Fever vs Aces Preview: Can Clark End the Losing Streak in Back-to-Back Matchup Against Their Nemesis?

On September 14 at 7:30 AM, the WNBA regular season continues with Indiana Fever hosting Las Vegas Aces. This is their second matchup within three days. In the previous game, the Aces firmly controlled the game and ultimately defeated the Fever 86-75. Wilson scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, becoming the key player. Her total points for the season reached 956, breaking the WNBA’s single-season scoring record and she is very likely to become the first player to score over 1000 points in a single season. In contrast, the Fever’s core player Clark struggled, making only 6 out of 22 shots for 16 points and 6 assists. The Aces’ overall performance this season is not as good as the previous two seasons, but as defending champions, they remain strong with a 23-13 record, ranking fourth in the league, trailing the third-placed Sun by 3 games and leading the following Storm by 1 game. They are likely to finish fourth or fifth, and will strive to maintain the fourth position for home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Aces average 86.4 points per game, ranking first in the league, and allow an average of 81.5 points, ranking sixth. However, they have kept opponents under 80 points in their last six games. The Aces have four members of the U.S. women’s national team, with Wilson undoubtedly being the core player, averaging 27.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 2.7 blocks per game, leading the league in scoring and blocks, second in rebounds, and third in steals, showcasing her dominance. Plum, Jackie Young, and Gray are all All-Star players, although Gray has been performing averagely since her return. Veteran Hayes has performed well, averaging 9.3 points per game. In comparison, bench depth is one of the few weaknesses of the Aces. Led by the top pick Clark, the Fever secured a playoff spot early, with a 19-18 record ranking sixth in the league, leading the Mercury by 1.5 games and trailing the Storm by 3.5 games. Their goal is to secure the sixth position. The Fever are also a typical offensive-strong defensive-weak team, averaging 84.4 points (third in the league) and allowing 87.2 points (second-worst in the league), only better than the bottom-ranked Wings. Mitchell is the top scorer for the Fever, averaging 19.3 points and 2.6 rebounds, and has been in hot form recently. Clark averages 19.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.4 assists, delivering outstanding performances as a phenomenal rookie. Another top pick, Boston, averages 14.1 points and 9.1 rebounds, while Smith contributes 10.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. The Fever’s offense mainly relies on these four players, with Fabingi, Hull, and Samuelson also possessing certain capabilities. In the previous three matchups this season, the Aces emerged victorious each time, winning by more than 10 points in each game. In the last 20 meetings, the Fever won only once and have lost 14 consecutive games against the Aces. It remains to be seen whether in this back-to-back matchup, Clark can lead the team to end this embarrassing streak.

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