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Though they don’t have Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever are on the brink of the WNBA Finals.
Behind the superstar efforts of Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, the short-handed Fever shocked the league by forcing a decisive Game 5 against the Las Vegas Aces. The winner-take-all game is a dramatic conclusion to the WNBA semifinals, pitting the underdog Fever against the 2022 and 2023 WNBA champion Aces.
The Aces are anchored by the 2025 MVP, A’ja Wilson, who led her team on a franchise-record 16-game winning streak to end the season. Wilson averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. In a Game 4 loss, Wilson put up 31 points and nine rebounds. She is joined by Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young, who combined for 30 points and 18 assists.
On the other side, the Fever might be without the superstar Clark and Sophie Cunningham, but that has not stopped them from pushing Las Vegas to a final game. Boston put up a spectacular effort in Game 4 with 24 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists. The matchup between her and fellow-Gamecock Wilson has been fun to watch.
There’s sure to be fireworks on Tuesday night in Las Vegas, and one team is going to punch their ticket to the WNBA Finals. Will it be the Aces for the third time in four seasons, or will it be the Fever without their star?
The Sporting News has you covered with live updates below. Follow along for all the action.
STREAM: Watch Fever vs. Aces live with Fubo (free trial)
Fever vs. Aces score
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Fever vs. Aces live updates, highlights from 2025 WNBA semifinals Game 5
11:01 p.m.: Gray is back in the game after going to the locker room and being evaluated. According to ESPN’s Holly Rowe, Gray is noticeably in pain, but is playing through it.
10:59 p.m.: Boston has picked up her fifth foul on the night, trying to set an offensive screen. She is one away from fouling out
Even worse for the Fever, Mitchell goes down clutching her knee.
The star guard is being attended to by trainers, and the broadcast was told that it might be cramping, which would be the best result.
10:57 p.m.: Hull has had a cold night from three. Out of the break, she attempts her fifth of the night, but it hits the rim and bounces over the backboard. Hull is 0-for-5 on the night.
Though, the ensuing possession, Mitchell hits another three to cut the lead to four. She is 3-for-3 from behind the arc.
10:53 p.m.: Wilson knows Boston is in foul trouble, and she hits a shot from the free throw line from one foot. The MVP is up to 18 points.
The next play, Las Vegas forces another turnover, then Young hits an and-one in transition to give the Aces a 59-52 lead, their longest of the game.
Indiana takes a timeout.
10:51 p.m.: Similar to the first half, teams have exchanged blows to open the second. Indiana went down two possessions before Sims hit a 26-foot three pointer to cut the lead back to 51-50.
Halftime: Aces 44, Fever 42
10:30 p.m.: At halftime, the Aces lead the Fever 47-45. Las Vegas’ three stars, Wilson leads all scorers with 14, while Young has 12 for Las Vegas.
For Indiana, only Mitchell is over double digits with 12. Boston has three fouls to go along with seven points.
Both teams have 37 field goal attempts, with the Aces hitting 18 and the Fever 15. The turnover battle has been one to watch, with the Fever having 10 compared to the Aces’ four.
10:28 p.m.: After Hull airballs a three-pointer, Boston gets the offensive rebound, but as she is backing into the post, she gets an offensive foul.
The Fever star has three fouls already tonight. Hull, who is known for her shooting from deep, is 0-for-4.
10:26 p.m.: During the commercial break, Aces coach Becky Hammon picked up a technical foul.
Becky Hammon was just T’d up during the timeout. She was mad about something and expressed her feelings to official Fatou Cissoko-Stephens.
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) October 1, 2025
On the broadcast, Hammon looked upset and had to be held back by her coaches.
10:23 p.m.: The Fever and Aces continue to exchange shots as the game remains tied with 1:33 left in the first half.
After the Fever took a one-point lead, Jewell Loyd hit Las Vegas’ fourth three of the game to make it 44-42. But, on the next possession, Mitchell hits a layup to get the game to 44-44. She is up to 11 points.
10:19 p.m.: Mitchell hits her second three-pointer of the night to tie the game at 36. So far, both teams have made three shots from behind the arc.
Kelsey Mitchell is feelin’ it 🤗
Mitchell has 11 PTS to lead scoring for the Fever pic.twitter.com/oq0c2jhPAl
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 1, 2025
Indiana and Las Vegas are going neck-and-neck this quarter.
10:18 p.m.: Wilson is taking over the game.
This time, she finds the ball in the paint and puts up another layup. She’s up to 14 on the night.
10:10 p.m.: On her first field goal attempt since coming back into the game, Wilson gets fouled. She hits her first two free throws of the game and is up to 10 points on the night.
The next possession, Gray hits another mid-range to give the Aces a 32-30 lead.
Chelsea Gray finds a sliver of space which is all she needs to get the ball in the hoop🙃
IND-LVA | ESPN2 | WNBA Playoffs | @Google pic.twitter.com/HT1mMFm9V1
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 1, 2025
10:07 p.m.: The teams have been going back-and-forth to start the quarter, with Odyssey Sims and Young exchanging mid-range jump shots before Sims made a free throw on the other end to tie the game.
Wilson has come back into the game after a short stint on the bench.
End of the first quarter: Aces 23, Fever 23
9:59 p.m.: Through one quarter in Las Vegas, we have a tie. The Aces played from behind from most of the quarter, but a 5-0 run gave them the lead.
Wilson leads all scoring with eight.
9:56 p.m.: Las Vegas is starting to heat up from behind the arc. This time, it’s Megan Gustafson with a 27-footer to give the Aces a 19-16 lead.
Indiana turns it over the next possession, already its seventh of the game.
9:50 p.m.: Out of the break, Las Vegas was feeding Wilson every chance they could. After a Wilson layup makes it 15-13 Fever, Jackie Young hits a three in transition to take a one point lead.
The Aces have scored five straight
9:45 p.m.: After both teams went cold, Mitchell hits a three to give Indiana a 11-9 lead at the break.
Nine of Indiana’s 11 points so far have been off of second-chance points.
9:40 p.m.: The Aces take their first lead of the game on a NaLyssa Smith and-one.
9:38 p.m.: Jackie Young gets on the board for her first points of the night, beating Lexie Hull on a hesitation to bank it in.
Jackie Young gets to the rim and kisses it off the glass 👌
IND-LVA | ESPN2 | WNBA Playoffs | @Google pic.twitter.com/vrXlnTnB3N
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 1, 2025
The next possession, Mitchell gets to the free-throw line and hits two from the line.
9:36 p.m.: On the other end, it’s Wilson who opens the scoring for Las Vegas with a basket in the post.
A’ja Wilson delivers on both ends of the floor 🤩
Her steal leads to a coast-to-coast bucket!
IND-LVA | ESPN2 | WNBA Playoffs | @Google pic.twitter.com/1QYuqBisn7
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 1, 2025
Wilson had 31 points in Game 4.
9:35 p.m.: Boston opens the scoring on the first possession of the game. She was blocked by Wilson on her first field goal attempt, then followed it up with a bucket.
9:33 p.m.: The ball has been tipped and we are underway in Las Vegas, with a berth to the WNBA finals on the line.
9:27 p.m.: Tipoff is only minutes away, and the Aces are ready.
Our rook ain’t shy 🤭💃@aaliyah_nye // #RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/2rIKJz0GZF
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 1, 2025
Rookie Aaliyah Nye goes in the center to hype up the team in Las Vegas’ pre-game ritual.
9:19 p.m.: A’Ja Wilson is on the court before Game 5.
Pregame rituals ✅
A’ja Wilson is locked in and ready for Game 5 action!
IND-LVA | 9:30pm/ET on ESPN2 | WNBA Playoffs | @google pic.twitter.com/UTjW2fbBHc
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 1, 2025
The 2025 WNBA MVP had 31 points and nine rebounds in the Game 4 loss.
9:11 p.m.: Both teams have released their starting lineups for tonight, which remain unchanged from Game 4.
Game 5 🔜 pic.twitter.com/OwnuHCctLI
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) October 1, 2025
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄
1️⃣2️⃣ Gray0️⃣ Young1️⃣ Bell3️⃣ Smith2️⃣2️⃣ Wilson
Presented by @DriveToyota // #RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/hVnTtzQ3k7
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 1, 2025
Whoever wins tonight will be advancing to the WNBA finals.
9:02 p.m: Aces fans have showed up for Game 5, hoping their team makes the WNBA finals for the third time in four seasons.
This Aces’ fan is decked out from head to toe! ♠️🃏
📺 Semi-Finals Game 5, 9:30pm/ET on ESPN2
WNBA Playoffs | @google pic.twitter.com/cWRoFql0PB
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 1, 2025
8:54 p.m.: Players have started taking the court for warmups, including the Fever’s dynamic duo of Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston.
Kelsey Mitchell & Aliyah Boston had big time performances in Game 4 🔥
Mitchell: 25 PTS | 3 REB | 4 ASTBoston: 24 PTS | 14 REB | 5 AST
The dynamic duo are hoping for an @IndianaFever victory against the Las Vegas Aces at 9:30pm/ET on ESPN2
WNBA Playoffs presented by @Google pic.twitter.com/P7rsj2rHpk
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 1, 2025
The duo combined for 49 points in the Game 4 win.
8:36 p.m.: The Aces have also arrived for tonight’s game. Dana Evans, who is part of a loaded Las Vegas backcourt, was captured on the Las Vegas Instagram.
heyyyy, Dana 💅 👋
Presented by @Ally // #RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/WSFUZpptQE
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 1, 2025
8:35 p.m.: The Fever have support on the road, including plenty of fans who made the trip to watch their team.
Fever fans traveled all the way to Vegas for Game 5 🤩
If Indiana wins tonight, then they’ll punch their ticket to the Finals!
WNBA Playoffs | @google pic.twitter.com/RXqamthMH7
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 1, 2025
8:10 p.m.: Las Vegas wants to create a hostile environment for Game 5. All fans will have white rally towels.
The stage is set and dressed in white for Game 5 👀
WNBA Playoffs | @google pic.twitter.com/lwbXFIGMST
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 1, 2025
8:05 p.m.: Though the game is in Las Vegas, the Fever have some celebrity support. Tamisha Catchings, who played for Indiana from 2002 to 2016, is in the house cheering on her former team.
Tamika Catchings does not play about the @IndianaFever 👏
She pulled up to Vegas to support her squad!
IND-LVA | 9:30pm/ET | ESPN2 | WNBA Playoffs | @Google pic.twitter.com/mf2JZvJUp1
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 30, 2025
8:00 p.m.: The Fever have arrived before a do-or-die Game 5.
Game 5 attire. pic.twitter.com/aZFlyPC3NA
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 30, 2025
Indiana won in Las Vegas earlier in the series, beating the Aces 89-73 in Game 1.
Is Caitlin Clark playing today?
Clark will not be suiting up in the Fever’s do-or-die matchup, as she was ruled out for the season with a groin injury. Clark averaged 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 8.8 assists this season.
I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season. I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn’t a big enough word to describe how I am feeling. I want to thank everyone who had my back… pic.twitter.com/paD5sEYG1q
— Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22) September 5, 2025
Where to watch Fever vs. Aces tonight
Fever vs. Aces start time
Date: Tuesday, September 30Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Fever vs. Aces will start around 9:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday night Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
What channel is Fever vs. Aces on today?
TV Channel: ESPN2Live Stream: ESPN+, Fubo
Fever vs. Aces Game 5 will be broadcast live on ESPN 2. The game will also be on the ESPN app, along with Fubo, which offers a free trial to new users.
WNBA Finals schedule 2025
DateGameTime (ET)TV/Live streamFri., Oct. 3Game 18 p.m. ESPN, FuboSun., Oct. 5Game 23 p.m.ABC, FuboWed., Oct. 8Game 38 p.m. ESPN, FuboFri., Oct. 10Game 48 p.m.ESPN, FuboSun., Oct. 12Game 5*3 p.m. ABC, FuboWed., Oct. 15Game 6*8 p.m.ESPN, FuboFri., Oct. 17Game 7*8 p.m.ESPN, Fubo
