Caitlin Clark delivered a standout performance with 28 points and 12 assists as the Indiana Fever secured a 100-93 triumph over the Dallas Wings on Sunday. This victory allowed the Fever to overcome a remarkable nine three-pointers from Arike Ogunbowale, who matched a career-high by sinking nine shots from beyond the arc.
Kelsey Mitchell contributed significantly with 36 points, including a crucial three-pointer that pushed the Fever ahead by four with just 1:58 left in the game. Both teams entered the match riding three-game winning streaks.
Ogunbowale finished the game hitting 9 of her 16 three-point attempts, surpassing her previous best of seven made threes in a game and concluding the night with a total of 34 points. Despite her efforts, she fell short in her attempts to set a new record with a tenth three-pointer, missing two shots in the final minute while the Wings were down by six points.
Tying a league record, Ogunbowale matched Kelsey Mitchell’s mark from 2019 and Jewell Loyd’s from 2023 for the most three-pointers made in a game. Mitchell praised Ogunbowale, highlighting their friendship off the court and their training sessions during the offseason.
Both Clark and Mitchell excelled from distance, with each making five three-pointers as the Fever shot 50% from three-point range and 53% overall. Clark noted the advantage of having two guards capable of scoring and facilitating plays, which complicates defensive strategies for opposing teams.
Clark’s recent form has been impressive, coming off a career-high 31-point game against Chicago’s Angel Reese. She previously set a WNBA record with 19 assists in her first regular-season game in Texas before the Olympic break, which preceded a tough loss for the Fever.
With a record of 17-16, Indiana is above .500 for the first time this season and finds itself in a strong playoff position. In contrast, Dallas, with a record of 9-23, is striving to recover from injuries that had hindered their season. The Wings are currently two games away from the final playoff spot with eight games left to play.
Since the Olympic break, Indiana has thrived with a 6-1 record, including three wins on the road. The Fever will now play six consecutive home games, starting Wednesday against the last-place Los Angeles Sparks.
Fever coach Christie Sides expressed pride in her team’s performance and emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum and confidence as they continue pushing for a playoff spot.
Ogunbowale faced an unusual moment when she was assessed a foul for not providing Mitchell a safe landing area during a three-point attempt after making her eighth three-pointer. The Wings challenged the call but lost, resulting in a technical foul for Ogunbowale. This allowed the Fever to convert on that possession, narrowing the score to 67-64 after trailing at one point by 64-55.
Mitchell added further points with two successful free throws after her key three-pointer, helping the Fever to score eight straight points and establishing a 99-91 lead with just 39 seconds remaining. For the Wings, Satou Sabally scored 25 points and Natasha Howard added 18 points along with nine assists, while NaLyssa Smith contributed 14 points and eight rebounds for the Fever.