It was another record-setting night for Caitlin Clark, but the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces had other plans in mind.
Four Aces players scored in double-digits led by Chelsea Gray’s 21 points and the Aces spoiled Clark’s latest personal milestone with a tight 78-74 win on Saturday, September 14 (PH time).
A’ja Wilson tallied a monster 15-point,17-rebound double-double, while Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young combined for 30 markers in a balanced Las Vegas offensive production.Aces hold off Fever for the W 🎰
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 14, 2024
The @LVAces secured a tight 78-74 victory in Indy. Chelsea Gray led all scorers with 21 PTS and 6 AST!#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/SlJKaDXDS6
W secured 📊📽?
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) September 14, 2024
Gray: 21 PTS // 6 AST // 64% FG
Plum: 18 PTS // 3 REB // 3 AST // 4 3PM
Wilson: 15 PTS // 17 REB // 2 BLK // 40% FG
Young: 12 PTS // 6 AST pic.twitter.com/p0TZ8X5YB0
Clark bucked a foul-plagued start and finished with 18 points--all in the second half--eight rebounds, and nine assists as the rookie sensation broke the WNBA's single-season assist record previously set by Connecticut Sun’s Alyssa Thomas.
Every dime from Caitlin Clark's record night 🏆
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 14, 2024
Witness the passes that crowned a new single-season assist leader! The rook finished with an impressive 18-8-9, despite the loss#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/JdN4ycOwDS
She surpassed Thomas’ 316 total dimes when Clark found Kelsey Mitchell from an inbound pass and laid it in for her 317th assist. She added three dimes more to hike her season tally to 321 with two games left.
Las Vegas saw their 13-point lead wiped out when Damiris Dantas opened the final frame with a three-pointer to tie the game at 60-apiece.
Damiris Dantas ties the game at 60 with this three-pointer 👊 pic.twitter.com/2GmSnheykb
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 14, 2024
The Aces responded with a mini 5-0 counter with back-to-back buckets from Gray and Plum to put Las Vegas back in the driver seat, 65-60, with 7:33 seconds left.
In a tight cardiac finish, Clark cut the Aces’ lead to just two points, 70-72, after blowing past Young with 1:48 seconds left.
CAITLIN CLARK MAKES IT A 2-POINT GAME IN INDY 👀
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 14, 2024
Less than 1min left on the game clock!
LVA-IND | ION 📺 pic.twitter.com/alRoTXvXdw
Plum then answered back with clutch corner triple to give Las Vegas enough breathing room at 75-70, as 56 ticks were still on the clock.
Kelsey Plum drains the triple in the CLUTCH 🔥
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 14, 2024
LVA-IND | ION 📺 pic.twitter.com/GqsYXE2S0I
Las Vegas (24-13) would hold on to sweep their season series against Indiana (19-19), 4-0.
Mitchell took charge for the Fever with 20 points including 19 in the first half, while Aliyah Boston chipped in 14 and Dantas added 11.
Despite another record-setting game, Clark started slow and was limited to just five shot at halftime. She was held scoreless in the first two quarters.
