Fever secure fourth-place standing with dominant fourth quarter against shorthanded Wings
Clark records 29 points and 10 assists, while Kelsey Mitchell extends single-season scoring streak to 18 games
The Indiana Fever solidified their position in the WNBA standings with a 98-87 victory over the Dallas Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday night. The win moves Indiana to fourth place with a 22-12 record, while the Wings remain in eighth place at 20-15. The result was driven by a decisive fourth-quarter performance, where the Fever outscored Dallas 35-21 to secure the double-digit margin.
Caitlin Clark led the offensive charge for Indiana, recording 29 points and 10 assists. The performance marked Clark’s seventh game this season with at least 25 points and 10 assists, surpassing the previous career record of 13 such games held by a single player. Clark scored or assisted on 51 per cent of the Fever’s total points, a statistic that Fever head coach Stephanie White attributed to Clark’s ability to command the floor and instruct the offence.
Dallas countered with a 29-point performance from Paige Bueckers, who also contributed six assists and six rebounds. Bueckers accounted for 50 per cent of the Wings’ points, mirroring Clark’s offensive influence. The two No. 1 overall picks engaged in a high-scoring third quarter, combining for 30 points on 11-of-15 shooting. However, the Wings struggled to maintain their defensive intensity in the final period, a lapse that coach Jose Fernandez described as inexcusable.
The Fever received significant support from their supporting cast. Kelsey Mitchell extended her single-season streak of 20-point games to 18, setting a new WNBA record. Aliyah Boston recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Ty Harris scored 15 points off the bench on perfect three-point shooting. These contributions helped Indiana overcome a slow start where the teams combined for just six three-pointers in the first half.
The Wings played without key players Jessica Shepard and Azzi Fudd due to ankle and knee injuries, respectively. Shepard has missed the last two consecutive games, while Fudd has been sidelined for four. Despite the absences, the Wings had won three of their previous ten games, but they failed to match Indiana’s physicality in the fourth quarter. The teams are scheduled to meet again on Thursday in Dallas for a rematch.
