LAS VEGAS — The No. 3 seeded Las Vegas Aces and the No. 6 Indiana Fever will meet in the first round of the 2026 WNBA playoffs on Sunday, Sept. 27 in a rematch of the 2025 semifinals.
The Aces beat the Fever 3-2 in a five-game series last season before going on to win their third championship in four years. It took overtime in Game 5 for the Aces to eliminate the short-handed Fever squad.
"That series means nothing. I mean, it's a whole 'nother team that we have, and they're different as well," Fever coach Stephanie White. "It's another year of experience for some people as well. This year's has nothing to do with last year's."
Indiana was without superstar guard Caitlin Clark last postseason, but she's back in the lineup now. The Fever won the 2026
regular-season series against the Aces 2-1. Clark played in two of the games with a win and a loss as she dealt with a back injury.
The Fever announced injury news Saturday, confirming guard Ty Harris will miss the postseason after breaking a bone in her lower left leg.
Fever center Aliyah Boston exited the team's regular-season finale against the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday night due to a "flare up" of a lower leg injury. She said Saturday she feels "like we've played 40, 40-plus games, but taking it day by day."
Kelsey Mitchell leads the Fever in scoring (24.7 points per game). Clark adds 22.3 points a game and Aliyah Boston leads the team in rebounds (7.9), blocks (1.5) and steals (1.2).
"Who you see the Aces are in a regular season is not who they are," Mitchell told reporters on Saturday as she described the Fever's drive to win the franchise's first championship since 2012.
"They have championships, they have winners. They've done it. They have a little bit more experience to us in that department. The one thing I pride myself on is showing up to taking a challenge every day. Take the challenge, no matter what."
Four time MVP A'ja Wilson is is leading the Aces — and the league — in scoring (26.2 points) and blocks (1.9). Aces coach Becky Hammon said Wilson has a lingering back issue, but noted that it hasn't slowed her down.
Here's everything you need to know about the first-round playoff matchup between the Aces and Fever:
What time is Aces vs Fever?
The No. 3 seed Las Vegas Aces faces off against the No. 6 seed Indiana Fever in the first round of the 2026 WNBA playoffs at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 27, at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 27
- Time: 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT)
- Location: Michelob Ultra Arena (Las Vegas)
What TV channel is Aces vs Fever on today?
The first-round matchup between the Aces and Fever on Sunday, Sept. 27, will be broadcast on ABC. The contest can also be streamed on the ESPN App.
- Channel: ABC
- Stream: ESPN App
Las Vegas Aces vs. Indiana Fever first-round schedule
- Sunday, Sept. 27: Game 1 | 4 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Tuesday, Sept. 29: Game 2 | 6:30 p.m. ET (Prime)
- Thursday, Oct. 1: Game 3 (if necessary) | TBD
2026 WNBA playoffs bracket
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Las Vegas Aces vs. Indiana Fever: Time, how to watch WNBA playoffs
