INDIANAPOLIS — There wasn’t a championship hangover for the Indiana Fever two days after winning the Commissioner’s Cup final.
No, the Fever scored the game’s first six points and never looked back in a 81-54 win over the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Yes, A’ja Wilson was great, but the Fever’s defense clamped down for a dominating victory, their third straight.
Kelsey Mitchell was strong initiating the offense and getting her own. Aliyah Boston was her usual self, and Natasha Howard added a double-double as the Fever moved ahead of the Aces for seventh in the WNBA standings.
When will Caitlin Clark play, return from injury?
Caitlin Clark has not played in the Fever’s last four games after suffering a left groin strain. It was the latest in an up-and-down season in which she missed time during the preseason, too.
Prior to the Commissioner’s Cup victory over the Minnesota Lynx, Stephanie White said Indiana wants to make sure Clark is at her best before returning.
“Making progress and feeling good are two different things,” White said. “We want to make sure that she feels good. We want to make sure that she’s confident. We want to make sure that we’re not putting her in a position to have any setbacks. That’s the that’s the priority right now.”
The Fever host the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday, the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday, the Atlanta Dream on July 11 and Dallas Wings on July 13. The Fever then go on the road July 15 at the Connecticut Sun and July 16 at the New York Liberty before hosting the WNBA All-Star Game.
Buy our book commemorating Caitlin Clark’s spectacular rookie season!
Indiana Fever vs Las Vegas Aces box score
Indiana Fever vs Las Vegas Aces stats, box score
Fever stats: How many points did Aliyah Boston score?
| Name | Min | FG | 3FG | FT | Reb | Ast | Pts |
| Lexie Hull | 28 | 2-5 | 1-3 | 2-4 | 6 | 2 | 7 |
| Natasha Howard | 25 | 4-8 | 0-0 | 3-3 | 10 | 3 | 11 |
| Aliyah Boston | 24 | 9-13 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 7 | 2 | 20 |
| Kelsey Mitchell | 29 | 9-18 | 4-6 | 3-4 | 0 | 6 | 25 |
| Aari McDonald | 31 | 3-8 | 0-3 | 2-2 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| Sophie Cunningham | 24 | 1-4 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Makayla Timpson | 14 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Sydney Colson | 21 | 2-4 | 0-2 | 2-2 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Brianna Turner | 4 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| TEAM | — | 31-63 (49.2%) | 5-16 (31.3%) | 14-17 (82.4%) | 37 | 24 | 81 |
Aces stats: How many points did A’ja Wilson, Jewell Loyd score?
| Name | Min | FG | 3FG | FT | Reb | Ast | Pts |
| Jackie Young | 25 | 2-9 | 1-3 | 1-2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| A’ja Wilson | 26 | 9-18 | 0-0 | 11-13 | 3 | 1 | 29 |
| Kiah Stokes | 12 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Jewell Loyd | 30 | 0-3 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Chelsea Gray | 23 | 1-3 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Nalyssa Smith | 23 | 1-6 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| Aaliyah Nye | 26 | 1-5 | 1-4 | 1-1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Dana Evans | 22 | 1-10 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Kierstan Bell | 7 | 1-3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Joyner Holmes | 7 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| TEAM | — | 16-61 (26.2%) | 3-16 (18.8%) | 19-22 (86.4%) | 26 | 12 | 54 |
Fever vs Aces score by quarter
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | TOTAL |
| Aces (8-9) | 14 | 10 | 23 | 7 | — | 54 |
| Fever (9-8) | 21 | 25 | 22 | 13 | — | 81 |
Indiana Fever schedule: When do Caitlin Clark, Fever play next?
The Fever again play at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as they host the Los Angeles Sparks at 7 p.m. July 5.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever vs Las Vegas box score, stats: Caitlin Clark injury, A’ja Wilson