Indiana Fever fend off late surge from Dallas Wings to secure victory without Caitlin Clark in the lineup.
DALLAS — Without Caitlin Clark once again, the Indiana Fever leaned on their current stars to avoid another late-game collapse.
Kelsey Mitchell delivered a standout performance with 32 points and seven assists, while Aliyah Boston added 21 points, helping the Fever edge out the Dallas Wings 94-86 at American Airlines Center.
Natasha Howard contributed a crucial double-double — 15 points and 13 rebounds — including several key buckets after Dallas claimed its first lead with just under 5:30 remaining. Coming off a disappointing home loss to the Los Angeles Sparks the night before, Indiana responded with grit to even their record at 8-8.
Three Key Takeaways from Friday’s Win:
Fever Secure Win Without Caitlin Clark
The game was relocated to American Airlines Center to showcase the anticipated first professional showdown between Caitlin Clark and Dallas’ Paige Bueckers. The Wings sold out the 20,000-seat arena — a franchise record.
However, excitement cooled after Clark missed Thursday’s game due to a left groin injury. Though head coach Steph White described her as "day-to-day," the team officially ruled her out roughly five and a half hours before tipoff.
Indiana now holds a 3-4 record without Clark. Coach White emphasized the team's cautious approach, stating they remain “hypersensitive” to protecting Clark’s long-term health.
The Fever face the Minnesota Lynx next Tuesday in the Commissioner’s Cup Championship before kicking off a five-game home stand in Indianapolis.
Strong Start Fuels Early Surge
Coach White moved Aari McDonald into the starting five, banking on her pace and energy to spark the offense — and it paid off.
Indiana stormed to a 19-3 lead in the opening minutes, thriving both in transition and half-court sets. The defense also limited Paige Bueckers to just one first-quarter field goal, and the Wings went over five minutes without scoring a basket.
The Fever shot a scorching 76% from the field in the first quarter and saw their lead balloon to 23 points early in the second.
Lead Wobbles, but Fever Regain Control
Despite the early dominance, the Fever faltered late in the second quarter. A buzzer-beating deep three by Bueckers trimmed the 23-point lead to just 13 at halftime.
With 5:27 left in the third, former Fever forward NaLyssa Smith's three-point play cut the margin to 62-59. But Boston and Mitchell quickly responded, combining for eight points and two assists to rebuild a nine-point cushion.
Still, Smith’s offensive rebound led to Aziah James’ floater in the closing seconds of the third, narrowing the lead to 74-69 heading into the fourth. Despite the momentum shift, the Fever regrouped and closed out the win.
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