Kelsey Plum delivered a stellar performance on Tuesday night, scoring a season-high 34 points to lead the Las Vegas Aces to an 88-69 victory over the Indiana Fever at T-Mobile Arena. Plum’s impressive stat line included six 3-pointers, six rebounds, five assists, and one steal. She scored 12 points in the fourth quarter alone, while the entire Fever team managed only 10 points in the same period.
A Remarkable Comeback
This game was a significant rebound for Plum, who had scored just two points in a previous outing against the Washington Mystics on Saturday. Apart from that game, Plum has consistently scored in double figures this season, achieving 20+ points six times and marking her first 30-point game of 2024 on Tuesday. With her latest performance, Plum also surpassed the 3,000-career point milestone, reaching 3,002 points.
“I’m just going to stay aggressive,” Kelsey Plum stated in her postgame interview on ESPN. “Sometimes shooters miss, sometimes they make. But I know what I am and I know my teammates believe in me. My coaches believe in me.”
Team Dynamics and Leadership
The Aces, winners of the last two WNBA championships, faced early season challenges, particularly with Chelsea Gray out due to a foot injury. However, since Gray’s return, the team has secured five consecutive wins. “Chelsea is our leader. She gets us going,” Plum said. “I’ve said it before, she is like the sugar in our cake. We are in a good rhythm right now. We are not going to panic. We lost a couple games early, but we are just going to keep doing our thing.”
Stellar Support from Teammates
A’ja Wilson also had a standout game with 28 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and five blocks. Jackie Young contributed a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Defensive Prowess
The Aces’ defense played a crucial role in the victory. While Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston led the Fever with 23 and 18 points, respectively, the Aces effectively disrupted Caitlin Clark. Indiana’s top scorer was held to just one field goal in the first half and went 4-for-12 overall, with no baskets in the fourth quarter. Despite this, Clark recorded 13 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds.
“We have a lot of competitors in our team. I call them ‘Hungry Hippos,'” Plum said. “We really want to win and we understand that our defense is the reason we have been able to win. That has to be better, it has to continue to be better.”
Looking Ahead
With this victory, the Aces improved to 10-6. They will next face the Washington Mystics on Thursday. The Indiana Fever, now 8-13, have a challenging game ahead as they host the New York Liberty on Saturday, which will be broadcast on CBS and Paramount+ at 1 p.m. ET.
Kelsey Plum’s outstanding comeback performance underscores her resilience and the Aces’ determination to maintain their championship form.
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