Wings Edge Fever in 107–104 Thriller to Open WNBA Season Featuring Clark vs. Bueckers.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Dallas Wings held off a late surge from the Indiana Fever on Saturday afternoon, escaping Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a 107–104 win in a season opener that delivered on its heavyweight billing and made history in the process. It marked the first season-opening game in WNBA history in which both teams topped the 100-point mark, fueled by a fast pace, efficient shooting stretches, and a matchup headlined by two of the league’s brightest young stars in Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers. Dallas, featuring a retooled roster under first-year head coach José Fernandez, leaned on balanced scoring and timely shot-making down the stretch to withstand Indiana’s late push. The Wings were led by Arike Ogunbowale, who finished with 22 points, and Odyssey Sims, who added 20 in a strong performance against her former team. Bueckers, the No. 1 pick in the most recent draft, was highly efficient in her debut performance, scoring 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting while adding four assists and committing just one turnover. She helped anchor a Dallas offense that consistently pushed tempo and capitalized from beyond the arc, especially during a second-quarter run that helped the Wings build separation before halftime.

Indiana kept pace behind a trio of standout performances. Kelsey Mitchell poured in a game-high 30 points, while Aliyah Boston contributed 23 points in the paint. Clark finished with 20 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and five turnovers in a game defined by both offensive creativity and defensive lapses on both sides.

Clark was particularly influential in the third quarter, scoring or assisting on Indiana’s first 12 points of the period as the Fever erased a deficit and briefly regained momentum. Her stretch included multiple three-pointers and playmaking sequences with Boston that helped level the game heading into the fourth. The Fever had opportunities late. Mitchell knocked down a key three-pointer in the final minutes and added a three-point play to cut the deficit to two. Indiana then capitalized on a Dallas turnover to briefly take a 101–100 lead.

But Dallas responded immediately. Bueckers delivered a composed finish at the rim following a shot fake to restore the lead, and the Wings later added crucial baskets from Alanna Smith and Sims to create separation in the closing minutes. Indiana’s final chances came in the last seconds. Clark’s deep three-pointer attempt to force overtime missed, and Kelsey Mitchell’s long-range try at the buzzer also failed to fall, sealing the Wings’ narrow win.

The game also featured a brief injury scare for Clark, who left the court momentarily in the third quarter before returning. She later said postgame she was evaluated for a back adjustment.

Despite the loss, Indiana showed offensive firepower throughout, with three players scoring 20 or more points. Dallas matched that depth, with three players reaching the same mark in a game that highlighted both teams’ revamped rosters and offensive potential.

The two teams will meet twice more during the regular season, but their opening-night duel set an early benchmark for pace, scoring, and star-driven drama in the 2026 WNBA campaign.