DALLAS — Exciting moments filled the American Airlines Center on Friday evening, as Kelsey Mitchell delivered a standout performance, scoring 32 points to steer the Indiana Fever to a 94-86 win over the Dallas Wings. Despite entering the game without Caitlin Clark due to her left groin injury, the Fever managed to secure a strong presence early on, amassing a 22-point lead in the first quarter.
Anticipation met with disappointment when Clark, the past No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, was unable to take the court due to her injury. This was expected to mark her first face-off against Paige Bueckers, this year’s top draft pick for the Wings. Adjusting to their temporary switch of venue from the University of Texas at Arlington, the Wings took to the floor at the home of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, a transition step as they plan to relocate to downtown Dallas.
Despite Bueckers’ cold start, she sparked a comeback by ending the first half with an impressive long-range shot following a steal, contributing 27 points to her team’s tally by the final buzzer. However, the Wings, hampered by early shooting struggles, let slip a fourth-quarter lead after clawing back from a daunting 23-point first-half deficit. Arike Ogunbowale supported the effort with 15 points for Dallas.
Adding to the Fever’s dominance were Aliyah Boston with 21 points, and Natasha Howard who achieved a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, alongside three steals. Their team showcased precise execution, converting all shots from within the 3-point line during the opening quarter, resulting in a game-wide shooting accuracy of 59%.
Despite Clark’s absence marking her second consecutive game out following a prior quadriceps injury sidelining her earlier in the season, the matchup drew a packed venue. The crowd was enthusiastic, as evidenced by the presence of notable figures like Mavericks’ own Kyrie Irving, Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys, and newly drafted Mavericks’ star Cooper Flagg, who was met with cheers when spotlighted on the video board.
The Dallas fanbase saw their hopes briefly raised when JJ Quinerly’s vital three-point play turned the lead to their favor at 80-79 in the fourth quarter. Yet, the Fever quickly seized control again, thanks to Aari McDonald’s crucial basket that initiated an unstoppable 9-0 run, securing the victory for Indiana and keeping the Wings’ attempts at rallying at bay.