 in the third quarter, thanks to more heroics from Jackie Young, who scored seven points in the frame. She leads the game with 22 points. Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell each have 15 points for the Fever.

Details are still emerging, but with less that five minutes remaining in the third quarter, it appears that two fans were ejected for making inappropriate comments towards Aces players.

The Fever’s 20-point lead is no more, and we have a game once again. The Aces need their stars to show up if they’re going to stay in it, though. Jackie Young has tied Aliyah Boston’s game-high 15 points after scoring 13 points in the second quarter alone. NaLyssa Smith was the only other player to score in that frame for the Aces, scoring six of her eight points before Young went on her run.

Caitlin Clark has an impressive eight assists to go with her six points. Kelsey Mitchell has 10 points

As most of the Aces appear to have no-showed, Jackie Young is putting the team on her back. She scored 12 unanswered points to cut a 20-point second quarter lead to single digits.

Indiana opened the second quarter with a fire the Aces don’t seem to be able to match. While the Fever haven’t missed a basket in the second quarter, the Aces are being suffocated by the Fever’s defense and have only scored four points with 3:22 left until hafltime.

This already has the makings of a great game. Both teams mounted their own four-point leads but no one has pulled away by any more than that. Aliyah Boston and Monique Billings have a game-high six points, each. Chelsea Gray leads the Aces with five points.

A’ja Wilson is 1-of-2 from the field with four points, Caitlin Clark is 1-of-5 from the field with two points.

Fever vs. Aces tips off

Indiana vs. Las Vegas is officially underway.

Keep an eye on Kelsey Mitchell tonight. She scored a whopping 27 points against the Aces the last time these two teams faced off.

A three-time All-Star in as many season in the league, Caitlin Clark seems to never miss a beat making time for her fans before and after games:

The league’s four-time MVP is known for her “white T-shirt games,” but she looks just as serious in the all back out fit she opted for ahead of tonight’s clash with the Fever.

No changes for the Fever’s starters, either. It’s Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull and Monique Billings.

The Aces are sticking with their normal opening rotation: A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, NaLyssa Smith and Stephanie Talbot.

Other than Damiris Dantas, who is out for the season with a knee injury, the Fever are good to go.

Since they’re the away team, it’s not surprising the Las Vegas Aces took a more casual approach to their arrival outfits. Here’s Jackie Young, Dana Evans, NaLyssa Smith and more:

Take a look at the tunnel fits from Indiana Fever players Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Sophie Cunningham, Monique Billings and more: