Dallas Wings edge Fever 107-104 in historic WNBA opener

Caitlin Clark’s 20 points were not enough to carry Indiana past the next chapter of her rivalry with Paige Bueckers. In a season opener that had the feel of a televised referendum on the WNBA’s biggest stars, the Dallas Wings held off the Fever 107-104 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, a finish decided by late misses from Clark and Kelsey Mitchell and by Dallas’ steadier closing stretch.

The score was tied 80-80 after three quarters, but Dallas edged the fourth 27-24 and controlled the game’s key possessions when the pressure peaked. ESPN’s game summary listed quarter scores of 27-25, 33-26, 20-29 and 27-24 in Dallas’ favor, a line that reflected how quickly the Wings answered Indiana’s runs and how little margin remained once the game became a one-possession test.

Bueckers matched Clark with 20 points of her own, reinforcing how the professional version of this matchup has become must-watch basketball rather than just a college-era memory. The two had met once before in the WNBA, when Indiana beat Dallas 102-83 on July 13, 2025. In that game, Clark posted 14 points and 13 assists, while Bueckers scored 21. This time, Dallas reversed the result and did it in a game that was also the first WNBA season opener in which both teams scored at least 100 points.

The matchup also showed how far Dallas has come in a short time. The Wings entered with a reshaped roster around Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, Maddy Siegrist and Alanna Smith, while Indiana was missing forward Monique Billings, a rotation absence that mattered against a deeper opponent. Dallas had already beaten the Fever 95-80 in a preseason game on May 1, another sign that the Wings were building chemistry before the stakes rose.

Bueckers framed the individual side of the rivalry simply before tipoff: “Me and Caitlin have been competing against each other for a long time.” On the floor, the latest meeting delivered the same reality that now sits behind the hype. The stars still drew the spotlight, but Dallas showed it could absorb the attention, withstand the late pressure and leave Indianapolis with a win that carried both basketball and cultural weight.