Aces-Fever set for Game 3 as Hammon targets pace shift in WNBA semifinals
With the series tied 1-1, Las Vegas looks to push tempo in Indiana after coach Becky Hammon criticized officiating in Game 2.
Las Vegas travels to Indiana for Game 3 of the 2025 WNBA semifinals, with the Aces listed as four-point favorites and a 162.5-point total. The series stands 1-1 after Las Vegas dominated Game 2 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, setting up a decisive matchup in Indiana where the Fever will try to regain home-court momentum.
Becky Hammon, the Aces coach, called the game’s physicality “out of control” after Game 2 and criticized officials for allowing defenders to place two hands on a ball handler without a whistle. The officiating chatter comes as 41 fouls were whistled in Game 2, compared with 27 in Game 1. A'ja Wilson, the league MVP frontrunner who was held to 22 points on 6-for-22 shooting in Game 1, rebounded with 25 points in the decisive win to help Las Vegas pull ahead in the series.
Late-season shake-up: On Aug. 3, Hammon changed two players in Las Vegas' starting lineup, a move that helped the Aces finish the regular season with 16 straight wins. Over that stretch, Las Vegas ranked eighth in pace at 92.35 possessions per game, rising to 94.30 on the road. Indiana Fever also played at a faster pace during the same window, ranking fifth at 93.92, a figure that held both at home and on the road. But injuries in Indiana shortened its rotation, contributing to a faster tempo in the opening half of the series. 
The series has already exposed differences in how the teams approach tempo. In Game 2, Las Vegas leveraged its depth and a more fluid attack to pull away, while Indiana’s rotation was tested by injuries, pushing the Fever to rely on a quicker pace in the opening minutes. Indiana center Aliyah Boston has anchored the defense against Wilson, aiming to limit the MVP candidate’s shooting rhythm, while Jackie Young contributed to Las Vegas’ ball movement and guard play. The first two games have shown a contrast between a controlled Aces offense and a Fever squad that has flashed speed when its rotation is healthy.
Analysts have noted that Hammon’s coaching background—spent eight seasons as an assistant under San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich—has influenced her emphasis on pace, spacing and depth. In the playoffs, she has emphasized a game flow that rewards stamina and the ability to sustain pressure into the second half, a formula some observers believe could tilt the series in Las Vegas’ favor if it persists in Game 3. The matchup in Indiana will test whether Las Vegas can maintain a higher pace and whether Indiana can slow the tempo enough to counterbalance the Aces’ experience and execution.
Indiana’s faster first-half tempo in the early games of the series reflected the Fever’s rotation and injury considerations. While the pace figures point to a preferred style for Indiana when available players are healthy, the absence or limited minutes of key contributors has compressed the rotation and influenced substitutions, which in turn affects how aggressively both teams push the ball. With the series returning to Indiana, the Fever will again face the challenge of matching Las Vegas’ depth while trying to leverage Wilson’s scoring ability and Boston’s interior defense.
Looking ahead, teams and wagering outlets have framed Game 3 as a potential pivot point. The Aces’ ability to sustain a high pace and execute in transition will be a focal point, while Indiana will aim to capitalize on any streaks and use home-court familiarity to regain control of the series. The next game will mark a crucial moment in the semifinals as both teams seek to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. The outcome will hinge on how well each squad manages foul trouble, defensively disrupts opposing ball handlers, and converts in the paint.
As the series moves forward, fans and analysts will watch whether the officiating, tempo, and depth play out in a way that favors the team with more stamina and fewer interruptions. The Aces and Fever have shown they can adapt, and Game 3 is poised to reveal which team can impose its preferred pace over four quarters.
The betting line remains a talking point heading into the game, with Las Vegas favored and the total set in the mid-160s. Beyond the Xs and Os, the matchup will test how each team handles the pressure of a high-stakes playoff setting and whether the home-court advantage for Indiana or the road-tested resilience of Las Vegas will decide the series’ direction.
