DALLAS — Clark Sits Again, but Fever Lean on Mitchell and Boston to Down Wings.

Without Caitlin Clark in the lineup once more, the Indiana Fever turned to their current core to avoid another late-game stumble.

Kelsey Mitchell led the way with 32 points and seven assists, while Aliyah Boston added 21 points as Indiana held off the Dallas Wings 94-86 at the American Airlines Center.

Natasha Howard chipped in with 15 points and 13 rebounds, delivering several crucial plays after Dallas briefly seized the lead with under 5:30 remaining. On the second night of a back-to-back following a tough home loss to the Sparks, the Fever mustered enough energy to move to an even 8-8 on the season.

 

Three Key Takeaways:

 

1. Fever Thrive Without Clark Yet Again

Friday’s matchup was originally scheduled at the larger American Airlines Center to host the much-anticipated first professional face-off between Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers. Dallas responded with a record-setting sellout crowd of 20,000.

But the excitement was somewhat dampened when Clark, sidelined by a left groin injury in Thursday’s game, was officially ruled out about five hours before tipoff. Coach Stephanie White said the team is handling Clark with caution and will continue to assess her status daily. Indiana is now 3-4 this season without their star rookie.

 

2. Explosive Start Sets the Tone

Looking for early momentum, Coach White added Aari McDonald to the starting lineup and it paid off. The Fever jumped out to a 19-3 lead in the opening minutes, pushing the pace and executing cleanly on offense. They held Bueckers to just one field goal in the first quarter and kept the Wings scoreless for over five minutes.

Indiana shot a red-hot 76% in the first quarter, building a lead that ballooned to 23 points and remained efficient into the second period.

 

3. Fever Withstand Another Scare

Despite the hot start, White wasn’t pleased at halftime. A sluggish close to the second quarter allowed Bueckers to knock down a deep buzzer-beater, trimming the Fever’s lead from 23 to 13.

Midway through the third quarter, Dallas closed the gap to just three, fueled by former Fever player NaLyssa Smith. But Boston and Mitchell stabilized the team with timely buckets and assists. Still, a late Dallas push had the Fever clinging to a 74-69 edge entering the final frame.

Indiana next faces Minnesota in Tuesday’s Commissioner’s Cup Championship before beginning a five-game home stand.