The Las Vegas Aces made history by overcoming the Indiana Fever in a dramatic Game 5 showdown, sending the team back to the WNBA Finals for the third time in four years. This thrilling 107-98 overtime victory marked the second time in league history that a winner-take-all Game 5 ended in extended play, showcasing the intensity and unpredictability of the playoffs.
With the Phoenix Mercury set to face the Aces in the Finals, Game 1 will take place on Friday night in Las Vegas. The semifinal series was a rollercoaster, with the first half featuring 13 lead changes and 14 ties in the opening 20 minutes. The momentum shifted dramatically when Aliyah Boston was penalized for her fifth foul during a moving screen, causing Kelsey Mitchell to collapse with a suspected knee injury. Mitchell was removed from the game, and the Aces capitalized on the chaos to take an eight-point lead into the fourth quarter.
However, the Fever refused to fold. Odyssey Sims tied the game twice in the final minute, and neither Jackie Young’s layup nor Jewell Loyd’s putback went down before the buzzer, forcing the game into overtime. While Young and A’ja Wilson dominated regulation, it was Loyd and Chelsea Gray who stepped up in the extra frame. Their clutch performances—including Gray’s iconic 3-pointer to beat the shot clock—helped the Aces secure a 13-point lead in overtime, one more than the Fever managed in the final five minutes.
Gray’s heroics were nothing short of magical. Despite battling through a right ankle injury sustained in the second half, she delivered 17 points and six assists, including three crucial field goals in overtime. Her resilience and ability to perform under pressure reminded fans of her legendary postseason form. As A’ja Wilson noted, "It’s a blessing to play alongside Chelsea. She’s the type of player who shows up when it matters most."
This moment echoes Gray’s 2022 title run, where she averaged 21.7 points and seven assists in the playoffs, shooting an astonishing 61.1% from the field. Yet, recent seasons have seen glimpses of inconsistency, with Gray sidelined by injuries and struggling to find her rhythm. Now, as the Aces aim for their third title in what may be this core’s final run together, the question remains: Can Gray deliver again? The answer lies in the next few games—and the fans are eagerly waiting to see if the ‘vintage’ version of Chelsea Gray returns to dominate once more.
