Heated exchange between A'ja Wilson and Myisha Hines-Allen: “They despise them”
Indiana’s Game 2 response was about more than scoring
The Indiana Fever needed a response after being overwhelmed in Game 1, and Rachel DeMita believes the most important change in Game 2 had little to do with shooting percentages or play-calling. It was attitude.
Indiana beat the Las Vegas Aces 99-89 to level the first-round WNBA playoff series, but DeMita pointed to a first-quarter confrontation between Myisha Hines-Allen and A’ja Wilson as the moment the Fever established the kind of edge she had been waiting to see.
“I don’t think that the Fever hate the Aces enough because the Aces hate the Indiana Fever,” DeMita said. “They hate them. They despise them. And you can tell they want nothing else than to beat this team.”
The exchange came with Las Vegas leading 15-13 late in the opening quarter. Hines-Allen was called for a foul while defending Wilson , then shoved the Aces star aside as she argued the decision, prompting a brief confrontation before teammates stepped in.
Hines-Allen gave Indiana what it needed
The moment immediately lifted the atmosphere inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Caitlin Clark clapped toward the crowd, Sophie Cunningham urged fans to get louder, and Indiana began to play with the kind of physicality DeMita felt had been missing from the series opener.
“Myisha Hines-Allen is a dog on this team,” DeMita said. “She doesn’t need to play 25 minutes a game, but she came out and set the tone. And from that, I feel like everything turned.”
That role mattered because Indiana didn't need Hines-Allen to carry the scoring burden.
Clark and Kelsey Mitchell already provide the Fever’s offensive firepower. Hines-Allen ’s job was to make Wilson uncomfortable, and she did exactly that for long stretches.
Wilson had 10 points at halftime on 3-of-8 shooting and committed three turnovers. She eventually finished with 22 points, but never completely took control of the game.
DeMita ’s larger point was about mentality as the Fever travel to Las Vegas for the series deciding game.
“If there’s one team that they circle and they want to beat, it’s the Indiana Fever,” she said. “The Fever have to match that energy. Okay? You can’t have a team that wants to defeat you more than you want to defeat them. You have to take it personally.”
That was the clearest difference from Game 1. Las Vegas had taken control of the series with a 102-85 win, putting Indiana in an elimination game almost immediately.
The Fever responded by playing with far more force, urgency and emotional investment. Home-court advantage belongs to the Aces , and the margin for error is gone for both teams.
Indiana has already proven it can match Las Vegas physically. The next test is whether that same intensity travels.
If it does, Hines-Allen ’s confrontation with Wilson may end up being remembered as more than a heated moment. It could be the point where the Fever finally embraced the rivalry on the Aces’ terms.
