Story perspectives

A’ja Wilson Leads Aces to Semifinals Win, 94-83

By Drooid · Oct 3, 2026, 10:04 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Aces Advance Semifinals

Las Vegas Aces beat Indiana Fever 94-83 in Game 3, advancing to the semifinals.
A'ja Wilson scored 36 points with 10 rebounds, shooting 11-of-14.
Chelsea Gray added 23 points and five assists.
Wilson received a technical foul after a fan confrontation in Game 2 but faced no discipline.
The win gave the Aces their eighth straight semifinal berth, a streak since 2019.

Summary

Nakase Returns Coaching

Coach Natalie Nakase collapsed on the sideline during Game 3, received assistance, and resumed coaching the remainder.
Nakase, a former assistant under Becky Hammon with the Aces, will lead the Valkyries in the semifinal series.
Forbes awarded the Golden State Valkyries the league’s highest valuation ahead of the WNBA’s 30th season.
The franchise sold out every regular-season home game, averaging over 18,000 fans per contest.

History

Historical Context

The WNBA began in 1997 with eight teams; the Houston Comets won the inaugural championship and the first game attracted 14,284 fans. Surviving early competition from the ABL and expanding to 15 teams by 2026 gave clubs like the Las Vegas Aces—originally the Utah Starzz—an eighth straight semifinal appearance in 2024. The 2025 debut of the Golden State Valkyries at the 18,064-seat Chase Center highlights attendance.

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Aces Advance Semifinals

Las Vegas Aces beat Indiana Fever 94-83 in Game 3, advancing to the semifinals.
A'ja Wilson scored 36 points with 10 rebounds, shooting 11-of-14.
Chelsea Gray added 23 points and five assists.
Wilson received a technical foul after a fan confrontation in Game 2 but faced no discipline.
The win gave the Aces their eighth straight semifinal berth, a streak since 2019.

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