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2d ago

Fever Clinch Playoff Spot as Wings Halt Clark and End Five-Game Run

League confirmation changes the playoff picture, forcing choices on Clark's health, seeding, rest plans before the FIBA break.

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Paige Bueckers #5 of the Dallas Wings drives to the basket against Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever during the second half at American Airlines Center on August 20, 2026 in Dallas.
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Overview

  • The Dallas Wings beat the Indiana Fever 91-85 on Thursday, ending Indiana’s five-game winning streak and denying the Fever an immediate clinch opportunity.
  • Caitlin Clark shot 4-for-15 for 10 points in that game, saw her six-game 20-plus scoring streak end, and is listed as probable with a back issue for the next game.
  • Paige Bueckers and Clark exchanged words after a late-second-quarter grab by Bueckers, Bueckers drew a technical and faces a likely $500 fine under WNBA rules.
  • Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 37 points and extended a WNBA record to 21 consecutive 20-point games while Dallas’ Awak Kuier set a franchise mark with seven blocks.
  • The WNBA confirmed Indiana’s playoff berth after Portland’s loss to Toronto, shifting the Fever’s priorities to seeding, managing workloads and shoring up defensive lapses before the FIBA pause.