The stat lines in this series are off the charts.
A'ja Wilson is perhaps the greatest player in the history of the WNBA, so seeing her put up gargantuan stat lines is not surprising. For her to be setting not only personal bests but breaking records? A special situation is spurring her on.
On the opposite team, Caitlin Clark is at the beginning of her career, but she is showing the uniqueness of her talent as she likewise sets new WNBA records in just the second playoff series of her career.
The common denominator? The Indiana Fever's style of play.
A'ja and Caitlin are breaking records
The presumptive MVP of the WNBA this season, A'ja Wilson absolutely dominated the Indiana Fever in Game 1. She scored 38 points, pulled down 16 rebounds, and added two steals and four blocks. What's more, she did so while shooting 15-of-19 from the field.
Wilson became the first player in the history of the W to have even 35 and 15 on that level of efficiency. Even at 30 years old, Wilson is setting new records.
Clark is making history as well. No WNBA player ever had a double-double with assists in a single playoff half until Clark did it in Game 2. She did not slow down much in the second half, either, at least until she fouled out of the game. Her final stat line of 27 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds has never been replicated in a WNBA game before, let alone the playoffs.
Clark's passing brilliance is on full display. While she has played only four career playoff games, she is averaging 10.5 assists per game. That is No. 1 in WNBA history by a mile, well ahead of Alyssa Thomas (7.1) and Courtney Vandersloot (6.4). It's a small sample,. but it's a dazzling sample.
These two superstars are breaking records left and right, in part because they are in the right place at the right time.
The Fever are perfect for making history
The Indiana Fever had the league's highest-scoring offense this season, averaging a whopping 96 points per game. The Las Vegas Aces, in second, averaged 91.5 points per game; they were closer to the Los Angeles Sparks in 7th place than the Fever in first.
Opponents also have plenty of space to spread their wings. Among playoff teams, no team allowed as many points per game as the Fever. In fact, of the league's eight worst defenses this season, the only one to make the postseason was the Fever.
Now sprinkle in that the Fever had the league's third-fastest pace (and again, first out of playoff teams) and you have the perfect environment for records to be broken.
Game 3 between the Aces and Fever will be Thursday night back in Las Vegas. The winner will advance to the second round to play the winner of Golden State and Dallas, and the loser will be eliminated. As the stakes go up, so does the bar for what special looks like. Wilson, Clark and stars on both sides will need to step up.
And the Fever provide the perfect platform for amazing to happen. Expect more history to be made in Game 3.
Add us as a preferred source on Google