The Indiana Fever defeated the Dallas Wings 94-86 on Friday at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 32 points and seven assists on 11-for-17, including 4-for-6 from 3-point range. Aliyah Boston finished with 21 points and six rebounds on 9-for-14. Natasha Howard added 15 points and 13 rebounds on 6-for-9, while Aari McDonald had 13 points (6-for-9) and six assists in her first start for Indiana.
Paige Bueckers led the Wings with 27 points and six assists on 9-for-18 shooting, including 2-for-3 from the 3-point line. Arike Ogunbowale finished with 15 points on 5-for-12. Aziaha James contributed 14 points on 5-for-9 off the bench, while Myisha Hines-Allen added nine points.
The game was initially set to feature the last three No. 1 draft picks. However, Fever star Caitlin Clark, selected first in 2024, missed a second straight game due to a groin injury.
Indiana (8-8) won the second game of a back-to-back set. It lost to the LA Sparks 85-75 on Thursday. On the other hand, Dallas dropped to 4-13. The Wings are on the first night of a back-to-back and will face the Washington Mystics on Saturday.
Indiana will return to action on Tuesday against the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Commissioner's Cup championship game.
Indiana Fever vs. Dallas Wings player stats and box score
Dallas Wings player stats and box score
Indiana Fever player stats and box score
Indiana Fever vs. Dallas Wings game summary
The Indiana Fever raced to a 16-2 start and had a 33-13 lead over the Dallas Wings at the end of the opening quarter. Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 10 points on 4-for-5. All Fever starters scored in the first quarter. On the other hand, Paige Bueckers (three points) was the only Wings starter who had a basket in the first 10 minutes.
Dallas outscored Indiana 30-23 in the second quarter but still trailed by 13 (56-43) at the halftime break. The Fever led by as much as 23 in the half. Mitchell had a game-high 19 points and four assists on 6-for-7, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range. Aliyah Boston scored 13 points on 5-for-6, while Aari McDonald added nine points (4-for-4).
Bueckers led the Wings with 12 points in the first half, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the half. Myisha Hines-Allen and Aziaha James added nine points apiece on a combined 6-for-12 shooting.
The Wings outscored the Fever 26-18 in the third quarter to cut Indiana's lead to five (74-69) heading into the final frame.
In the fourth quarter, Bueckers' step-back 3-pointer cut Indiana's lead to two (79-77) with over six minutes remaining. JJ Quinerly's 3-point play conversion gave Dallas its first lead of the game, 80-79. Down the stretch, McDonald's jumper put Indiana up nine, 93-84, with a minute left. The Fever held on for their eighth win this season.