Dallas, TX (Aug. 1, 2025) – The Dallas Wings were defeated 88-78 by the Indiana Fever on Friday night at American Airlines Center in a game that saw the Fever dominate the boards and capitalize on their three-point shooting. Despite a strong performance from Paige Bueckers, who led the Wings with 22 points, the Fever used their rebounding advantage and deadly perimeter shooting to secure their third win over Dallas this season. The game was played in front of 17,857 fans, the second-largest crowd in franchise history.

Strong Start for Both Teams

The game started with a defensive turnover, setting the tone for what would become a tightly contested matchup. JJ Quinerly opened the scoring for Dallas, putting the first points on the board. However, the Fever quickly responded with a basket of their own to take a 2-1 lead. The teams traded baskets early, with Dallas staying close despite strong efforts from Indiana’s Natasha Howard and Kelsey Mitchell. The Fever jumped out to a six-point lead early, but Dallas’ defense tightened up, forcing five turnovers in the opening frame. The Wings capitalized on these opportunities, converting them into six fast break points. Bueckers and Myisha Hines-Allen each scored five points in the first quarter, keeping the Wings in the game as the quarter ended with the score tied at 22-22.

Fever Pull Ahead in Second Quarter

In the second quarter, the Wings briefly took a two-point lead, but the Fever quickly answered with a 14-6 run, highlighted by six points from Chloe Bibby. Indiana’s lead grew to as much as eight before Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale hit key shots to trim the lead to six. Bueckers closed the half with a game-high 15 points, adding two rebounds and three assists, but the Fever controlled the glass, outrebounding Dallas 20-15. Despite shooting 45.5% from the field and a perfect 100% from the free-throw line, the Wings were unable to keep pace with the Fever’s rebounding and offensive efficiency. At halftime, the Fever led 52-44.

Struggles Continue in the Third

The third quarter saw Indiana continue to dominate offensively, with Mitchell adding nine points and Teaira McCowan contributing six points and a rebound in just six minutes of play. Dallas struggled to find their rhythm, shooting just 28.6% from the floor and failing to hit a three-pointer (0-of-3). The Fever continued to build their lead, as Dallas’ offensive struggles allowed Indiana to maintain control. At the end of the third, the Fever led 74-59.

Late Rally Falls Short

The Wings came out strong in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit in half with a rally sparked by Bueckers, who dished two assists and scored four points. However, Indiana’s Aari McDonald quickly silenced the Dallas momentum, hitting two three-pointers and adding seven points in the final stanza. James provided a spark off the bench, chipping in five points, but it was not enough as the Wings’ reserves outscored Indiana’s 8-0 in the quarter. Dallas continued to fight until the final buzzer, but they couldn’t overcome the significant gap in the final minutes.

Key Performances and Statistics

• Paige Bueckers recorded her 12th 20-point game of the season, scoring 22 points and adding four assists in the loss. She continues to impress with her scoring and playmaking ability, tying Odyssey Sims for second in franchise history for most 20-point games by a rookie.

• Myisha Hines-Allen came off the bench to add nine points, while Ogunbowale contributed 10 points and five assists. Despite the strong individual performances, the team couldn’t overcome the Fever’s rebounding and three-point shooting.

• Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 23 points, while Aari McDonald added 14 points, including 9 in the final quarter, to help close out the game. The Fever finished with a 44-30 advantage in rebounding, with Howard and Boston each recording a double-double.

• Three-Point Shooting: Indiana shot 42.9% from beyond the arc, hitting 12 of 28 attempts. In contrast, the Wings struggled from three-point range, shooting just 13.3% (2-of-15).

Looking Ahead

The loss drops Dallas to 8-21 on the season, while Indiana improves to 16-12. The Wings will look to bounce back in their next matchup against the Fever, aiming to close out the season series on a positive note.

Next Game:

• Date: August 5, 2025

• Opponent: New York Liberty

• Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York

• Time: 6:00 PM CT

Game Notes:

• Paige Bueckers tied Odyssey Sims for second most 20-point games by a rookie in franchise history.

• The Wings’ reserves outscored the Fever’s 31-21, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the offensive and rebounding dominance of Indiana.