Paige Bueckers delivered another impressive showing on Friday as the Dallas Wings hosted the Indiana Fever — who were without Caitlin Clark — at the American Airlines Center.
The standout rookie led the team with 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting, adding four rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.
Despite Bueckers’ solid effort, it wasn’t enough to lift the Wings past the short-handed Fever, who rolled to an 88-78 win — their fourth straight victory.
Caitlin Clark Has High Praise for Paige Bueckers
During a pregame feature on Ion’s broadcast of the highly anticipated matchup, Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers spoke at length about one another. Their long-running rivalry, which dates back to their high school days, has only grown more intense now that both are playing in the WNBA.
Despite the competitive history between them, Clark offered nothing but admiration for Bueckers.
“You always want to compete against the best,” Clark said. “I’ve been a fan of Paige for a long time — her game, her poise, how she carries herself.”
“She plays with such smoothness. She’s efficient, can shoot, hit mid-range shots, finish at the rim — she’s a true three-level scorer. That’s what makes her so tough to defend: she’s got so many weapons.”
“Above all, she’s a winner — and that’s exactly the kind of player you want by your side.”
Clark made it clear she deeply respects Bueckers, and the Fever star didn’t hold back in celebrating the talent of the Wings guard.
Clark Remains Out With Groin Injury
Friday night marked the sixth straight game Caitlin Clark has missed due to a flare-up of her groin injury, putting the highly anticipated showdown with Paige Bueckers on hold once again.
Fans hoping to see the next installment of the Clark-Bueckers rivalry will now have to wait, with the next potential meeting set for August 12, when the Fever host the Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse—assuming both stars are healthy by then.
As of now, there’s still no official timeline for Clark’s return. The Fever are proceeding with extreme caution regarding their franchise player, especially since this is the second time the groin injury has resurfaced. Rushing her back could greatly increase the risk of a more serious setback, something the team is determined to avoid.
