DHJ Quick Take: Dallas Wings Postgame Takeaways
- Efficiency Overload: Paige Bueckers provided a masterclass in scoring efficiency, dropping 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting in just 20 minutes. Her chemistry with Alanna Smith in pick-and-roll actions was the mechanical necessity that triggered a 36-17 second-quarter run, effectively ending the game before halftime.
- Frontcourt Dominance: Maddy Siegrist posted a monster double-double (18 points, 11 rebounds), crediting offseason strength work for her increased physicality. Alongside Aziaha James (17 points, +19), the Wings dominated the paint 50-30, establishing the “Identity” Jose Fernandez has preached throughout training camp.
- The Defensive Checklist: Despite the 15-point win, Jose Fernandez remained critical of the 22 turnovers and 42 free throws surrendered to Indiana. Limiting straight-line drives and “walling up” without fouling remain the primary coaching priorities before the May 9 regular-season opener.
- Fudd’s Foul Trouble: In her unofficial debut, Azzi Fudd saw her floor time limited to 16 minutes due to early foul trouble. While the Wings‘ staff intended to manage her workload as part of a “Big Picture” ramp-up, the whistle dictated the rotation.
INDIANAPOLIS — Reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers scored 20 points, and Maddy Siegrist posted a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds as the Dallas Wings opened their preseason with a 95-80 win over the Indiana Fever on Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Bueckers shot 8-of-12 from the field and 4-of-6 from 3-point range in just over 20 minutes and scored all of her points before halftime. Siegrist went 7-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, adding a steal and a block. Aziaha James chipped in 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and a team-high 4 steals off the bench, going a perfect 7-of-7 at the free-throw line and finishing a team-best plus-19.
The Wings shot 51.4% from the field, 34.8% from 3-point range, and 88.2% at the line. Dallas dominated in the paint 50-30, outscored Indiana 21-9 in fast-break points, and outrebounded the Fever 45-26.
Dallas Wings Seize Control in Second Quarter
Trailing 29-25 after the first quarter, the Wings opened the second on a 13-2 run to seize a 38-31 lead and force a Fever timeout with 7:54 to play in the half. James scored 5 points in the spurt, and Bueckers and Siegrist each connected from beyond the arc. Dallas followed with a 15-5 run to extend the lead to 53-36 and pushed the margin to as many as 21 points before Indiana closed the half on an 8-2 run.
The Wings shot 72.2% from the field in the second quarter while holding the Fever to 21.4%.
“I think we got out in transition a lot, easy baskets running the floor, getting layups, and wide-open threes,” Bueckers said. “We took better care of the ball. We were pretty sloppy early, starting with me in the first quarter, but we cleaned it up and got shots on goal.”
Bueckers credited Alanna Smith‘s screening and the team’s spacing for opening up driving and 3-point looks. Smith finished with 5 points, 4 rebounds, and a team-high 5 assists in just over 19 minutes.
“Alanna does a really good job of screening, hitting bodies, and creating space and separation,” Bueckers said. “She’s a threat finishing and from the three-point line, so that helps.”
Maddy Siegrist’s Rebounding, Aziaha James’ Aggression Set the Tone
Siegrist’s double-double anchored a Wings frontcourt that dominated the glass. Li Yueru chipped in 8 points and 8 rebounds, including 5 offensive boards, in less than 12 minutes off the bench. Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu added 8 points on 4-of-7 shooting.
“I think this is the strongest I’ve been,” Siegrist said. “I’ve always had a knack for offensive rebounding, just chasing the ball. Defensively, we need to be one-and-done every time.”
James, in her second season, was aggressive attacking the rim and getting to the line, where she was perfect on seven attempts. She and Fankam Mendjiadeu each scored 6 points in the fourth quarter to close out the win.
“Just letting the game come to me, sharing the ball, showing love to everyone,” James said. “Tonight was my night to get buckets, so I leaned on my teammates to help me.”
Odyssey Sims added 9 points and 4 assists on 4-of-4 shooting in her first action as a starter. Smith was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul at the 7:51 mark of the third quarter.
Caitlin Clark Leads Fever From the Stripe
Caitlin Clark led Indiana with 21 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal in 16 minutes, knocking down 11-of-13 free throws. She finished 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-3 from 3-point range. Makayla Timpson added 11 points, 2 rebounds, a steal, and 2 blocks off the bench. Kelsey Mitchell scored 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting.
Indiana hit just 4-of-23 from 3-point range (17.4%), shot 40% overall, and made 28-of-42 free throws (66.7%). Damiris Dantas went 0-of-8 from beyond the arc and finished with 7 points and 5 rebounds. Myisha Hines-Allen grabbed a team-high 7 rebounds.
Raven Johnson added 3 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists, and 5 steals off the bench. The Fever played without Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hull, both listed inactive.
Jose Fernandez Sees Plenty to Clean Up
Despite the 15-point margin, head coach Jose Fernandez said the team has work to do before Sunday, particularly on defense. The Wings sent Indiana to the line 42 times and committed 22 turnovers of their own that led to 21 Fever points.
“Forty-two free throws, that doesn’t feel good,” Fernandez said. “But I thought our top eight or nine players did a good job, and we were able to build a lead.”
Fernandez said his focus areas were keeping the ball in front on straight-line drives, trusting help defense, and walling up without fouling. He also wanted to manage minutes for Azzi Fudd, Bueckers, and Smith, all of whom finished under 20 minutes by design.
“This league is too good to just outscore people,” Fernandez said. “You’ve got to get stops and defend without fouling. Even with a quick turnaround, those are things we have to fix before May 9.”
Up Next
The Wings host the Las Vegas Aces in their preseason finale on Sunday, May 3, at the Moody Center in Austin. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT, with national coverage on ION. Dallas opens the regular season May 9 in Indianapolis against the Fever.
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