The Dallas Wings fell 94–86 to the Indiana Fever as Caitlin Clark remained sidelined due to a groin injury, highlighting the ongoing Caitlin Clark injury impact on the Fever’s lineup. Paige Bueckers led Dallas with 27 points, complemented by six assists, two steals, and two blocks, shooting an efficient 50 percent from the field. Despite Bueckers’ efforts, the Wings were unable to secure the win on their home court.

Game Overview Highlights Fever’s Early Surge

Indiana capitalized early, opening the game with a dominant 16-2 run, sparked by Kelsey Mitchell who scored 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting during the first quarter. Bueckers was the only starter for Dallas to score in the opening minutes, but the Fever took a commanding 33-13 lead after the first period. Although Dallas fought back, outscoring Indiana 30-23 in the second quarter, they still trailed 56-43 at halftime.

Bueckers contributed 12 points before halftime, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer. Supporting scorers Myisha Hines-Allen and Aziaha James each added nine points in the first half, helping keep the Wings within striking distance heading into the break.

Strong Second-Half Surge Falls Short Against Fever’s Clutch Plays

Dallas came out of halftime aggressively, with Bueckers scoring eight additional points as the team outpaced Indiana 26-18 in the third quarter. This effort narrowed the gap to just five points entering the final period. In the fourth quarter, a seven-point contribution by Bueckers and an and-one play from JJ Quinerly briefly gave the Wings the lead. However, clutch baskets from Natasha Howard and Kelsey Mitchell ultimately secured the win for the Fever despite their key player Clark being absent.

Looking Ahead: Wings Aim to Rebound Against Washington Mystics

With the loss dropping Dallas to 4-13 on the season and Indiana improving to an even 8-8 record, the Wings face the challenge of regrouping quickly. They are set to host the Washington Mystics on Saturday in the second game of a home back-to-back series, where Bueckers and her teammates will seek to bounce back and build momentum despite the ongoing impact of Caitlin Clark’s injury on their opponents.