Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark suffered a bloody mouth during a physical 94-83 season-ending loss to the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in Game 3 of their first-round WNBA Playoffs series on October 1, 2026, at Michelob ULTRA Arena. The physical elimination game ended the Fever’s postseason run for the second straight year, with the Aces advancing to face the winner of the Golden State-Dallas series.
Jewell Loyd Elbows Caitlin Clark in the Fourth Quarter
With three minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Fever trailing by five points, Caitlin Clark fought for a rebound under the basket and took an elbow to the face from Aces guard Jewell Loyd. Clark immediately grabbed her mouth and dropped to the floor, crawling to the baseline where she received attention from the team trainer once play was finally blown dead. Broadcasters noted that Fever head coach Stephanie White had to call a timeout because the play would not have been stopped otherwise. Clark briefly headed back to the tunnel as the play was reviewed before returning to the court, where she approached a referee and pointed directly at her bloody mouth to protest the non-call.
Stephanie White and Caitlin Clark Criticize Officiating and Free Throw Disparity
Postgame comments from both the player and coach centered heavily on the officiating. The game ended with a significant free throw disparity, as the Aces shot 35 free throws compared to the Fever’s 20. Head coach Stephanie White told IndyStar that the officiating was terrible, highlighting that the foul differential finished 27-19 in favor of Las Vegas and noting a 5-0 foul differential in the third and fourth quarters. When asked after the game why the fourth-quarter hit resulted in no foul being called, Clark offered a brief pause before replying, “Your guess would be as good as mine.” Clark finished the elimination game scoring 11 points in the first quarter but was restricted to just seven points for the remainder of the contest.
Las Vegas Aces Advance Past Indiana Fever
The 94-83 defeat marked the second straight year that Las Vegas eliminated Indiana from the postseason, though last year’s playoff clash took place in the semifinals rather than the first round. The physical nature of the series set a sharp tone at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. The Aces now advance to play the winner of the deciding Game 3 between Golden State and Dallas.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Game 3 Elimination
Who did the Las Vegas Aces play in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Playoffs?
The Las Vegas Aces played the Indiana Fever in a first-round playoff series that concluded on October 1, 2026, with a Game 3 victory.
What was the final score of the deciding Game 3 between the Fever and the Aces?
The Las Vegas Aces defeated the Indiana Fever 94-83 on October 1, 2026, securing their second straight postseason elimination of Indiana.
How many free throws did each team shoot in Game 3?
The Las Vegas Aces shot 35 free throws compared to 20 for the Indiana Fever, contributing to a 27-19 overall foul differential in favor of Las Vegas.
The defending champion Aces eliminated the Fever in last year’s semifinal round before securing this year’s series win in the opening round.