Plum scores 34, Aces beat Fever 88-69 in front of fifth-largest crowd in WNBA history

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kelsey Plum scored 34 points and the Las Vegas Aces defeated the Indiana Fever, 88-69, in front of the fifth-largest crowd in WNBA history on Tuesday night.

With an announced gathering of 20,366, the largest regular-season crowd at a WNBA game since 1999, the two-time defending champion Aces won their fifth straight.

A’ja Wilson added 28 points and nine rebounds, while Jackie Young had 15 points and 10 assists. Kiah Stokes added 12 rebounds.

Indiana’s All-Star contingent of Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark combined to score 54 points — 78.2% of the team’s scoring. All three were named to the WNBA All-Star team that will play the U.S. Olympic team in Phoenix on July 20.

Plum, Wilson, Young and Chelsea Gray are all on Team USA.

Mitchell led the Fever with 23 points, while Clark finished with 13 points and 11 assists and Boston chipped in with 18 points and 11 rebounds. NaLyssa Smith had 14 rebounds for Indiana.

The Fever did their best to duplicate their comeback on Sunday, when they rallied from 15 down to beat Phoenix. After falling behind by as much as 11 early in the third quarter, the Fever rode the hot hand of Clark to draw closer.

After a dismal first half, Clark came in the third, hitting 3 of 5 from the floor while also keying a 12-6 run to start the quarter. The Fever trailed by four heading into the final quarter.

But the Aces opened the fourth quarter on a 14-0 run and never looked back. When Mitchell scored Indiana’s first points of the fourth it was too late.

UP NEXT

Fever: Host New York on Saturday.

Aces: Host Washington on Thursday

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark autographs a basketball for a fan before a WNBA basketball game between the Las Vegas Aces and the Indiana Fever Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces guard Kate Martin, left, and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, former teammates at the University of Iowa, chat on the court prior to a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) defends against Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) during the first half of an WNBA basketball game Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) prepares for an WNBA basketball game between the Las Vegas Aces and the Indiana Fever Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) is fouled by Las Vegas Aces center Kiah Stokes (41) during the first half of an WNBA basketball game Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, left, and Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson, center, vie for a loose ball during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson celebrates after scoring and drawing a foul during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) takes the ball past Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) during the first half of an WNBA basketball game Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — England will play Switzerland in the quarterfinals of Euro 2024 on Saturday. England faced criticism from fans who thought the team underperformed in its extra-time win over Slovakia, while Switzerland exceeded expectations by knocking out defending champion Italy. The winner will play either the Netherlands or Turkey in the semifinals. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. local (1600 GMT) in Duesseldorf. Here’s what to know about the match:

— England is playing its fourth quarterfinal game at a major tournament under England manager Gareth Southgate and won two of the previous three. Southgate's cautious tactics have brought hefty criticism from England fans, some of whom threw plastic cups at him in the group stage.

— Jude Bellingham's last-minute overhead kick to send England's last-16 game with Slovakia to extra time was one of the most dramatic moments of Euro 2024 so far. Defender John Stones said Thursday that surviving that brush with elimination gave the team new confidence.

— Switzerland coach Murat Yakin has won a reputation for smart tactics at Euro 2024, especially by outclassing an Italy team packed with more famous names in the round of 16.

— England is playing two days after a general election ended 14 years of rule by the Conservative Party. It didn't make waves in the England camp, which Stones called a “politics-free zone."

— Bellingham is under investigation by UEFA after seemingly making a gesture toward his crotch during England's last game. He has denied he was mocking Slovakia, saying it was an “inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game.”

— England defender Marc Guéhi is suspended after picking up a second booking against Slovakia. Ezri Konsa, who came off the bench in extra time in that game, is the favorite to replace him in the center of defense alongside Stones.

— Stones wore heavy strapping on his right knee in training Wednesday but said Thursday he's fit to play.

— Bellingham, forward Phil Foden and full back Kieran Trippier are among five England players who would miss the semifinals if booked against Switzerland. Captain Granit Xhaka is one of four Swiss players in the same situation.

— Southgate is marking his 100th game in charge and it could be his last. His contract expires after the tournament.

— Switzerland hasn't beaten England for 43 years. Harry Kane scored the winning goal when England had a comeback 2-1 win the last time they played in a 2022 friendly.

— It's only the third time the Swiss team is playing in the quarterfinals of a major tournament. It has yet to reach a semifinal. A penalty-shootout loss to Spain in the quarterfinals of Euro 2020 was its best European Championship showing.

— “The other night, I thought we were going home after 60 minutes of the game. To change the mindset of us all and keep that belief and faith, it’s got a lot of power behind that for ourselves, other teams. Everyone watching at home knows that we’re there to do it right until the last minute, literally. And, I think we should take great confidence from that.” — England defender John Stones.

— “Every team participating in the Euro wants to win, and so do we. But in the end, we are having both feet on the ground. We know who we are and where we’re coming from. We know our basics. That is keeping us in the tournament until now.” — Switzerland midfielder Steven Zuber.

AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024

Switzerland's Remo Freuler, right, celebrates with Granit Xhaka after scoring the opening goal during a round of sixteen match between Switzerland and Italy at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Switzerland's head coach Murat Yakin center left, smiles during a training session of the Swiss national soccer team in Stuttgart, Germany, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Peter Klaunzer/Keystone via AP)

England's Harry Kane, second left, takes part in a training session in Blankenhain, Germany, Wednesday, July 3, 2024 ahead of the quarter final round match against Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

England's manager Gareth Southgate embraces goalkeeper Jordan Pickford at the end of a round of sixteen match between England and Slovakia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Sunday, June 30, 2024. England won 2-1. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)