Kelsey Mitchell scores 34 points, leads Fever to Game 1 upset win over Aces, 89-73

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kelsey Mitchell scored a playoff-career high 34 points and the Indiana Fever beat the Las Vegas Aces 89-73 on Sunday in Game 1 of the best-of-five semifinal series.

After seeing their double-digit lead shrink to three points with 2:51 left in the third, the Fever closed the quarter on an 11-0 run to extend their advantage to 14 points, seizing control of the game and never looking back.

Mitchell, who finished fifth in MVP voting with 93 points, scored 17 points in the first half, setting the tone for the Fever’s offense. The veteran guard, who finished the regular season ranked third in scoring with 20.2 points per game, shot 12 of 23 (52.2%) from the floor, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range in the first semifinal game of her career.

“I think what you guys see is just me trying to just be a kid in the playground," said Mitchell, whose scoring tally was the second-highest in franchise history.

Odyssey Sims had 17 points, while Natasha Howard had 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The Fever finished the game hitting 50% from the floor (34 of 68), while the Aces shot just 29 of 71 (40.8%).

“We wanted to come in and be the aggressor right away to make sure that we were dictating on the defensive end, and we were dictating from a pace standpoint,” Fever coach Stephanie White said. “We knew that they were going to make runs. They made a big one in the third and we responded with a big one. It’s one game, it’s a long series. ... But to come in here and to be able to steal this one was big for us.”

The victory spoiled A’ja Wilson’s celebration for becoming the WNBA’s first player to win four MVPs in her career. The 29-year-old, who was also named the AP Player of the Year, finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Wilson shot just 27.3% (6 of 22) from the field.

Jackie Young led the Aces with 19 points, while Dana Evans came off the bench to score 14 points and Chelsea Gray chipped in with 13.

Las Vegas hadn’t lost at home since Aug. 2, when the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx handed the Aces the worst home loss in WNBA history, a 53-point beatdown. From that point, the Aces closed the regular season on a 16-game win streak before defeating the Seattle Storm in the opening round.

The win was even more impressive, considering the Aces came into the game without a single player on the injured list, while the Fever had six.

Already shorthanded without Chloe Bibby (left knee), Caitlin Clark (right groin), Sydney Colson (left knee), Sophie Cunningham (right knee) and Aari McDonald (right foot), Indiana added Damiris Dantas to the list, as she was in concussion protocol.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, right, shoots against Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young, left, in the second half of Game 1 of a WNBA basketball playoff semifinals series Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson talks with reporters during a news conference Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus /Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young, right, drives past Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, left, in the first half of Game 1 of a WNBA basketball playoff semifinals series Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)

Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) reacts after a foul by the Indiana Fever in the first half of Game 1 of a WNBA basketball playoff semifinals series Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) looks to shoot against Indiana Fever forward Makayla Timpson, left, in the first half of Game 1 of a WNBA basketball playoff semifinals series Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison Friday on some charges related to his imposition of martial law.

The verdict is the first against Yoon in the eight criminal trials over the decree he issued in late 2024 and other allegations.

The most significant charge against him alleges that he led a rebellion in connection with his martial law enforcement and it carries a potential death penalty.

The Seoul Central District Court in the case decided Friday sentenced him for other charges like his defiance of authorities’ attempts to detain him.

Yoon hasn’t immediately publicly responded to the ruling. But when an independent counsel earlier demanded a 10-year prison term for Yoon over those charges, Yoon’s defense team accused them of being politically driven and lacking legal grounds to demand such “an excessive” sentence.

Yoon has been impeached, arrested and dismissed as president after his short-lived imposition of martial law in December 2024 triggered huge public protests calling for his ouster.

Yoon maintains he didn’t intend to place the country under military rule for an extended period, saying his decree was only meant to inform the people about the danger of the liberal-controlled parliament which obstructed his agenda. But investigators have viewed Yoon’s decree as an attempt to bolster and prolong his rule, charging him with rebellion, abuse of power and other criminal offenses.

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol waits for a bus carrying former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs as police officers stand guard outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A picture of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is placed on a board as supporters gather outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)