Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers turned Thursday night into a showdown as the Dallas Wings edged the Indiana Fever 91-85, with a heated moment in the final seconds of the first half.
Rivalry Intensifies
With under 10 seconds left in the second quarter, Clark handled the ball while Bueckers defended, wrapping her left arm in an attempt to halt possession before halftime; the Wings held a foul to give at that moment.
Clark showed clear frustration as Bueckers continued the contact, then launched a pass that sailed near Bueckers’ head before both teams retreated to the locker room.
The incident sparked a brief exchange between the two star guards, though TV microphones captured no clear words, and Bueckers was later whistled for a common foul before receiving a technical foul for arguing with an official in the third quarter.
Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 37 points, while Clark contributed a team-high nine assists; Dallas responded with Arike Ogunbowale’s 32 points and Bueckers’ eight assists.
Just a week earlier, the Fever and Wings met again, with both Clark and Bueckers posting 29-point performances; Indiana prevailed 98-87, but Clark praised Bueckers as “an incredible player” who “makes it really hard on us defensively.”
“She takes what the defense gives her, doesn’t force anything, is smooth, finds the open teammate, and is just a really tough guard,” Clark told reporters during postgame media availability.
Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
