Point guard showdown in Indy ends in Caitlin Clark’s favor: Fever-Wings takeaways

INDIANAPOLIS — As point guard phenoms on the court and the league’s most recognizable names off it, Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers dueled for just the third time in their WNBA careers Friday. The pair of No. 1 picks gave the fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse their money’s worth. Clark steered her Indiana Fever to a 98-87 victory with 29 points, 10 assists, and three rebounds, while Bueckers carried the shorthanded Dallas Wings with 29 points, six assists, and six rebounds. "The more I can do that, it puts (the other team) in rotation and allows my teammates to get open, too," Clark said, referring to her emphasis on scoring in the paint. "I think it opened the floor up for everybody as we went through the end of the third quarter and into the fourth." Clark’s night also marked the 20th 20-point, 10-assist double-double of her career, a record unmatched by any other player in WNBA history. She has already achieved 10 such games this season alone. In the third quarter, both guards put on a show, with Bueckers scoring 13 points tied for the most in any quarter this season. Clark, however, dominated one-on-one, scoring 17 points in the period, tying her career-high for a quarter. She shot 7-of-9 from the field and made one of two attempted 3-pointers. Clark briefly exited the game with 40.4 seconds remaining in the first half, appearing to tweak her left ankle after stepping on Wings forward Alysha Clark’s foot. Despite the injury scare, she returned in the second half and showed no signs of her injury. Fever veteran Tyasha Harris also had a standout performance, scoring 15 points off the bench and shooting a perfect 5-of-5 on 3-pointers. Harris’ four 3-pointers in the fourth frame were a highlight. Mitchell keeps streak alive: Guard Kelsey Mitchell scored 17 of her 23 points in the second half, extending her WNBA single-season record to 18 straight games with at least 20 points. She was aided by a backdoor layup from Clark, keeping her streak alive. Dallas’ depth issues: The Wings struggled with injuries, with franchise player Paige Bueckers navigating a lineup missing key players like Azzi Fudd (knee), Jessica Shepard (ankle), and Aziaha James (lower leg). Bueckers emphasized the need for increased aggression and stepping up production. The Fever’s three-game winning streak and eight-game winning streak in the last 10 games contrast with the Wings’ six-game losing streak in their last eight games. The matchup highlighted the contrasting team dynamics and the challenges faced by both teams.