WNBA Dimes

## Semifinal Game 3: Las Vegas Aces vs. Indiana Fever
On Friday, September 26, the No. 2–seed Las Vegas Aces extended their semifinal series lead to 2–1 by downing the No. 6–seed Indiana Fever 84–72 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. After a tight opening quarter, the Aces pulled away behind a balanced attack. Jackie Young exploded for 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting, while Dana Evans chipped in 13 points off the bench to keep pressure on Indiana’s depleted rotation. Despite MVP A’ja Wilson struggling to her season average—finishing with just 13 points on 6-of-20 shooting—Las Vegas’ role players delivered when needed, outscoring the Fever 14-5 in second-chance points and forcing 13 turnovers that led to 10 Aces points. Indiana’s backcourt star Kelsey Mitchell was held to 20 points, slightly below her playoff average of 23.4 PPG, as the Fever committed 22 turnovers—an uncharacteristic number that ultimately proved costly. Las Vegas improved its series record to 2–1 and now returns home for Game 4 on Sunday, September 28th at 9:30 p.m. ET, one win away from the WNBA Finals([swishappeal.com](https://www.swishappeal.com/wnba-content/65033/wnba-playoffs-scores-fever-aces-lynx-mercury-napheesa-collier-injury-refs-officiating-cheryl-reeve-ejected-physical-aja-wilson?utm_source=openai)).

## Semifinal Game 3: Phoenix Mercury vs. Minnesota Lynx
Later Friday night, the Phoenix Mercury pulled off another road upset, defeating the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 84–76 in Game 3 at PHX Arena. Phoenix jumped out to an early lead and never relinquished control, riding hot shooting from their “Big 3.” Satou Sabally poured in a team-high 23 points, while Kahleah Copper added 21 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Alyssa Thomas flirted with another triple-double, finishing with 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists. The Mercury used a suffocating 2–3 zone to force Minnesota into 15 turnovers and limited Napheesa Collier to 17 points—below her season average of 22.0 PPG. Court pressure and quick rotations kept the Lynx guards in check, and Phoenix’s bench outscored Minnesota’s reserves 22–7, providing the decisive margin. With the win, Phoenix takes a 2–1 series lead and will host Game 4 back at PHX Arena on Sunday, September 28th at 7:30 p.m. ET([swishappeal.com](https://www.swishappeal.com/wnba-content/65033/wnba-playoffs-scores-fever-aces-lynx-mercury-napheesa-collier-injury-refs-officiating-cheryl-reeve-ejected-physical-aja-wilson?utm_source=openai)).

## Key Injuries and Officiating Drama
The Mercury–Lynx contest was marked by a contentious late-game sequence in which Napheesa Collier twisted her ankle and fell awkwardly into Alyssa Thomas, forcing Collier to be helped off the court; initial reports indicate Collier may have suffered a bone fracture. Shortly thereafter, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve was ejected with 23.8 seconds remaining after vehemently disputing a non-call on the play, calling the officiating “malpractice” and demanding league-level changes to referee oversight. Postgame, Reeve lamented the disparity in free-throw attempts—Phoenix shot 22 free throws to Minnesota’s 11—and questioned the consistency of foul calls in high-stakes games. The incident underscored growing concerns about player safety and officiating standards in the playoffs, and Collier’s potential absence for Game 4 looms as a major storyline. Both the injury report and league review of the ejection are expected to be addressed before Sunday’s games([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/lynx-coach-cheryl-reeve-fumes-after-napheesa-collier-gets-hurt-loss--flm-2025-09-27/?utm_source=openai)).

## Player News and Off-Court Headlines
Beyond the semifinals, other WNBA news from September 26 highlighted individual resilience and offseason plans:
- Leonie Fiebich of the New York Liberty showcased remarkable toughness by logging 28 minutes in the team’s season-ending Game 3 loss—despite playing with a fractured rib sustained early in the contest. Fiebich finished with three points, three rebounds, and one assist, capping a sophomore season in which she emerged as one of the league’s most efficient shooters (48.9% FG, 42.5% 3-PT, 87.1% FT)([nypost.com](https://nypost.com/2025/09/26/sports/leonie-fiebich-played-liberty-game-3-loss-with-broken-rib/?utm_source=openai)).
- Nyara Sabally, also of the New York Liberty, announced she will sit out the upcoming offseason to fully rehabilitate a recurring knee issue. Sabally, who averaged career highs of 5.4 PPG and 4.5 RPG over 17 games in 2025, is entering the final year of her rookie contract and aims to return stronger for the 2026 campaign([nypost.com](https://nypost.com/2025/09/26/sports/libertys-nyara-sabally-will-sit-out-offseason-to-rest-knee-injury/?utm_source=openai)).

## Series Status and Upcoming Schedule
As of September 27th:
- Las Vegas holds a 2–1 lead over Indiana in their best-of-five semifinal, with Game 4 tipping off at 9:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 28th (ESPN2).
- Phoenix leads Minnesota 2–1, with Game 4 scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 28th (ESPN2).

Both series shift back to the higher seeds’ home courts, where the Aces and Mercury will look to close out and advance to the 2025 WNBA Finals. Injuries to key players (notably Collier) and continued officiating scrutiny promise high drama in the next contests. Stay tuned for WNBA Dimes’ full Game 4 coverage, including live updates, in-depth analysis, and player interviews.