LAS VEGAS -- Two spots in the WNBA semifinals remain open, but one will be claimed Thursday. The No. 3 seed Las Vegas Aces, the WNBA's defending champions, host the No. 6 seed Indiana Fever in a decisive Game 3.
After the Fever's 99-89 win over the Aces on Tuesday in Indianapolis evened their first-round series 1-1, the teams meet to determine which team advances past the first round. The Aces have won three of the past four championships. The Fever's lone title came in 2012.
Emotions will run high at Michelob Ultra Arena. On Tuesday in Indianapolis, Aces star A'ja Wilson objected to a fan pointing at her from behind the basket and left the court to confront him. The WNBA rulebook bars players or coaches from going into the stands to confront spectators. But on Thursday, the league announced there would be no further discipline for Wilson or any other Aces involved in the incident.
We broke down what might decide which team moves on, and now ESPN's Kareem Copeland and Michael Voepel are courtside for live analysis, updates and highlights.
JUMP TO: Keys to the game | Live coverage from Las Vegas
Can the Fever replicate Tuesday's defense?
During the regular season, the Fever ranked ninth in defensive rating (estimate of points allowed per 100 possessions) at 110.3, and the Aces were fifth (107.2). Las Vegas was better on both ends of the court in Game 1, and Indiana knew it had to improve its defense Tuesday to keep its season going.
The Fever did that, at times frustrating all the Aces except Jackie Young, whom they could not stop (31 points). The Aces still scored 89 points. But during both the second and third quarters, the Fever held the Aces to 17 points.
That put Indiana in the driver's seat for the fourth quarter. The Aces made a run, outscoring the Fever 29-27 in the final period, but the middle-game defense gave Indiana enough cushion.
"I thought we played with a back-against-the-wall desperation that you need to play with at playoff time," Indiana coach Stephanie White said.
Now they need to do that again.
How well will Wilson play?
It's rare to see Wilson lose her cool, but on Tuesday the Fever defense seemed to frustrate her at times. She was 5-of-11 from the field but 12-of-13 from the line. Wilson was the WNBA's leading scorer in the regular season and is one of the most clutch players in league history. That latter trait could make all the difference in Game 3.
Coach Becky Hammon thought defense was the Aces' biggest problem in Game 2. She said that kept them from being the offensive team they normally are, and that impacted Wilson's performance.
"I thought [the Fever] brought a lot of congestion [in the lane]," Hammon said. "Them picking up, being disruptive, got us out of our flow a little bit. At times, your offense has to help your defense. I thought defensively we were poor tonight, and the two are married together. We know when we're a good defensive team, we become very elite offensively."
Can the Fever guards do enough for a victory?
The backcourt of Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell has been one of the most entertaining shows in the WNBA all season, and it was outstanding Tuesday. Clark finished with 27 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds. Mitchell had 26 points.
The Fever also got strong defense from two other guards: starter Lexie Hull and reserve rookie Raven Johnson. Their energy was a big part of what helped the Fever rally and then take the lead after trailing 26-18 after the first quarter.
If the guards do their job, the Fever are formidable. But post player Aliyah Boston ultimately could be the difference-maker. She came back after a tough first quarter Tuesday and had 22 points. That was her highest scoring output since also getting 22 on Aug. 22.
Can Indiana slow down Jackie Young?
Young has 52 points and 15 assists through two games of this series. Like her teammates Wilson and Chelsea Gray, Young is a seasoned big-game player. That trio has won three WNBA championships together. And while Wilson is the perennial MVP candidate and Gray is the "Point Gawd," Young also has been indispensable for Las Vegas since being drafted No. 1 in 2019.
Wilson, Young and Gray are Hall of Fame-level players. But the Aces got nine points and five rebounds from starter Stephanie Talbot, too, and that's significant. Jewell Loyd and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus also can provide an offensive boost off the bench to back up the Aces' big three.