Dallas Wings Fall to Indiana Fever, 88-78, Marking Third Loss of the Season

On Friday night, the Dallas Wings faced off against the Indiana Fever at the American Airlines Center, ultimately succumbing to an 88-78 defeat. This loss marks the third time this season that the Wings have been unable to secure a victory against the Fever.

Originally, the matchup was anticipated as a showdown between Clark and Paige Bueckers; however, Clark's absence due to injury—her 15th game missed—did not deter the Fever, who improved their record to 8-7 without her.

Bueckers, the standout rookie, captivated the crowd of 17,857—second largest in Dallas history—by scoring 22 points. This performance marked her 12th game with 20 or more points, further extending her WNBA record for consecutive double-figure scoring games.

Despite Bueckers' efforts, she was the only player from the Wings to reach double digits. Arike Ogunbowale contributed eight points but did not participate in the fourth quarter.

The Fever's Kelsey Mitchell showcased her speed and skill, leading her team with 23 points. Additionally, Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard both recorded double-doubles, contributing significantly to Indiana's success.

A pivotal moment occurred in the second quarter when the Fever surged ahead with a 9-0 run, breaking a 22-22 tie at the end of the first quarter and establishing a 48-42 lead by halftime. By the end of the third quarter, Indiana had extended their lead to 70-57.

Although Dallas managed to narrow the gap to 75-69 midway through the fourth quarter, Indiana quickly responded with five consecutive points, effectively sealing their victory.

Indiana tied their season high with 19 turnovers but excelled from beyond the arc, hitting 12 three-pointers. In stark contrast, Dallas struggled significantly, not making a three-pointer until the fourth quarter and finishing with a dismal 2 for 15 from long range—13.3%, a season low.

While the Wings excelled at the free-throw line, going 24 for 25, they were outmatched on the boards, with Indiana holding a plus-14 advantage overall and plus-10 on offensive rebounds.

"No excuses. Proud of our resilience in the fourth quarter, but again, we need toughness right from the tip," said Wings head coach Chris Koclanes during the post-game press conference. He elaborated on his team's struggles offensively and emphasized the need for greater effort when shots aren't falling.

Koclanes acknowledged that there are areas for improvement as his team looks to grow. Meanwhile, forward Maddy Siegrist is expected to return from a knee injury for their next game against the New York Liberty. Initially slated to play against Indiana, she was ruled out prior to tip-off.

Siegrist has been sidelined for 17 games due to a right knee fracture. Previously, she was the NCAA Division I scoring leader while playing for Villanova in 2022-23 and faced challenges during her rookie season two years ago due to injuries.

In her limited appearances this season, Siegrist has averaged 9.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Her only double-double came before her injury when she scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in an 81-65 loss to Minnesota on June 8.

The Wings will hit the road again on Tuesday, August 5, to take on the New York Liberty at 6 p.m. CT. Dallas currently leads the series against New York with a victory of 92-82 on July 28.