Fever defeat Wings in first pro meeting between Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JULY 13: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever shoots the ball against Paige Bueckers #5 of the Dallas Wings during the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 13, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers need no introductions. Their resumes and fame, built through their illustrious high school and college careers, precede them. The former quickly put the WNBA on notice last season. The latter has done the same in 2025.

Sunday marked the first pro matchup between Clark and Bueckers, who last played each other when Clark’s Iowa beat Bueckers’ UConn in the 2024 Final Four. The league’s last two No. 1 picks lived up to the hype at Gainbridge Fieldhouse just days before they’re scheduled to share the same court again as All-Stars during WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis. Clark weathered a recent shooting slump to lift the Indiana Fever to a 102-83 victory over the Dallas Wings, and Bueckers continued to build her case as rookie of the year.

The Fever used a 64-point first half, the most points they’ve scored in any half in the franchise’s 26-year history, to earn their second straight victory. Clark was the orchestrator as the Fever tied their season high with 102 points. The two-time All-Star, who entered Sunday’s contest averaging just 11.6 points and shooting 11.4 percent on 3s over her last five games, drilled her first 3-pointer and scored 7 points in the opening period. Clark then shifted to more of a playmaking role by dishing five assists in the second quarter, highlighted by a 21-6 run that gave Indiana a 49-33 lead.

 

Clark finished with 14 points and 13 assists, notching the 19th double-double of her career. She provided the highlight of the game when she blocked Wings guard JJ Quinerly’s layup and then threw a full-court pass to teammate Sophie Cunningham for a layup that gave Indiana a 37-31 lead in the second quarter. Clark also tied her career high with five steals, including three on Bueckers. She swiped Bueckers early in the first quarter and took it coast-to-coast for a layup, then stole it from her twice more in the third quarter.

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Despite Clark having her number a few times, Bueckers still finished with the overall floor game that turned her into an All-Star Game starter. The rookie totaled 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting while showing off her full scoring repertoire, punctuated by a deep 3 in the first quarter and an and-1 layup on Cunningham in the third quarter. Bueckers also had four assists and four rebounds.

For as well as Bueckers played, though, the same couldn’t be said for her co-star. Arike Ogunbowale, who returned from a three-game absence due to a thumb injury, missed all 10 of her shot attempts. The four-time All-Star managed just 2 points on two free throws in 28 minutes, tying her lowest scoring output in a game since June 2022.

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Clark was one of five Fever players who scored in double figures as the team scored at least 99 points in back-to-back games. Fellow 2025 All-Stars Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston scored 20 and 17 points, respectively. Natasha Howard added 18 points, and Cunningham scored 13 points off the bench.

(Photo of Caitlin Clark shooting against Paige Bueckers: Michael Hickey / Getty Images)