The Las Vegas Aces eliminated the Indiana Fever with a 94-83 victory on Thursday night. Caitlin Clark and Stephanie White reacted to a key difference that helped the defending champions advance. While the Fever made 14 of 20 free-throw attempts, the Aces converted 28 of 35 chances from the charity stripe at Michelob Ultra Arena.
Indiana's head coach highlighted those numbers in her post-game press conference. "It's a game of the margins," White said. "And they had 35 free throws.
We had 20." Those stats drew a pointed reaction from Clark, who raised her eyebrows as she sat next to White. Clark, who averaged 6.3 free-throw attempts per game during the regular season, made three of four foul shots on Thursday. Although it wouldn't have resulted in free throws, the star guard was at the center of a controversial no-call.
The 24-year-old showed a referee her bloody mouth after taking an elbow to the face that didn't yield a foul late in the fourth quarter. Clark delivered a succinct response when asked if she received any explanation. "Your guess would be as good as mine," Clark said.
The free-throw discrepancy is still arguably misleading, as the Aces attempted eight free throws in the closing minute while protecting a lead. A'ja Wilson, who averaged the WNBA's second-most attempts per game (11.7) during what will likely be her fifth MVP season, took 15 of their 35 foul shots. Las Vegas sent Indiana home for the second straight postseason behind Wilson's 36 points and 10 rebounds.
Clark concluded her third season with 18 points, making just three of a dozen 3-point attempts. The Aces await the winner of Friday's Game 3 between the Golden State Valkyries and Dallas Wings.
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