The Aces would go on to outscore the Fever in each period of the game, with the 20-18 second-quarter margin being the closest of the four. Indiana had some stretches of effective play, but they were met with even better sequences from the Aces. Despite a comfortable Game 1 win, there was rarely an extended stretch in Game 2 where the visiting Fever looked untroubled.
“They were much more aggressive and physical defensively,” Fever head coach Stephanie White said. “And we didn’t counter that with our off-ball actions or with our back cuts. So they took us out of our comfort zone.”
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The scoreboard is, of course, the most concerning trend in any game. The result comes first, and Indiana was on the wrong end. Still, after winning Game 1, the series is headed back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse tied at 1-1. The Fever now have home court advantage in the remaining best-of-three — if they defend their home floor, they’ll be in the WNBA Finals.
But that won’t be easy, especially if they can’t clean up some other micro-level trends that were grim in Game 2. One of the more obvious ones was the force and power the Aces played with, particularly around the rim, and the Fever’s inability to match it.
It became clear quickly that the interior would be a focus for Las Vegas. Their first six points came from either NaLyssa Smith or A’ja Wilson, and it took nearly four minutes for a non-frontcourt player to score for the hosts. The Indiana Fever defense deserves some credit for that, but it didn’t hold.
Instead, they were pummeled on the inside. Wilson, after struggling in Game 1, finished with 25 points, nine rebounds, and five steals on 10-for-18 shooting — a terrific outing. Smith, a former Fever draft pick, had 18 points and seven boards on 7-for-9 shooting. Those two were excellent both in tandem and apart, and it gave the Aces a blueprint for how to play.
Vegas guards were getting to the rim, but it was their inside-out pressure that allowed much of it. Wilson’s gravity and Smith’s nose for the ball made everything hum.
“I would definitely say probably her offensive rebounding. She had a few [which] gave them second chance points, got herself to the free throw line,” Fever center Aliyah Boston said of Smith’s effectiveness. “So for us, we just gotta tighten down on that. Box out, because obviously she’s super athletic and she does a great job of getting to the glass.”
The general force and hustle of the Aces frontcourt — which also featured Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, Kiah Stokes, and Megan Gustafson — was a major hurdle for the Fever. They weren’t able to slow them nearly as much as they did in Game 1, and Las Vegas had better interior defense, too. Boston had a quiet double-double, but her impact wasn’t as tangible as it was in the first battle. Ditto for Natasha Howard, and Fever guards didn’t have as much room on the floor to get into the lane.
Head coach Becky Hammon‘s team improved in many ways from Game 1 to Game 2. Their frontcourt play, and specifically the physicality of those players, was the most noticeable point of growth. Yet it’s been almost a step too far in this series. “The physicality is out of control, that’s for sure. I mean, you can bump and grab a wide receiver in the NFL for those first five yards, but you can do it in the W for the whole half court,” Hammon said. “[Players] have the freedom of movement. Freedom of movement. There’s no freedom. And I’m not saying that we’re not fouling too. Not saying that. [I’m] saying it’s out of control.”
Sep 23, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Indiana Fever forward Natasha Howard (6) dribbles against Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) during the first quarter in game two of the second round for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
In Game 2, the Aces had the better response to that physical play. There were 41 fouls called in the 40 minute game, and that volume of whistles hurts the Fever and their up-tempo style. Postgame, wing Lexie Hull said she feels like she’s been on the ground more often in this series compared to other games. While it has been intense, it’s part of the sport. Indiana has to either try to match it or overcome it in a different way.
One manner in which they could do so is relying on their depth and connectivity to break through their forceful opponent. 40 minutes of hard, yet quick, play is demanding for any defense. But the Fever got very little from their depth on Tuesday, which was another theme from the game.
When Indiana made their first substitution of the game, they were ahead on the scoreboard 9-8. They were down by nine five minutes later. By the time the Fever made it through their rotation and put the starting five back on the floor, the clock read 5:40 in the second quarter. Indiana trailed 39-22. The opening five went on an 11-0 run across the next 3:30 of play, but the Fever were still down double digits at halftime because their bench wasn’t productive.
Shey Peddy drove in from the left wing and hit a floater with 9:11 left in the second quarter. It was the only made shot from an Indiana reserve all night. Of course, the Fever bench is a group of players that either weren’t on the team or weren’t in the rotation until August. But they need more from this group to win the series.
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In a Game 1 defeat in Indiana’s first-round series against the Atlanta Dream, the Fever bench shot 2-for-9, and one of those makes was from Bree Hall in garbage time. They had an early lead, then watched it slip away. In Games 2 and 3 of that series, Indiana’s reserves chipped in on both ends of the floor. It takes a total team effort for the shorthanded Fever to win in these playoffs, and they didn’t get that on Tuesday.
Again, it’s understandable why the Indiana Fever bench isn’t the most consistent group. Peddy and Aerial Powers have been on the team for about a month. Brianna Turner didn’t get playing time for much of the season. It’s a second unit that has come together since mid-August acquisitions, and they’re all somewhat reliant on other teammates setting them up or being the aggressors to get going.
Powers was big in the Fever’s Game 2 win during the first round, as was Makayla Timpson. Turner was rock solid in their Game 3, series-clinching win, and she and Peddy were both effective in Game 1 against the Aces.
The Fever need more of that if they want to beat the Aces, especially in games during which they start slowly and get bruised by a Vegas team full of Vigor. “The reality is [Las Vegas] came in and they were physical and they dictated and we were on our heels,” White said. “We were passive and we were reactive to everything.”
Her team needs to match that play style, and the entire roster has to do it. Otherwise, the theme of losing could stick for Indiana.