For much of the 2025 WNBA season, Las Vegas Aces fans were biting their nails, unsure if their team would even secure a playoff berth. But thanks to a dominant late-season surge led by A’ja Wilson, the Aces stormed through the final stretch and silenced all the doubters.
They closed the regular season with a 30-14 record to clinch a playoff spot. Wilson’s dominance reached new heights in the decisive Game 3 of the first round against the Seattle Storm, where her 38-point performance carried Las Vegas to a narrow 74-73 victory. That triumph not only punched their ticket to the semifinals, but it also set the stage for an emotional postgame message from head coach Becky Hammon, one aimed directly at the Indiana Fever.
What Was Becky Hammon’s Postgame Message for the Indiana Fever?
During her postgame interview after the September 18 win, Hammon didn’t mince words. She sent a firm warning to the Fever, declaring that Indiana has yet to see the “real” Aces.
“They haven’t seen the real Aces yet. They caught us when we were in a turmoil… We’ll buckle in, hone in where we can and take care of business… Everybody’s super excited about tonight, which I am too. But we’ll get our hard hats on and get these guys ready for what’s coming next,” said Hammon during the postgame interview.
The upcoming series has all the makings of a classic clash, especially because Indiana held the upper hand in the regular season. The two teams met three times in 2025, with the home team winning each contest.
Las Vegas opened the series on June 22 with an 89-81 home victory, which was powered by Wilson’s 24 points. However, the Fever responded decisively with an 81-54 home blowout on July 3 in Indianapolis and snapped a 16-game losing streak against the Aces, despite Caitlin Clark’s absence due to injury.
Indiana then clinched the season series with an 80-70 win on July 24, led by Kelsey Mitchell’s 21-point performance. These results show that Indiana can go toe-to-toe with the Aces.
Why Should Hammon’s Warning Be Taken Seriously?
Still, Hammon’s warning should not be taken lightly. Las Vegas has been battle-tested this year. Wilson led the Aces on an extraordinary 17-game winning streak late in the season, a run that tied the Los Angeles Sparks’ record for the longest streak in league history.
The difference is that the Sparks’ streak came during the 2001 regular season, while the Aces’ surge spanned the end of the regular season and the playoffs. That momentum was briefly halted in their Game 2 loss to Seattle on September 16, but Las Vegas bounced back when it mattered most.
In Game 3 against the Storm, the Aces showcased exactly what Hammon referenced in her warning. Despite a sluggish start that saw them trail by five points after the first quarter, the team demonstrated its resilience.
They quickly gained momentum, built a seven-point halftime lead, and even extended it to a game-high eight points in the third quarter. The Aces’ fourth-quarter execution proved decisive, as they poured in 22 points that the Storm simply couldn’t match and ultimately lost.
The Aces shut the lights off of the Storm’s playoff hopes with a HUGE stop to seal Game 3 👋pic.twitter.com/Qmbso8YdSU
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 19, 2025
As they prepare for Game 1 of the second round on September 21 at Michelob ULTRA Arena, contributions from stars like Wilson and Jackie Young will be critical. If Hammon’s fiery words are any indication, Las Vegas is ready to show Indiana a level of play it hasn’t yet experienced.
