Las Vegas Aces Humiliated by Fever in Stunning 27-Point Rout as Becky Hammon Calls It the Worst Game She’s Ever Seen

The Indiana Fever didn’t just win a basketball game—they delivered a statement. And the Las Vegas Aces were on the wrong end of it, suffering a brutal 81-54 demolition that left their coach, Becky Hammon, nearly speechless after watching her team stumble to one of its most lopsided defeats in recent memory.

“To be honest, it’s one of the worst games I’ve ever seen,” Hammon declared in frustration during her postgame media availability, her voice echoing the disbelief of Aces fans everywhere. The numbers certainly back her up. Las Vegas, the defending WNBA champions and owners of one of the league’s most talented rosters, shot an abysmal 26.2% from the field and looked out of sorts from the opening tip.

Meanwhile, the Fever—who just days earlier celebrated winning the Commissioner’s Cup—continued riding that momentum like a freight train, rolling through one of the WNBA’s premier franchises without breaking stride. The 27-point defeat wasn’t just an off-night for the Aces; it was a dismantling, the kind of performance that sends shockwaves through locker rooms and front offices alike.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. On paper, the Aces came into the matchup stacked with firepower: A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray—a group capable of overwhelming any opponent. But on Thursday night, none of it mattered. The Fever, hungry and focused, exposed every weakness, while Las Vegas delivered a performance so uncharacteristically poor, it left even neutral spectators shaking their heads.

Indiana’s defensive intensity deserves all the credit. From the jump, they pressured the Aces into rushed decisions, forced contested shots, and suffocated them on the perimeter. The usually fluid Las Vegas offense became a stagnant, predictable mess. Missed shots piled up. Turnovers became routine. Confidence evaporated.

And when the Fever had the ball? They turned Gainbridge Fieldhouse into their personal playground. The Fever weren’t perfect offensively by any means, shooting 40.3% overall, but they hit timely shots, controlled the pace, and thoroughly dominated the glass. The rebounding numbers alone tell part of the story—Indiana outrebounded Las Vegas 49-35, earning second-chance opportunities while denying the Aces nearly every chance to claw their way back.

Yet perhaps the most jarring statistic wasn’t found on the box score—it was in the body language of both teams. Indiana played like a team believing they can beat anyone. The Aces, in contrast, looked shell-shocked, unprepared, and visibly frustrated as the minutes dragged on.

A’ja Wilson, the reigning MVP frontrunner, managed 29 points—over half of Las Vegas’ total—but it was a lone-wolf effort. The rest of the Aces’ lineup combined for just 25 points. No other player cracked double figures. For a franchise synonymous with depth and elite talent, the collapse was almost surreal.

Hammon didn’t mince words in the aftermath.

“It’s not about missing shots. We’ve all been there,” she said. “But effort? Energy? Attention to detail? That was embarrassing. We didn’t show up, plain and simple.”

She added, “You can talk about Xs and Os all day, but if you don’t bring heart, you’re gonna get exposed—and that’s exactly what happened.”

The loss isn’t just a blemish on Las Vegas’ record—it’s a wake-up call. The Aces, winners of back-to-back WNBA titles, have become accustomed to wearing the target. Every opponent circles the date when Las Vegas comes to town. But on this night, it was clear the champs weren’t ready for the fight.

On the other sideline, Fever coach Christie Sides had every reason to be proud. Indiana’s season has been filled with progress and promise, and this victory over the league’s gold standard serves as a signature moment in their rise.

Sides deflected personal credit, instead praising her players’ focus and preparation.

“We didn’t care about names on jerseys tonight,” she said. “We cared about competing, staying disciplined, and believing in each other.”

Indiana’s victory, fueled by a balanced team effort, sends a powerful message across the WNBA landscape: the Fever are no longer a team to overlook. Even without Caitlin Clark suiting up for this game—resting following the Commissioner’s Cup high—the Fever proved they possess the depth and grit to dismantle elite opposition.

Kelsey Mitchell provided timely buckets, NaLyssa Smith controlled the interior, and rookie center Aliyah Boston anchored the defense with authority. It was a masterclass in cohesion, discipline, and relentless hustle.

For Las Vegas, however, this loss invites more questions than answers. Is complacency creeping into the defending champs’ locker room? Is there enough urgency to match the expectations? And how does a team with so many veteran leaders produce such a disjointed, uninspired effort?

The frustration was palpable in the Aces’ postgame interviews. Wilson, despite her dominant individual performance, kept her answers short and reflective.

“We weren’t good enough. That’s the truth,” she said. “We’ve got to look in the mirror—every single one of us.”

Kelsey Plum echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing accountability and a collective reset.

“This isn’t who we are,” Plum stated firmly. “But talk is cheap. We’ve got to prove it on the court.”

The Aces won’t have long to dwell on this debacle. The WNBA schedule waits for no one, and with the playoffs approaching, every game carries added weight. But make no mistake—the blueprint on how to rattle Las Vegas just became public.

Indiana showed that relentless defense, composure, and belief can bring even the biggest giants to their knees. And as the Fever ride the momentum of their Commissioner’s Cup triumph and this statement victory, their confidence only grows stronger.

Meanwhile, Hammon faces one of the biggest challenges of her coaching career: reigniting a dynasty that looked anything but invincible on this humiliating night.

“It’s gut-check time,” Hammon concluded. “We’ll see what we’re made of.”

The rest of the league will be watching. So will Fever fans, whose belief in their team just skyrocketed. One thing’s certain—the next time these two teams meet, it won’t be just another regular season contest. It’ll be personal.