Caitlin Clark showcased her skills with 14 points, 13 assists, and a career-high-tying five steals, leading the Indiana Fever to a 102-83 victory over the Dallas Wings on Sunday. This game marked the first meeting between the last two No. 1 overall picks in the WNBA draft, with rookie Paige Bueckers representing the Wings.
Bueckers had a commendable performance, shooting 9 of 15 from the field and contributing 21 points, four rebounds, and four assists to her team’s efforts. Despite her strong showing, it was not enough to secure a win against the Fever.
Clark, who is still on a minutes restriction as she returns from lower-body injuries, achieved her second career game with at least 10 points, 10 assists, and five steals. This accomplishment places her among an elite group of just five players in WNBA history to have multiple games of this caliber.
The Fever's offensive display was remarkable, recording a franchise-record-tying 30 assists throughout the game. Indiana (11-10) dominated the first half, scoring 64 points—the highest total in a half for the WNBA this season—allowing them to establish an 18-point lead by halftime. Aari McDonald ignited the scoring with a three-pointer just 33 seconds into the second quarter, setting the tone for a period where the Fever amassed 36 points on an impressive 16-of-21 shooting.
For the Wings (6-16), Li Yueru contributed significantly with 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while JJ Quinerly added 13 points and Aziaha James chipped in with 11. However, Arike Ogunbowale struggled upon her return from a thumb injury, finishing the game with only two points after going 0 for 10 from the field.
Indiana's Natasha Howard led her team with 18 points, while Aliyah Boston and Sophie Cunningham added 17 and 13 points respectively. The Fever's balanced scoring was crucial in maintaining their lead throughout the game.
In a notable scheduling change, the Dallas Wings have moved their upcoming game against the Indiana Fever on August 1 to the American Airlines Center in Dallas for a second time. This decision follows the record-breaking attendance of 20,409 fans during their previous matchup on June 27 at the AAC, which set a franchise regular-season record for Dallas and marked only the eighth regular-season game in WNBA history to attract over 20,000 spectators.
Despite trailing by as much as 23 points in the first half, the Wings managed to rally in the fourth quarter but fell short due to a sluggish start that saw them shoot only 26% in the opening ten minutes. Ultimately, Indiana held on for a narrow victory of 94-86 in their previous encounter.
With two games already played against the Fever, the Wings are eager to turn the tide and seek redemption in front of another enthusiastic crowd exceeding 20,000 fans.
What do you think?
More Like This
