The Las Vegas Aces walked away with the win against the Indiana Fever, but controversy surrounding the officiating followed. For A’ja Wilson, though, the noise appears to be little more than a backdrop. Her boyfriend, Bam Adebayo, has watched her raise the standard for years. The Miami Heat star has even admitted that it is getting harder to describe just how dominant she has become.
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After Heat practice, Bam Adebayo once again tried to put A’ja Wilson’s latest stretch into words. He pointed to something that can happen when a superstar stays at an elite level for too long.
“I feel like people get greatness fatigue, and you know, she just keeps going to another level that I don’t really know how to put into words,” Adebayo said via Zachary Weinberger on X.
That was not the first time the Heat star struggled to find the right description for her partner’s run. Last month, he called what A’ja Wilson was doing “Historic” while speaking with James Jackson of The Athletic.
“I don’t even know how you put a word to what she’s doing. It’s really breathtaking to see somebody continue to raise the bar. She’s a great person to look up to.”
A’ja Wilson has certainly given him plenty to talk about. In Game 3 against the Indiana Fever, she exploded for 36 points and 10 rebounds. She shot 11-for-18 from the field and once again looked like the centerpiece of Las Vegas’ attack. Her numbers across the first-round series were even more striking.
The four-time MVP averaged 32 points, 11.7 rebounds, two blocks and 1.7 steals while shooting 64.6% from the field. Yet the Aces’ victory did not come without controversy.
Late in the fourth quarter, Caitlin Clark took an elbow to the mouth while battling for a rebound. Aces guard Jewell Loyd was coming down from a jump when her elbow caught the Fever guard. No whistle followed. Clark was left bleeding and in pain. She briefly exited the game before returning.
The 2024 WNBA ROTY had scored 11 points in the first quarter but added only seven more points the rest of the way. The bigger issue for Clark appeared to be the lack of a foul call. She could be seen asking officials for a review. She also showed an official her bloodied lip and gums shortly afterward. The officials did not review the play with 3:16 remaining.
Indiana was trailing by five points at the time. WNBA rules do not allow officials to review a play where no foul was called solely to determine whether one should have been called. Afterward, Clark was asked whether she believed a foul should have been called.
“Your guess would be as good as mine,” Clark said. That was not the only sequence that drew attention. With 47 seconds left, Indiana was down just four points when Aliyah Boston was called for a foul after A’ja Wilson appeared to trip over her own feet. The Aces star went to the free-throw line. The call quickly became another talking point among fans online.
Indiana head coach Stephanie White also highlighted the free-throw disparity after the game. “The Aces had 35 free throws, we had 20.” Clark’s response was brief. “Hm, interesting.”
Still, A’ja Wilson’s impact throughout the series extended well beyond the disputed calls. She set the tone immediately in Game 1. The two-time WNBA Finals MVP poured in 38 points as Las Vegas rolled to a 102-85 victory.
She also controlled the game defensively, leading both teams with four blocks. Her 16 rebounds included 12 on the defensive end. Indiana found a better way to contain her in Game 2.
The Fever defense limited A’ja Wilson’s clean looks and forced her into a quieter offensive night. She attempted only one three-pointer and finished 5-for-11 from the field. But the three-time DPOY bounced back in Game 3.
For Adebayo, that response is familiar. He has seen A’ja Wilson face pressure, adjust and find another level. That is why his latest statement was simple yet profound.