LAS VEGAS (AP) — A'ja Wilson made sure her basketball spoke for itself Thursday night, as the four-time WNBA MVP scored 36 points to lead the defending champion Las Vegas Aces to a 94-83 victory over the Indiana Fever in the deciding Game 3 of the first round.
The third-seeded Aces, who have won three of the past four titles, moved on to play the winner of the Golden State-Dallas series, which will be decided Friday night in San Francisco.
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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) takes a three-point shot over Las Vegas Aces guard Mai Yamamoto (18) during the first half in Game 3 of an WNBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, Oct.1, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) pulls down a rebound by Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull (10) during the first half in Game 3 of an WNBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, Oct.1, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives against Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) during the first half in Game 3 of an WNBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, Oct.1, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) is pressured by Indiana Fever forward Makayla Timpson (21) and guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) during the first half in Game 3 of an WNBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, Oct.1, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)
This is the second year in a row Las Vegas has ended the season for Caitlin Clark and the Fever, who were seeded sixth. The teams met in the semifinals a year ago, with the Aces pulling out an overtime victory in the finale of the five-game series.
Wilson book ended this series with sensational performances in Games 1 and 3, making her sure verbal confrontation with a Fever fan Tuesday in Indianapolis wouldn't be the enduring memory. The league did not punish Wilson, who opened the series with 38 points and 16 rebounds, followed up in this game by making 11 of 18 shots and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Teammate Chelsea Gray added 23 points and Jackie Young scored 18.
Clark scored 11 points in the first quarter, but was held to seven the rest of the game. Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 23 points and Aliyah Boston had 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Tensions ran high again Thursday, both teams bringing the physical play expected when each season is on the line in a game that had the intensity of a WNBA Finals.
Clark and Las Vegas' Brianna Turner each picked up a technical foul just more than three minutes into Game 3. The Fever were huddling on the court when Turner worked her way into the group only to be shoved out by Clark.
Early in the second quarter, Indiana coach Stephanie White was called for a technical, arguing that Turner brought down Lexie Hull, who instead picked up the foul.
The Aces threatened to run away from Indiana in the third quarter, taking a 67-55 before going cold over the final 4:32 and making just one shot. The Fever twice cut their deficit to two points in the fourth to make Las Vegas sweat out the ending.
Aces forward Stephanie Talbot, who started all but one game this season, did not play because of a leg injury and was replaced by Jewell Loyd, who scored 11 points. Talbot averaged 8.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in the first two games of this series.
See AP’s full WNBA coverage here
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) takes a three-point shot over Las Vegas Aces guard Mai Yamamoto (18) during the first half in Game 3 of an WNBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, Oct.1, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) pulls down a rebound by Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull (10) during the first half in Game 3 of an WNBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, Oct.1, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives against Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) during the first half in Game 3 of an WNBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, Oct.1, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) is pressured by Indiana Fever forward Makayla Timpson (21) and guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) during the first half in Game 3 of an WNBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, Oct.1, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)
ATLANTA (AP) — Michael Harris II hit a three-run homer in the first inning, Ray Kerr threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 on Thursday night in the decisive Game 3 of their National League Wild Card Series.
Ozzie Albies launched a two-run homer in the fourth and Matt Olson added a solo shot in the seventh for the Braves, who advanced to a best-of-five Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Braves took a postseason series for the first time since winning the 2021 World Series and earned their first playoff series win against the Phillies. Philadelphia beat Atlanta in the 1993 NL Championship Series and the 2022 and 2023 NLDS.
After winning the NL East by six games over Philadelphia this year, the Braves came out on top in their postseason matchup, too.
“Those guys kind of went start to finish in this division,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said. “Over the course of the 162 (games), they were the best team in our division.”
Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola was pulled after allowing three runs in 1 2/3 innings. Nola walked Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson with one out in the first before giving up the homer to Harris, who hit into two double plays in Wednesday's 4-3 loss in 10 innings which forced Thursday night's game.
Kerr made his postseason debut in only his fourth career start. Braves manager Walt Weiss wanted a left-hander to face Phillies left-handed hitters Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper at least once.
Kerr allowed only one hit — to Schwarber in the first — and one walk — to Schwarber in the fourth. Right-hander Grant Holmes followed Kerr and allowed one run in two innings to earn the win.
Kerr left to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd and acknowledged the cheers by lifting up his arm as he approached the dugout.
Left-hander Chris Sale, the starter in Atlanta's 5-3 win in Tuesday's series opener, struck out Harper to end the eighth and closed out the win in the ninth by striking out Bryan De La Cruz and pinch-hitter Otto Kemp.
Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler, the winning pitcher in Sunday's 7-3 victory over Tampa Bay that clinched the wild-card spot, walked Austin Riley in the fourth before giving up Albies' homer to right field that gave Atlanta a 5-0 lead. Wheeler allowed two runs in four innings. Jonathan Bowlan, Philadelphia's fourth pitcher, gave up Olson's homer to center field.
Kerr, 32, flourished in the postseason spotlight. He pitched in only nine games after being recalled by Atlanta on Aug. 16. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024 and didn’t pitch in 2025.
Philadelphia's 2022 World Series loss to Houston began a streak of five straight postseason appearances with progressively quicker exits — the NL Championship Series, two NLDS exits and now the Wild Card Series loss.
“If you don’t win the last game, it’s a crash landing no matter what. It doesn’t matter where it is,” Mattingly said.
The game drew a sellout of 41,731 after the Braves fell short of sellouts in the first two games of the series, with school and work conflicting with the 2:15 p.m. first pitch for many fans. Afternoon starts also hurt attendance in other Wild Card Series games this week.
The announced attendance at Truist Park was 30,127 on Tuesday and 37,150 on Wednesday.
Edmundo Sosa remained in the Phillies' starting lineup at third base after he appeared to aggravate a groin injury running to first base and left Wednesday's game in the ninth inning. Mattingly said second baseman Luis Arraez, who was left off the roster for the series due to a left ankle sprain, has progressed to working in the weight room.
Weiss said Braves right-hander Tyler Mahle, who allowed only one run in seven innings on Wednesday despite feeling an abdominal pull in pregame warmups, was “feeling pretty good” on Thursday.
The Braves will play at Dodger Stadium on Saturday in the opening game of their Division Series against the two-time defending World Series champions.
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II hits a three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning during Game 3 of baseball's NL Wild Card Series, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II celebrates his three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning during Game 3 of baseball's NL Wild Card Series, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola throws against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning during Game 3 of baseball's NL Wild Card Series, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Ray Kerr waves as he walks to the dugout against the Philadelphia Phillies in the fourth inning during Game 3 of baseball's NL Wild Card Series, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II, third from left, celebrates his three-run home run with Mauricio Dubón (14), Matt Olson, second from left, and Ronald Acuña Jr., right, against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning during Game 3 of baseball's NL Wild Card Series, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
