The Dallas Wings were unable to defeat the Indiana Fever, who took the victory 78-88. This defeat is the team’s second in a row and leaves them with a record of 8-21.
These numbers place them near the bottom of the standings, in 11th place, just ahead of the Chicago Sky (7-20) and Connecticut Sun (5-21).
Despite the result, Paige Bueckers‘ performance stood out, as she was the only Wings player to score in double digits and, therefore, the team’s leading scorer. She had 22 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 34 minutes of action.
However, they couldn’t stop Indiana, who put up a fight even without their star player, Caitlin Clark, on the court. And it’s precisely her that the number one pick in the WNBA draft talked about.
The rivalry between CC and Bueckers
Injuries to both players delayed their WNBA matchup, as they had already faced each other in college. However, on Sunday, July 13, Clark and her team faced Paige and the Wings, winning 102-83, but that was the first and last time they faced each other in the league.
Caitlin‘s persistent groin injury kept her out of this matchup, but that didn’t stop Bueckers from commenting on her and the sporting rivalry that has developed between them before the game, something she viewed favorably:
They’ve sort of been pitting me and Caitlin against each other since high school. You come for the individual battle but then you leave just a fan of the game in general and a fan of so many other people’s performances.
However, the 23-year-old rookie did not hide her admiration and respect for CC, whom she praised for her style of play and dominance on the court:
She can just take the game apart any which way she decides. She just reads the game extremely well at all levels.
Another thing the rising Dallas Wings icon highlighted about Clark and hopes to experience herself is her fierce and aggressive presence and attitude on the court: “Just the excitement that she brings and competitive fire, you see it every single time she plays,” Paige said.
The Dallas Wings and Indiana Fever will face off again on Tuesday, August 12, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Will we see Bueckers vs. Clark again?
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