WNBA reporter Robin Lundberg says Indiana can beat defending champion Las Vegas in the best-of-three first round, citing a 2-1 season-series edge. The Fever won their first two meetings by a combined 50 points; in the Aces’ overtime win, Indiana had led by 20 points.
Las Vegas finished 31-13 as the No. 3 seed, winning its final seven games. Indiana averaged a league-best 96.7 points per game, compared with Las Vegas’ 91.3. Clark is available after missing last year’s semifinal; she averaged 22.3 points and 8.3 assists this season. Lundberg cited Boston’s defense on A’ja Wilson, who shot 44.1% in last year’s series against Indiana, versus 50.5% in the regular season.
Boston exited Indiana’s final regular-season game early with a right lower-leg injury that coach Stephanie White called a flare-up of an earlier issue; her availability is a potential swing factor. Las Vegas lost NaLyssa Smith to a season-ending knee injury, which could push the Aces toward smaller lineups around Wilson. Game 1 and a possible Game 3 are in Las Vegas; Game 2 is in Indiana.
