One night after giving up a double-digit fourth quarter lead in a loss to the Los Angeles Sparks, the Indiana Fever found themselves in an eerily similar position on Friday against the Dallas Wings.
‘We know that teams are going to go on runs. … So for us, it’s about making sure that we stay together and continue to execute defensively and offensively. I think we did a great job of that,’ Aliyah Boston said postgame.
Indiana, which was without Caitlin Clark for the second consecutive game due to a left groin injury, came out strong and led by as many as 23 points, but the Wings took their first lead of the game with 5:29 remaining, 80-79. The Fever responded by closing the game on a 14-6 run to move to 8-8 on the season and 3-4 without Clark.
Kelsey Mitchell had a season-high 32 points and seven assists. Boston added 21 points and six rebounds. Four of the Fever’s five starters reached double-digits and every player that entered the game scored.
Paige Bueckers had 27 points and six assists in the loss. Arike Ogunbowale added 15 points but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Missed the action between the Indiana Fever and Dallas Wings? We got you covered with a recap and highlights of Friday’s intense showdown:
Fever vs. Wings highlights
End of 3Q: Fever 74, Wings 69
The Fever led by as many as 23 points, but the Wings cut the deficit to five points heading into the fourth quarter.
The Wings outscored the Fever 26-18 in the third quarter. Paige Bueckers led the charge and has a team-high 20 points, while Arike Ogunbowale scored nine of her 15 points in the third quarter.
‘We’ve had to fight the entire season, even (when) we get down big. But we just have to play a whole 40 minutes … it all starts on the defensive end for us,’ Bueckers said ahead of the fourth quarter.
Kelsey Mitchell has a game-high 26 points for the Fever, while Aliyah Boston has added 19 points. Friday’s game seems eerily similar to the Fever’s loss on Thursday. The Fever had a 10-point lead over the Los Angeles Sparks with 9:26 remaining in the contest, but the Fever were outscored 35-17 in the final period and the Sparks went on to win 85-75. Can Indiana hold off the surging Wings and maintain its fourth-quarter lead?
Halftime: Fever 56, Wings 43
Paige Bueckers gave fans in the American Airlines Center something to cheer for heading into halftime. Bueckers picked off a pass from the Fever’s Lexie Hull with 3 seconds remaining in the second quarter and sank a deep 3 over Aliyah Boston to beat the buzzer and cut the Wings’ deficit to 56-43 at halftime.
Bueckers is the only Wings player to reach double-digits (12 points), but Arike Ogunbowale started to find her shot and scored six points in the second quarter.
The Fever have been shooting the lights out. The team is collectively shooting 74.1% from the field and 57.1% from 3. Every Fever player that has touched the floor has scored, led by a game-high 19 points from Kelsey Mitchell.
Cooper Flagg is in the building
One No. 1 overall pick descended upon the American Airlines Center to watch another.
Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, was in the house to watch the Fever take on the Wings and Paige Bueckers, who just so happens to be the No. 1 overall selection of the 2025 WNBA Draft. Flagg was drafted first overall by the Dallas Mavericks, who also call the American Airlines Center home. Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft, is also in the building, but she won’t play due to injury.
End of Q1: Fever 33, Wings 13
The Fever held the Wings to a season-low 13 points in the first quarter, and Indiana has a 33-13 advantage heading into the second quarter after leading by as many as 22 points. The Fever sprinted out of the gate and went on a 14-0 run. The Fever only missed three goals in the first quarter (shooting 13-for-16) and led the Wings in fast break (10-0) and paint points (18-10).
Kelsey Mitchell leads the Fever with 10 points and three assists. Aliyah Boston added seven points. The Fever’s 33 first-quarter points marked a season-high. Meanwhile, the Fever’s defense made it hard for the Wings’ starting unit, which was held to three points, all from Bueckers. Myisha Hines-Allen added six points off the bench.
Dallas Wings staring lineup
Indiana Fever starting five
What time is Indiana Fever vs. Dallas Wings?
The Indiana Fever face off against the Dallas Wings at 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. local) on Friday, June 27 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
How to watch Indiana Fever vs. Dallas Wings: TV, stream
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT)
Location: American Airlines Center (Dallas)
TV: ION
Live stream: WNBA League Pass; Fubo (free trial)
Stream Fever vs. Wings on Fubo (free trial)
Caitlin Clark ruled out vs. Wings
Clark was ruled out of the Fever’s contest against the Wings on Friday and will miss her second consecutive game with a left groin injury. Clark previously missed five games due to a quad injury.
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