I have followed this WNBA rivalry closely all season. The Dallas wings vs Indiana fever match player stats from their May 9, 2026 opener tell a story of two teams heading in opposite directions early.
Dallas won 107-104 in Indianapolis. But the numbers behind that final score reveal more than a single game. They show how these rosters match up when it matters.
The Final Score and Shooting Numbers
Dallas shot 59% from the field. Indiana shot 52%. The Wings made 52% of their three-pointers. The Fever made just 29%.
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That three-point gap decided the game. Indiana had more total field goal attempts. They grabbed more offensive rebounds. But they could not hit from deep when they needed to.
Dallas took 66 shots. Indiana took 77. The Fever generated more looks. The Wings made more of theirs count.
Paige Bueckers Sets the Tone
Bueckers scored 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting. That efficiency is rare for a rookie in her first WNBA game.
She did not force shots. She found open looks within the offense. Her performance set the tone for Dallas all season. Bueckers finished the year averaging over 20 points per game and set a franchise single-season scoring record with 853 points.
Arike Ogunbowale Leads Dallas Scoring
Ogunbowale scored 22 points to lead all Dallas scorers. She has been the Wings' primary offensive option for years. Her ability to create off the dribble takes pressure off Bueckers.
Odyssey Sims added 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Three Wings scored 20 or more. That balance is hard to defend.
Jessica Shepard nearly posted a triple-double in her Dallas debut. She finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists.
Caitlin Clark's Mixed Debut
Clark scored 20 points. She added seven assists and five rebounds. But she also committed five turnovers.
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Her final stat line shows both promise and growing pains. She missed a three-pointer in the final seconds that would have tied the game. Clark also missed a free throw late that could have changed the outcome.
The turnovers matter. Five giveaways from your primary ball handler puts pressure on the entire offense. Clark cleaned this up as the season progressed. By September, she was posting 45-point games.
Kelsey Mitchell Delivers 30 Points
Mitchell led all scorers with 30 points. She shot efficiently and kept Indiana within striking distance.
Mitchell also missed a potential game-tying shot at the buzzer. Indiana had two chances to tie in the final seconds. Both fell short.
Aliyah Boston added 23 points for the Fever. Boston's interior scoring gave Dallas problems all game. She finished the season as Indiana's most consistent post presence.
The Possession Battle
Indiana grabbed seven offensive rebounds. Dallas grabbed three. The Fever generated extra possessions through effort on the glass.
But Dallas won the turnover battle. Indiana committed 14 turnovers. Dallas committed 15. The margin was nearly even.
The real difference was shooting efficiency. Dallas posted an effective field goal percentage that was 12 points higher than Indiana's. That gap overwhelms any rebounding advantage.
What This Game Told Us About Both Teams?
Dallas opened the season as a legitimate contender. They had Bueckers, Ogunbowale, and Sims. They had Shepard running the offense from the post. They won 26 games.
Indiana started slowly. They lost their first two games. But they recovered. By September, they were 26-14 and first in the Eastern Conference.
The May 9 game was a preview of how good both teams could be. It was also a warning for Indiana. Their three-point shooting was a weakness early. They shot 29% from deep in this game. That is not sustainable for a team with championship aspirations.
Where to Find Full Box Scores?
For complete player-by-player stats, check Basketball-Reference's game logs. They track every statistical category for both teams. ESPN's team pages also provide game-by-game results with high scorers and rebounders.
The WNBA's official app offers real-time box scores during games. It is the fastest way to track stats as they happen.
The Final Thoughts
The Indiana fever vs Dallas wings match player stats from their season opener show Dallas winning with efficiency. Bueckers and Ogunbowale combined for 42 points. Mitchell and Boston combined for 53 for Indiana. The difference was shooting.
Dallas made their threes. Indiana missed theirs. That was the game. That was also the season for both teams. Dallas finished 26-17. Indiana finished 26-14. Both made the playoffs. Both had reason to believe they could have won this game if a few shots fell differently.
