Pacers announce the passing of Nancy Leonard and share a statement from the Simon Family. Unbelievably sad news:

Breaking, and sad: Nancy Leonard, widow of Pacers Hall of Fame coach Bobby "Slick" Leonard and one of the most influential people in franchise history, has died at 93. www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Quick story from earlier (the Fever were playing) on the Monte Morris move for the Pacers: www.forbes.com/sites/tonyea...

Aces 90, Fever 68 is the final score. A butt kicking after the Fever kicked butt in Game 1. Vegas defense was great, and they stressed out the Fever on the other end. Wilson got going, Fever stars didn't. It's 1-1 heading back to Indiana.

Fever cut it to 14, then a 10-0 Aces run probably put this game away. They've been much sharper all night.

Odyssey Sims just before the buzzer and it's 70-52 Aces after three quarters. There was one 20-point comeback in the W today, but the Fever have a lot to solve if they're going to have their own. Aces are mashing inside and defending well.

Aces lead has reached 20 again. This has been a miserable quarter for the Fever.

Fever's top-two in shot attempts (Hull and Mitchell) a combined 8/26. For different reasons - Mitchell seeing more bodies as a creator, Hull not hitting shots that she can. Aces D making life much harder today.

I would like to fine the Aces every time they play the "somebody anybody everybody scream" thing

Fever down 10 but the Aces don't like how they're playing. Becky Hammon passionate on the bench and just emphatically motioned for Dana Evans to get into the game. Wanted a different look.

Aces 46, Fever 35 at halftime. Aces much more deliberate today. They're probing well on drives, more connected on defense, and getting more from their stars. So far, Fever haven't found their tempo or punished with jumpers.

Massive 11-0 Fever run to make this a 6-point game. Finally sitting some of the jumpers Vegas has been living with, and the defense has improved too.

This game felt somewhat close to me without looking too much at the scoreboard. It's not. Aces up 34-19 and rolling right now.

Aces 26, Fever 17 after one quarter. Fever got decent play from their stars and showed similar focuses to Game 1, but 6 turnovers was killer. A'ja has 11 points.

Aces with a much tighter defensive shell, and that's cutting off Fever driving and passing lanes. Some open threes are there as a result, though.

Aces keep moving Wilson's catch point farther from the basket. Both of her two there were behind three-point line, including a made triple.

Why has out of bounds been such a hard call in like every WNBA playoff game this year?

NaLyssa Smith and A'ja Wilson with 7 of first 8 Aces shots. Vegas playing through the post early.

ESPN2 has Fever-Aces with the other game in overtime.

Not fouling up 3 strikes again.

Hull is playing - and starting

Stephanie White says Lexie Hull will go through her individual warmup before her status tonight is determined. She has a back injury.

In other point guard news, wrote about Andrew Nembhard and the opportunity ahead for him this season: www.forbes.com/sites/tonyea...

From here. 🎯

Non-guaranteed one-year deal, as @mikeascotto.bsky.social said. Exhibit 9.

League source confirms that the Pacers and veteran guard Monte Morris are in agreement on a contract. @shamsbot.bsky.social first.

Lexie Hull has a back injury and is a late addition to the injury report for Fever-Aces Game 2. She's questionable.

Ashworth and Felton have been waived. Samson Johnson and forward Gabe McGlothan have been signed to Exhibit 10 deals using the open roster spots.

"It doesn’t matter who’s on the floor. It doesn’t matter who’s on our roster. They give each other the freedom to be themselves...When you have that, it just gives you opportunities to do really special things." The Fever, as Vegas found out, can be pretty good: www.thenexthoops.com/features/the...

Today, yapping with @dustindopirak.bsky.social on the biggest storylines to monitor for the Pacers this year. You know the big ones (Nembhard, Mathurin, centers). But what about play style? Other young guys? And more! Listen: open.spotify.com/episode/3Clp... Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4oL...

Wow

The Fever hadn’t faced the real Aces yet, and maybe they still haven’t. But the Aces hadn’t seen this version of the Fever. Not like this, in their current form: www.thenexthoops.com/features/the...

On Sunday in Las Vegas, the Indiana Fever had the chance to show the Las Vegas Aces who they really are. @tonyreast.bsky.social on how the Fever took Game 1 of the semifinals: www.thenexthoops.com/features/the...

"I feel like everybody is bought into the system. That’s why we’ve been so successful. And if we continue doing that, we’re going to still be great." Obi Toppin believes in himself and the Pacers system. He will be important in any Pacers style: www.forbes.com/sites/tonyea...

Pacers announce that they’ve signed Steven Ashworth and R.J. Felton to Exhibit 10 contracts. They both played in summer league for the Pacers.

Today, looking at a possible coming battle for roster spot(s) in Pacers camp, starring... Jalen Slawon? And the other important parts. Plus, Delano Banton and Kobe Bufkin noise, and a big question from a listener. Listen: open.spotify.com/episode/5YEP... Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcq6...

Obi Toppin believes in the new-look Pacers frontcourt. His last two years with the team makes him a big part of whatever alignments the Pacers choose: www.forbes.com/sites/tonyea...

“She has to work incredibly hard for every shot that she gets. So for her to do what she does at the efficiency she does is incredible,” Stephanie White says of Kelsey Mitchell.

"I think she just missed, honestly. She had a lot of great looks... I'll tell you this, she doesn't normally play two stinkers in a row," Hammon says of A'ja Wilson's night.

"They played with greater urgency," Becky Hammon says of the Fever. "I know we're capable. But not if we play like that," she adds later. "Clearly we had no answer for Mitchell."

Fever take Game 1 over the Aces 89-73. It was a 3-point game late in the third quarter, then dominant play from Indy the rest of the way. Kelsey Mitchell: 34 points. Sims, Hull, Boston, and Howard were all excellent in their roles.

Kelsey Mitchell deserves that dagger. Fever will take a 1-0 series lead.

Kelsey Mitchell has the Indiana Fever's first 30-point postseason game since Shavonte Zellous put up 30 to secure a Finals Game 3 win for the Fever en route to their 2012 championship. u.acrossthetimeline.com/stat-SxiAx

Lexie Hull is 2/5 and has basically played a perfect game outside of the 3 misses.

58-53 Fever when A'ja Wilson exited with 4 fouls. 3:21 to go in the quarter. It's 69-55 Fever after three quarters. 11-2 Fever after the MVP took a seat. Huge stretch, now one quarter left.

Fever lead dropped down to 3, then a 7-0 run in 1:22 and it's back to 10. Much-needed response from the Fever.

Fever lead reached 14, then a 10-0 Aces run as the Fever give it away a few times. Key stretch to end the third incoming.

I keep thinking "no way the Aces keep getting beat up the floor so easily" and, well, they do.

Fever 41, Aces 36 at halftime. Fever have done well to get their pace into the game today, and it's been guiding their offensive success so far. 17 points for Kelsey Mitchell. Good half from Natasha Howard.

The refs just gave the Aces the ball, but even the Aces thought it was Fever ball and were walking back to defend. That’s a new one.