The Dallas Wings survived a late scare to claim a thrilling 81-80 win over the Indiana Fever on Tuesday night in Indianapolis, snapping a five-game losing streak and keeping their playoff hopes alive. What looked like a comfortable victory turned into a tense final minute as the Fever staged a furious comeback that nearly rewrote the ending.
Siegrist & Yueru Lead the Charge
The Wings were powered by Maddy Siegrist, who poured in 22 points, tying her career high, and Li Yueru, who came off the bench with a dominant 20-point performance. Dallas controlled the game for most of the night, building a 17-point lead with less than seven minutes to play.
Yet, basketball is never over until the buzzer sounds.
Fever’s Furious Rally Falls Just Short
The Indiana Fever roared back with a 19-3 run, led by Kelsey Mitchell’s 24 points and Natasha Howard’s double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds). The comeback had the home crowd on their feet and the Wings scrambling for answers.
However, Indiana’s final possession raised eyebrows. Head coach Stephanie White chose to let play continue without using her final timeout-a move that has quickly drawn debate after the game. With no set play, the Fever’s last shot attempt fell short, sealing their heartbreak.
The Caitlin Clark Factor-Even Off the Court
Although Caitlin Clark missed her 11th consecutive game with a groin injury, she still made headlines from the bench. Midway through the game, Clark was seen holding back Coach White from escalating an argument with officials-possibly preventing a technical foul. Later, cameras caught her yelling at a referee, showcasing her fiery leadership even while sidelined.
Clark has not yet been cleared for full practice, but her competitive energy is clearly felt within the team, whether she’s on the floor or not.
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Key Stats
- Dallas Wings: Siegrist 22 pts, Yueru 20 pts, held Fever to 38% shooting
- Indiana Fever: Mitchell 24 pts, Howard 12 pts & 12 rebs, nearly erased 17-point deficit
- Siegrist’s continued rise and Yueru’s spark off the bench are giving Dallas a much-needed offensive boost-momentum they’ll rely on heavily as the season winds down.
SportSnip Analysis – What This Means Moving Forward
For the Wings, this victory is more than just a single tick in the win column-it’s a morale boost after a rough patch. Siegrist’s continued rise and Yueru’s spark off the bench are giving Dallas a much-needed offensive boost-momentum they’ll rely on heavily as the season winds down.
For the Fever, the late rally proves they can fight back under pressure, but poor game management in crunch time continues to cost them. Without Caitlin Clark’s playmaking, they’ve struggled to close out games-a worrying trend as playoff positioning tightens.
Final Word
This game had everything-dominant performances, dramatic swings, coaching controversies, and sideline fire. Dallas managed to hold on for the slim victory, but Indiana proved they’re a team that won’t go down without a fight. With both teams still in the postseason mix, the next meeting promises to be just as heated.
