INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever delivered one of their most dominant performances of the season Sunday afternoon, cruising past the Dallas Wings 102-83 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Powered by five double-digit scorers and a record-setting offensive surge, Indiana showed why they’re becoming one of the most entertaining teams in the league.
At the center of it all? Caitlin Clark, who returned to form in dazzling fashion.
The rookie phenom posted a 14-point, 13-assist, 5-steal outing in just 24 minutes—her second career game with at least 10 points, 10 assists, and 5 steals. She’s now just the fifth player in WNBA history to do it more than once.
And this one came with extra attention: it was her first pro showdown with fellow top pick Paige Bueckers, who didn’t disappoint either, finishing with 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting.
Clark Finds Her Groove
Coming off a rough shooting stretch and still on a minutes restriction while nursing a groin injury, Clark looked more confident and free-flowing against the Wings. She got the crowd on their feet early by burying a long 3-pointer—her first in what felt like ages—and followed it up with highlight passes, transition dimes, and lockdown defense.
Clark’s full-court awareness was on display when she swatted a shot from JJ Quinerly and immediately delivered a quarterback-style pass to Sophie Cunningham for a fast-break bucket. She ended the night with 13 assists, many of them threading the needle through traffic.
After struggling from deep in recent games (just 4-for-35 from three in her last five outings), Clark’s early three seemed to unleash a flood of confidence. Though her scoring wasn’t her highest of the season, her command of the game and defensive presence made this one of her most complete efforts yet.
Fever Bring the Heat Early—and Often
The first quarter was a back-and-forth battle, but the Fever hit another level in the second. Indiana erupted for a 36-point second quarter, turning a one-point edge into a 22-point halftime lead. That 64-point first half was not just a franchise record—it was also the highest-scoring half by any WNBA team this season.
The Fever kept their foot on the gas the rest of the way, never letting Dallas get closer than 18 in the second half. Their 30 assists tied a franchise record, highlighting just how well the team is clicking offensively.
Balanced Attack Across the Board
Clark wasn’t alone in shining on Sunday:
- Kelsey Mitchell led all Indiana scorers with 20 points
- Natasha Howard added 18 points
- Aliyah Boston dropped 17 points and controlled the paint
- Sophie Cunningham chipped in 13 points
- Even the bench showed out, with strong contributions from Aari McDonald and Li Yueru, who went 8-for-11 for 16 points
Bueckers Holds Her Own in Pro Showdown
While the Fever rolled, Paige Bueckers gave Wings fans something to cheer about. In her first professional matchup against Clark, Bueckers showed off her trademark efficiency and poise, finishing with 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. Her performance was a bright spot for Dallas in an otherwise tough afternoon.
Unfortunately for the Wings, Arike Ogunbowale struggled mightily in her return from injury, going 0-for-10 from the field.
What’s Next?
The Fever (11-10) hit the road this week for an East Coast back-to-back—facing the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday and the New York Liberty on Wednesday.
