Despite suffering their second straight loss, Paige Bueckers emerged as the lone bright spot for the Dallas Wings. The rookie sensation poured in 22 points against the Indiana Fever, standing tall while the rest of her team struggled. No other Wings player managed to crack double digits apart from Bueckers. She shot 7 of 14 from the field, continuing to show maturity beyond her years on the offensive end. But even her performance was eclipsed by one player.

Stepping up in the absence of Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell delivered a masterclass in scoring. She is currently averaging 19.9 points per game, the fourth-highest in the league this season. She is shooting an efficient 46.5 percent from the floor. Even Bueckers acknowledged Mitchell’s dominance after the game, praising her ability to create space against defenders. For a rookie to compliment an opponent that way speaks volumes about Mitchell’s impact and consistency this year.

When asked about her experience guarding Kelsey Mitchell, Paige Bueckers had high praise for the veteran guard. “I mean, she’s just one of the toughest people to guard in the league,” Bueckers said. “I’m sure if you ask around, you can find a lot of those same answers. But just her quickness and her ability to score at all three levels. And also her ability to not just relent to tough defense and take the easy way out, but continue to fight through and get the ball, get to spots that she wants to get to. So overall, she’s just a tough guard,” she said.

The praise wasn’t one-sided. Kelsey Mitchell also acknowledged Paige Bueckers’ performance and the challenge she posed on the court. The Indiana Fever guard highlighted that a major key to securing the win over Dallas was limiting Paige’s impact on offense. “Being able to take Paige Bueckers out of certain shots is effort,” Mitchell said. The Fever’s defense succeeded in disrupting Dallas’ rhythm, holding the team to just 40.6 percent shooting from the field. Bueckers, despite her 22-point outing, felt the weight of Indiana’s physical defensive approach, and she had thoughts of her own about the pressure they applied.

Paige Bueckers responds to Fever’s tough defensive approach

The Indiana Fever have now won all three matchups against the Dallas Wings this season, but their latest victory stood out as a defensive masterclass. Known for their high-powered offense, the Wings were completely stifled, thanks largely to the Fever’s physicality. Dallas opted for a smaller lineup, which struggled against Indiana’s dominant frontcourt. The result was telling: the Wings shot under 50 percent from the field and connected on just two three-pointers all game.

“It was a very physical game. I thought we only matched it starting in the third quarter. We can know that moving forward to match all four quarters,” Bueckers said. Aliyah Boston briefly sidelined the rookie guard in the third quarter with a hard screen that struck her leg. Interestingly, the Wings only managed to outscore the Fever in the fourth quarter. But it came all too late in the game.

With this loss, the Dallas Wings are on the brink of playoff elimination. They’ve secured just eight wins this season, placing them at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. At this point, it would take a near-miraculous run to keep their postseason hopes alive. Paige Bueckers and company will look to bounce back when they face the New York Liberty at Barclays Center on Tuesday, August 5.