Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Fever rising and the tumbling Aces

The Indiana Fever minus Caitlin Clark started their five-game home stand, smacking down the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday. Two things should be clear: the Fever are a top-four team with a healthy Clark, and the Aces are in trouble. 

Indiana already had the league and public’s attention after schooling the Lynx in Tuesday’s Commissioner’s Cup final for the trophy and cash plus crypto prizes, without their dynamic flamethrower’s help. The outside artillery strikes weren’t falling against Las Vegas, but they were faster on dribble and the off-ball movement created openings.

Despite A’ja doing everything while the purposeless Wilsonettes were glued to the background, Aliyah Boston’s vigor was unequaled as she whooped coverages on rim attacks and jumpers.  Kelsey Mitchell added 25 digits on 50% shooting, dusting defenders and pulling up in their faces. She said after the game that defense is helping the team feast on the attack because of deflections and misses, creating transition.

Clark will soon return to a team whose recent connectivity levels are soaring like a shuttle in orbit. Adding her to the mix is like upgrading with turbo. 

On the other side, complex schemes and zones won’t save the Aces (8-9) because they are unathletic and older. Does the public need to observe another execrable performance after suffering one at the hands of the Golden State Valkyries, Seattle Storm and now the Fever?

Chelsea Gray retired her nickname point gawd being invisible rather than a defense bender. Jewell Loyd again proved why the Seattle Storm were ahead of the curve in getting rid of her. 

Coach Becky Hammon said her team lacked professionalism, arriving with their effort level and didn’t want to fight back in a “rugby match.” She was mostly disturbed by the amount of paint access and layups the Aces conceded, saying it was the worst offensive game she’s coached in her four seasons. 

On top of that, Las Vegas desperately moved their 2027 first-round pick for the talented but undependable NaLyssa Smith, who was defective in her debut, because the team has no other bigs besides Wilson. Keep in mind that they also moved their 2026 FRP to Seattle as part of the six-team swap that got them back what’s left of Loyd. 

Hammon mentioned their close win on the road in Phoenix and went on to bemoan what her squad has been, yet somehow concluded that the issues were more on them than on Indiana.  The opposite is true: the Aces are done as a dynasty and sped up the demise of their build, picking Gray over Kelsey Plum.