LAS VEGAS -- After winning 17 in a row, including 16 to close the regular season, the Aces have lost two of their last three playoff games, as the Indiana Fever stole Game 1 of the semifinals, 89-73, on Sunday.
Indiana's Kelsey Mitchell, who finished fifth in MVP voting with 93 points, scored a playoff-career high 34 points to lead the Fever.
The victory spoiled A’ja Wilson’s celebration after becoming the WNBA’s first player to win four MVPs in her career earlier in the day.
Wilson, who finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds, shot just 27.3% (6 of 22) from the field.
Jackie Young led Las Vegas with 19 points, Dana Evans came off the bench to score 14 points, and Chelsea Gray chipped in with 13.
The last time the Aces lost a semifinal opener at home was 2022, against Seattle, to which they responded by winning six of their final seven games en route to their first championship.
Game 2 is Tuesday night in Las Vegas.
Here are three takeaways from the game:
SLUGGISH START
Wilson had a double-double by halftime, with 12 points and 10 rebounds, but the Aces couldn't find their way offensively early on.
Instead, it was the sixth-seeded Fever bullying their way around the second seed, en route to a nine-point lead at one point while limiting Las Vegas to 37.5% shooting (15 of 40), including a measly 1 of 6 (16.7%) from 3-point range.
Mitchell outscored everyone in the first quarter, with 17 points on 6 of 14 shooting (42.8%). Howard also chipped in with 10 points while also grabbing five rebounds.
SHOCKER
Crying can do a lot to someone's energy levels. Wilson did her share over 48 hours leading up to the game.
So, while it was a loss nobody saw coming, but after plenty of emotion was poured out Friday at the team facility and Sunday before the game, it may not be as shocking as people think.
Wilson was presented with her MVP trophy on Friday, and was brought to tears during an emotional speech to her teammates. The tears were flowing again Sunday, during a pregame press conference when she spoke about her parents.
It's quite possible that while the Aces were emotionally drained from the celebration of their MVP, the Fever were the team playing with a killer instinct.
BOUNCE BACK
If there is a team that has learned how to win after a loss, it's the Aces.
They'll go into Tuesday's game riding a 7-2 win streak after a loss, dating back to the regular season.
Since Becky Hammon arrived in 2022, the Aces are 35-15 following a loss.
And during their two championship seasons, the Aces were a combined 3-0 after a loss in the playoffs.