Latest news with #IndianaFever
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11 minutes ago
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Paige Bueckers Makes WNBA History Against Indiana Fever
Paige Bueckers Makes WNBA History Against Indiana Fever originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings have now dropped two of their last three games, falling to 4-13 on the 2025 WNBA season. Advertisement On Friday night, the Indiana Fever handed the Wings a 94-86 loss in front of a sold-out crowd at American Airlines Center. The Fever won despite Clark missing a second consecutive game with a groin injury. The All-WNBA guard has missed seven games in total this year. Despite the loss, Bueckers had an impressive game, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the first half. The former UConn star finished with 27 points on 9-of-18 shooting, six assists, two steals and two blocks. She also didn't have a single turnover with 36 minutes of playing time. Dallas Wings guard Paige BueckersDavid Butler II-Imagn Images In doing so, Bueckers becomes the only player in WNBA history to record a game with 25 or more points, five or more assists, two or more steals, two or more blocks and zero turnovers, per PolymarketHoops. Advertisement This is not the first time Bueckers has made league history. In fact, in Sunday's loss to the Washington Mystics, the rookie passed Clark to become the fastest WNBA player to reach 200 points and 50 assists, doing so in 11 games. Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever in scoring in Friday's win, putting up 32 points on 11-of-17 shooting and seven assists. Aliyah Boston added 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting and six rebounds. Meanwhile, Arike Ogunbowale tallied 15 points for Dallas. The Fever led for most of the first three quarters, but Bueckers helped the Wings surge ahead midway through the fourth after trailing by double digits. Still, Indiana took control down the stretch and came away with a comfortable eight-point win. Advertisement Related: Dream's Brittney Griner Makes Unexpected Personal Move This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
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11 minutes ago
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Major Paige Bueckers Announcement Made After Loss to Indiana Fever
Major Paige Bueckers Announcement Made After Loss to Indiana Fever originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Dallas Wings got off to a horrendous start Friday night against the Indiana Fever at the American Airlines Center. Advertisement Dallas trailed 33–13 after the first quarter, but rookie Paige Bueckers began to find her rhythm, helping the Wings cut the deficit to 13 by halftime. The Fever were playing without star guard Caitlin Clark, who missed her second straight game with a groin injury. Ultimately, the Wings' comeback fell just short. Despite trimming the lead to as little as two points in the second half, Dallas lost 94–86. Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell led the way with 32 points and seven assists. However, Bueckers delivered a historic performance, finishing with 27 points, six assists, two steals, and two blocks. According to "Polymarket Hoops," Bueckers became the first player in WNBA history to record a game with 25+ points, 5+ assists, 2+ steals, 2+ blocks, and zero turnovers. The Fever improved to 8–8 on the season, while the Wings—who continue to find themselves in tightly contested games—dropped to 4–13 overall. Advertisement Despite the loss, there's plenty of reason for optimism in Dallas thanks to rookie sensation Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's WNBA Draft. She entered Friday night averaging 17.7 points, 5.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game, while shooting 45.7% from the field and 30.8% from three-point range. Dallas Wings guard Paige BueckersJerome Miron-Imagn Images Bueckers has fully embraced her role in Dallas since draft night, quickly becoming the face of the franchise. Now, the city is buzzing with even more excitement after the Mavericks, who also held the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, selected Cooper Flagg. Flagg showed his support for the local WNBA team by attending Friday's game to watch Bueckers in action. Advertisement Related: Fever Fans Think They Know Why Paige Bueckers Isn't as Popular as Caitlin Clark This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
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16 minutes ago
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Dallas Wings Make Historic Announcement During Indiana Fever Game
Dallas Wings Make Historic Announcement During Indiana Fever Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark were expected to meet for the first time in the WNBA when the Dallas Wings hosted the Indiana Fever on Friday night. Advertisement However, the Fever received bad news on their point guard earlier in the week, as Clark suffered a groin injury during Tuesday's win over the Storm. Friday night marked her second straight missed game and seventh overall this season. Still, even with Clark watching the game from the bench, that didn't stop the Wings from hosting a sellout crowd at American Airlines Center. In fact, the 20,409 in attendance broke a record for the largest attendance at a women's professional basketball game in Texas history. The Wings announced the historic achievement on X. "YOU GUYS DID THAT!" the Wings wrote. "20,409 is the largest crowd recorded for a professional women's basketball game in Texas... ever. Be at The Park tomorrow to catch us vs @WashMystics" WNBA fans left their reactions to the new Texas record as well. Advertisement "The stadium is packed!" one fan said. "Likely expected Caitlin vs. Paige match up," added another. "MOVE MORE GAMES!!" wrote a third. "Paige effect in full effect," added another. "Amazing night at the AAC," commented a fifth. "That's dope man. Keep growing," wrote a sixth. Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers and Indiana Fever guard Sophie Miron-Imagn Images The Dallas Wings have nearly sold out their normal arena in every game, but the max capacity of College Park Center is 6,251 fans. As a result, their average home crowd of 6,160 ranks among the WNBA's worst, according to Across the Timeline. Still, the impact of Clark and Bueckers remains clear. Following the Fever game, the Wings will cap off a back-to-back on Saturday night, taking on the Washington Mystics at College Park Center at 8:00 p.m. ET. Advertisement Related: Indiana Fever Make Unexpected Roster Change During Caitlin Clark's Absence This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
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25 minutes ago
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Fever Fans Weigh In After Signing Familiar Face
Fever Fans Weigh In After Signing Familiar Face originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Fever defeated the Seattle Storm on Tuesday night, 94-86, thanks to Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell combining for 57 points. Advertisement However, earlier in the day, Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports reported forward DeWanna Bonner "has no interest in returning to play for the Fever." Bonner had been away from the team, missing five games after feeling the "fit did not work out." In nine games, she started just three and only saw the court for 21.3 minutes per game, compared to playing over 30 minutes in most of her 16 WNBA seasons. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Fever ended up waiving her, allowing her to sign elsewhere. Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull (10) celebrates with Indiana Fever guard Aari McDonald (2).© Grace Smith-INDIANAPOLIS STAR-Imagn Images In a corresponding move, Indiana brought back a familiar face in Aari McDonald. McDonald played three games for the Fever earlier this season on a WNBA emergency hardship exception while the team was dealing with injuries to Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham and Sydney Colson. Advertisement In those games, the 5-foot-6 guard averaged 11.0 points, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Following the announcement by the Fever that they had brought McDonald back, fans took to social media to share their reactions. "Excellent news!!! Uptempo ball handler, excellent on-ball defender, knocks down shots," one fan said. "Welcome back Aari!" another wrote. "She really chose us! So happy to have you back Aari," added another. "Welcome back Aari girl!!! We're so happy you're here and that you chose us!" one said. "Welcome back, Aari! We've been eagerly waiting!" said another fan. "That's what's up!!" wrote a fan. Advertisement McDonald was drafted No. 3 overall in the 2021 WNBA draft by the Atlanta Dream. She played three seasons there before playing 2024 with the Los Angeles Sparks. Related: Aari McDonald Makes Statement After Rejoining Fever on Wednesday Related: Debate Erupts After Indiana Fever Salary List Surfaces Online This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
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25 minutes ago
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DeWanna Bonner's Resurfaced Quote Turns Heads After Being Waived by Fever
DeWanna Bonner's Resurfaced Quote Turns Heads After Being Waived by Fever originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Two-time WNBA champion DeWanna Bonner was waived on Wednesday after playing just nine games with the Indiana Fever. She stepped away from the team following its 77-58 loss to the Atlanta Dream on June 10 and never returned to the court. Advertisement At the time, the reason for the 6-foot-4 forward's absence was unclear, but when the Fever officially parted ways with her on Wednesday, she released a statement citing the reason. Bonner, a 16-year WNBA veteran, saw her minutes decline this year after signing with the team as a free agent in the offseason. Compared to 2023, she was averaging 10.5 fewer minutes per game and started just three of the nine games. Meanwhile, Christine Brennan, the author of "ON HER GAME: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women's Sports," went on social media after Bonner was released to recall what the six-time WNBA All-Star had said after her first Fever home game this year. "A thought: After her first home game w/the Fever May 17, DeWanna Bonner, 37, said: 'The crowd kind of shocked me a little bit. This is my first time playing in this kind of environment.' It's true. The interest in Caitlin Clark's team is like that of a men's major-league team," Brennan posted. Former Indiana Fever forward DeWanna Bonner (25).© Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Fans were quick to share their reactions to Brennan's post. Advertisement "Definitely think she wasn't ready for the scrutiny that playing for a 'major league' team was going to bring," one fan said. "She basically played her entire career with almost no eyes on her. The change was too much." "the lights were too bright. she could have off nights in connecticut and no one would blink an eye," another wrote. "Its Not For The Faint Of Heart!!" added another. "She just bailed on us," wrote a fan. "Wait, didn't their game at Mohegan last year get moved to a bigger venue when Fever played them to accommodate the fans? She didn't notice?" said another. "She was never ready for the big stage- most of the league wasn't! Not a slam- just the truth. Thankfully many are adjusting (officials are not)," one fan said. Advertisement Whether it was the limited playing time, the constant media spotlight or a mix of both, it's best for Bonner that she moved on. In the nine games Bonner played for Indiana this season, she averaged 7.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Related: DeWanna Bonner Claps Back at 'Quitter' Accusations After Leaving Fever Related: Fans in Disbelief After Fever Announce Caitlin Clark's Final Status for Sparks Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
