More than championship hopes are riding on the Las Vegas Aces’ pivotal Game 3 matchup with the Indiana Fever; legacy is at stake, too. Outside noise will have you believe Caitlin Clark is the face of the WNBA. A'ja Wilson has a chance to dispel this myth by eliminating her superstar opponent from the playoffs and then snatch the MVP crown for the third consecutive season.
A spectacular 27-point, 15-assist performance by Caitlin Clark inspired the Fever's 99-89 victory over the reigning champions in Game 2 of their playoff series. Despite recording 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals, Wilson's usual brilliance wasn't enough to overcome the havoc her opponent wreaked upon her team.
In the eyes of many, this showing could be considered a major turning point in the WNBA, as Clark plucked the torch from A'ja's hand and began her stranglehold on the league. Unfortunately for the Fever faithful, this is far from the case, and Wilson's dominance will continue for the foreseeable future.
Wilson can put an end to Clark discourse
The fact of the matter is that the WNBA is A'ja Wilson's world, and we are all just living in it. Yes, viewership numbers might significantly rise when Caitlin Clark is in town; however, the Las Vegas Aces' overreliance on Wilson's two-way supremacy is just one of several reasons the five-time MVP is not ready to hand over her crown quite yet.
Las Vegas' franchise cornerstone is on course to claim a historic third consecutive MVP trophy -- a feat no other player has achieved in WNBA history. Throughout the 2026 season, Wilson has averaged 26.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game, while shooting 52.7% from the floor.
While the Aces boast a wealth of incredible talent on their roster, such as Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and NaLyssa Smith, Wilson is the heartbeat of this organisation, and without her on the floor, the team struggles to maintain the lofty standards she sets on a nightly basis. The Aces only recorded one win during the three occasions Wilson did not feature in the regular season.
Arguably, the Fever don't face this same problem. They are undoubtedly a stronger unit with Caitlin Clark in the lineup; yet Indiana has won all four games in which their star player hasn't featured -- including an 84-68 victory over the Aces on July 5. Of course, this is an easier proposition with an elite scorer like Kelsey Mitchell on the roster.
There is no denying that both players are bona fide superstars, but at this moment in time, A'ja Wilson is truly untouchable. Her two-way dominance puts her a notch above Caitlin Clark currently. The South Carolina legend can end this debate by dumping her rival out of the playoffs and gracefully accepting the WNBA MVP crown once again.
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