The Las Vegas Aces have advanced to the 2025 WNBA Finals, setting up a clash against the Phoenix Mercury.
However, the Aces’ semifinal series against the Indiana Fever wasn’t a walk in the park. The Fever, without Caitlin Clark and clear underdogs, put on a tough fight, earning high praise from fans and opponents alike.
What Did Aces Head Coach Becky Hammon Say About the Indiana Fever?
The Fever were the underdogs this postseason. Riddled with injuries, the team entered the playoffs without standout players like Clark, Aari McDonald, Sophie Cunningham, and Syd Colson. While they had Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, few believed the team would even make it to the postseason.
However, the No. 6 seed prevailed, pulling off an impressive 2-1 Round 1 upset over the No. 3 seed Atlanta Dream. And while the Aces defeated them 3-2 during the semifinals, the Fever didn’t go down without a fight, dropping a 107-98 overtime Game 5 even with Mitchell injured and Boston fouling out.
Aces head coach Becky Hammon made sure to praise the Fever for their gritty run.
“I would like to take a second to congratulate Indiana. They just would not go away. The resiliency of Steph’s group … they just gas-pedaled the whole time,” Hammon said.
Becky Hammon: “I would like to take a second to congratulate Indiana. They just would not go away. The resiliency of Steph’s group … they just gas-pedaled the whole time.”
Offered prayers for Kelsey Mitchell. “Nobody wants to see anybody carried off the court like that ever.”
— hank 🇰🇷 (@Brian_Haenchen) October 1, 2025
Hammon also tipped her glass to Fever head coach Stephanie White and sent out her prayers to Mitchell: “Nobody wants to see anybody carried off the court like that ever.”
Mitchell, a key player during the playoff run, was carried off the court after a scary injury during Game 5. Mitchell — suffering from lower-body cramping — was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a rare muscle injury where muscles break down.
Hammon Has Previously Ripped WNBA Officiating During the Playoffs
While the Aces still have the Mercury to face, Hammon has been consistently candid about the WNBA and the Aces’ postseason experience. One issue many players have spoken about is WNBA officiating.
Hammon, raising fingers at physicality in the group, said:
“The physicality is out of control, that’s for sure,” Hammon said last week. “You can bump and grab a receiver in the NFL for those first five yards, but in the W, you can do it for the whole half court. You put two hands on somebody like that, it should be an automatic foul. Freedom of movement? There’s no freedom.”
Hammon added that most of these issues wouldn’t be tolerated in the NBA.
With the Aces gearing up for the finals series on Friday, Oct. 3, one can expect Hammon to continue making candid points as she communicates with fans and the league.
