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WNBA: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces spoil Caitlin Clark’s historic night, Indiana Fever for season series sweep

Published September 14, 2024, 1:14 PMPao Ambat
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Las Vegas remains the only WNBA team this season that Indiana hasn’t beaten.

Reigning Finals MVP A’ja Wilson is just 29 points shy of breaking the 1,000 regular-season point barrier. | Photo: Las Vegas Aces

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.