The last time Indiana and Dallas clashed, Fever coach Stephanie White was left nodding like someone who’d just solved a really frustrating Wordle. Sure, Indiana grabbed the win, but it was impossible to miss how much chaos Paige Bueckers stirred up. She dropped 27 points on a 9-of-18 shooting night, threw in 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, and, well, 0 turnovers in 36 minutes. A monster performance, definitely. And anyone paying attention to this so-called “rookie” already knew: trying to stop her isn’t a game plan. It’s a pipe dream.
“It’s try and make everything as difficult as possible..Let her see multiple bodies, different kinds of matchups, Just make her really work for everything that she’s gonna get,” White had said about Bueckers, per an X post from Joey Mistretta of ClutchPoints, further adding, “I mean, when you’re playing against great players, you’re not gonna stop them, right?” And that’s clearly the same mindset White applied today.
The second battle between the two titans again ended in Caitlin Clark and co taking the dub from Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings. Clark dropped a season-high 13 assists, guiding the Fever to a commanding 103-82 win. Now, there’s a lot to love about how the Fever played, but just as much to question about the Wings. Coach Koclanes is under fire after the loss, and honestly, there’s no shortage of concerns for the Wings. What’s going wrong on defense? Why can’t the offense click? But if there’s one thing you can’t blame, it’s Paige Bueckers’ performance. Even though White had her pretty disruptive plan ready, Bueckers managed to finish the match with a game-high 21 points on 9-15 shooting. She also had 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. She was absolutely everywhere. So, Fever coach Stephanie White had to give credit where it’s due.
“She always stays neutral. She doesn’t get rushed, her pace, her poise, her decision making…when you play somebody that is really high IQ and is elite in all areas…and they just try and maintain that flow, it makes it tough. That’s the difference between good players and great players. It’s fun to watch, not an as opponent on the sideline…for Paige she’s figuring it out,” White said.
Stephanie White on Paige Bueckers
“She always stays neutral. She doesn’t get rushed, her pace, her poise, her decision making…when you play somebody that is really high IQ and is elite in all areas…and they just try and maintain that flow, it makes it tough. That’s the…
— Moreau Sports Media Prod Co. (@MoreauSportsCo) July 13, 2025
So, the first of many Caitlin Clark vs. Paige Bueckers pro battles may have gone Clark’s way on the leaderboard, but it was Paige who stole the show. Like clockwork, Paige was back to breaking records. Her performance tonight marked her 17th straight game in double figures, which is now the fourth-longest streak to begin a W career. But that’s not all. She also became the fastest player since Diana Taurasi in 2004 to hit 300 points, 50 assists, and 50 rebounds. If that’s not Rookie of the Year material, what is?
Yet, it’s tough to watch Paige not witness the wins she clearly deserves. The Wings ended up conceding 18 turnovers, twice as many as the Fever. Those mistakes led to 23 easy points for Indiana. Meanwhile, Dallas could only convert Indiana’s turnovers into 9 points. And if that wasn’t already bad enough, the Fever dominated the paint with 58 points, 20 more than what the Wings managed.
Sure, the Wings are still without the likes of DiJonai Carrington and Maddy Seigrist. But Arike Ogunbowale did return after missing four games. Did it make a difference? Not really. The veteran guard went 0-for-10 from the field, and it only added to the team’s struggles. Wings’ lack of offensive power and leaky defense opened the door for a historic night for the Fever, who went on to drop a franchise record 64 points in the first half. That’s how one-sided the game was.
But that hasn’t shaken Bueckers’ optimism one bit. She knows what is needed to become better.
Paige Bueckers on what the Wings need to do to get better
Injuries have played a big part in restricting the Wings to a 6-16 record this season. But there are bigger issues than just the injuries. The Wings need to stop turning over the ball. They have recorded 329 turnovers this season, which ranks them 10th in the league. And Paige recognises that!
“Not allowing for slippage and when slippage does happen…dont let a 6pt run turn into a 15pt run…there’s no skipping steps to build what we want to build here..everyone goes through adversity…we’re not going to get out of who we are…just because the results haven’t shown up yet…we’re going to stick together through it…nights like tonight, just continue to stay together and just not be together through the good times but together through it all,” she said
But such mistakes can’t happen every game if the Wings want to win games. So, what do you think? Can Coach Koclanes find a fix, or will this be a season-long struggle? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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