Indiana Fever don see dia five-game winning streak come crash for Dallas on Thursday night, as dem fall to Dallas Wings 91-85 for American Airlines Center. Na big blow for Fever, wey don dey fly high before dis one.
Caitlin Clark, wey be di star guard, no shine at all. E finish with just 10 points, shooting 4-of-15 from di field. Na one of im quietest nights dis season. Paige Bueckers, wey dey Dallas side, no better—13 points on 5-of-16 shooting. Di two young stars wey plenty fans come see no deliver di show wey dem expect. But Kelsey Mitchell no carry anybody hand. E drop 37 points and set new WNBA record for consecutive 20-point games, reaching dat mark for di 21st straight game. E break record wey A’ja Wilson don hold before.
Dallas Wings get plenty answers for dis match. Arike Ogunbowale blow hot wit 32 points, especially for second half. Jessica Shepard get career-high 26 points, wey help carry Wings for first half. Awak Kuier, wey start because Azzi Fudd don out for season wit knee injury, make big impact defensively—e get 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 blocks. E dey disrupt Fever attacks plenty.
Fever also struggle for rebounding. Dallas win rebounding battle 32-28, and dat difference prove crucial for final outcome. Di loss come during tough part of Indiana schedule—dis na dia third road game for five-game trip wey dey happen for just eight days. Before dis, dem don pick important wins for Atlanta and Toronto, but now dem need to regroup quick quick.
Indiana go face New York Liberty for Brooklyn on Saturday, then finish trip against Chicago Sky on Sunday. After dat, dem go play one final home game against Connecticut Sun on August 28 before di break for FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston go represent United States for tournament for Berlin. With dis loss, Fever drop to 24-13 and still dey fight wit Las Vegas Aces and Atlanta Dream for di third to fifth seed for standings.
E be like say dis game na must-attend rivalry now. Di crowd of 20,297 include big names like Mark Cuban, Cooper Flagg, Tracy McGrady, and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Even wit Clark and Bueckers no dey lively, di match still get plenty excitement. Mitchell don still make history for di night, and e be di second top scorer for league. Dem want set franchise record for wins, but e no happen dis time. Dem go soon clinch playoff spot, but di bigger goal na to secure good seeding.
