Fever vs. Wings Takeaways: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Deliver in Thrilling Win Over Caitlin Clark, Indiana

It was a battle of the four most recent No. 1 picks and the game lived up to the billing.

Paige Bueckers (right) had 20 points in the Wings’ opening win on the road against the Fever. | Jeff Dean/NBAE/Getty Images

The first big-time game of the WNBA season is over. It delivered: Dallas 107, Indiana 104. It wasn’t always pretty, but this is certainly a new look for the Wings, and they showed off some of their potential on Saturday. Here are three quick takeaways: 

1. Circle the rest of these matchups on your calendar.

Let’s start by stating the obvious: This one was a blast. (At least for those of you who love offense. Any defensive-minded fans will have to look elsewhere.) It was the first WNBA season opener ever to see both teams score more than 100. Those who turned in for Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers got what they wanted. While Clark had a slow first half, she clicked into gear in the third quarter and showed off her trademark range and playmaking, finishing with 20 points. Bueckers matched her with 20 points of her own with some gorgeous looks from mid-range. But so much of what gave this game its spark was everyone else on the floor. Indiana standby Kelsey Mitchell led all scorers with 30 points—and was the choice to take the final shot and try sending this one to overtime. Second-year forward Makayla Timpson was crucial for the Fever down the stretch and showed that she will be a serious force in the paint going forward. The Wings got key contributions from guards Odyssey Sims and Aziaha James and were led in scoring by Arike Ogunbowale’s 22 points. Clark and Bueckers were the headliners here. But it was the rest of these rosters who made the show. 

2. Aliyah Boston is more versatile than ever.

In college, Boston looked and played like a fairly traditional big, doing her damage with her back to the basket. She’s gradually expanded her skillset over her three seasons in the WNBA. But in Game No. 1 of Season No. 4, she looked more versatile and capable than ever. You saw flashes of this over the winter in Unrivaled—where she worked more on the perimeter and took 3.2 three-pointers a game—but it was impossible to miss on Saturday. Boston ran the floor and was a meaningful presence far outside the paint: She passed, disrupted and, yes, sank a three. To have a 6'4" player who can play this fast and offer so much is a real treat.  

3. How will Azzi Fudd’s role look going forward?

The No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft came off the bench here. (Wings coach Jose Fernandez chose to start veteran Sims in her place—and Sims, with 20 points, made it worth his while.) Fudd logged 18 minutes and got her first WNBA bucket with a corner three. But that was one of her only touches of the game. She finished with just those three points on 1-for-2 shooting along with one rebound and a steal. Now, there’s only so much that can be read from one game. Dallas was clearly tinkering with its rotations. There’s time to figure all of this out. But it does raise some questions. How will the Wings use their No. 1 pick? We got a glimpse of a fun three-guard lineup that paired Fudd with Bueckers and James. It’s hard to imagine that we’ll see that one very often, though, since it means no Ogunbowale. Dallas has a lot of depth and plenty of choices. But it’s going to be a bit of a puzzle to fit together for Fernandez.

Sports Illustrated followed along with live updates and analysis for this matchup of some of the league’s brightest young stars.

Live Score Updates: Fever vs. Wings

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