Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers added another chapter to their intense on-court rivalry during a close game on Thursday night. Dallas claimed victory over Indiana with a score of 91-85, but one moment stood out in the closing seconds of the first half.
With under 10 seconds left in the second quarter, Clark held possession, facing tight defense from Bueckers. In an attempt to halt the play before halftime, Bueckers wrapped Clark’s left arm. The Wings had a strategic foul to give at the time. Frustrated by the contact, Clark threw the ball downcourt, narrowly missing Bueckers’ head, before both teams headed to their locker rooms.
The brief exchange between the two players was notable, though their words were not clearly captured by microphones. Bueckers received a common foul for the play, but the tension carried into the second half. Bueckers later received a technical foul after arguing with an official following another foul involving Clark.
Kelsey Mitchell topped the scoring for Indiana with 37 points, while Clark provided a team-high nine assists. For Dallas, Arike Ogunbowale scored 32 points, and Bueckers added eight assists.
Last week, the Fever and Wings faced off, with Clark and Bueckers both scoring 29 points. Indiana secured a 98-87 win, but Clark spoke highly of Bueckers afterward. Clark praised Bueckers’ skill, describing her as an amazing player who challenges defenses. “She makes it really hard on us defensively,” Clark said, noting Bueckers’ ability to take advantage of defensive lapses and play smoothly.
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