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Alexa Philipou
Indianapolis – No. 1 draft in the much awaited first matchup between draft pics Cetleen Clarke And Piege Beukers As professionals, it was Clarke and Indiana fever Which came out on the top Sunday at the Genbridge Fieldhouse – and in historical fashion.
Fever closed a franchise-record 64 first-huff points behind a quarter of 36-15 seconds, controlled the game and never looked back. 102-83 wins,
Clarke, 2024 number 1 pick, ended with 13 out of 13 of Indiana’s 30 assistance at 40-a season-servation mark for them and a record of fever for a regulation game. It was also Clarke’s 17th career 10-post game, but was not the first with more than two turnover.
This season is recalling the matchup of the first fever-side matching in June-and in June-and is still looking to find his specific shooting form again-and in June. He scored 14 points from 4-for-12 and 3-pointers from the ground 14 points. But the two-time all-star was pleased with her convenience and attempt at the protective end, where she helped set up the tone for fever and went with five stolen.
No drama got fans of fever at his feet than blocking Clarke JJ QuinlyTried a hurry in the second quarter and then found a rim-ring Sophie Cunningham With a beautiful three-fourth-quort dime.
Clarke said, “I was still not doing it as good as I would have liked, but I feel like it is coming. Just trying to bring my feet under me.” “I felt that my playmaking was really good. There was no reason for me to really shoot. … … [We were] Just very balanced, and people executed. ,
Bueckers, 2025 Number 1 Pick, led all scorers with 21 points on 9-for-15 shooting, which is good for the fourth-time of double-scoring to start the WNBA career (17 games). Ruki of the Year favorite added 4 assist, 4 rebounds and 2 styles, although he also did 4 turnover.
After the first quarter of a back and forth, fever fell down defensively and demolished the wings in transition, simultaneously 25–4 runs and eventually in half 64–42. 21 points marked Indiana’s best point difference in any quarter since 2016, and 64 points of fever have been scored by any WNBA team in half this season.
Indiana shot 52% a day, scored 23 points from 18 feather turnover and increased season-high 58 points in paint.
“Some turnover, and then his physicality came to us,” Dallas coach Chris Kokalanas said about his team’s second quarter collapse. “Their materiality in fact, really bothers us in stretch, and takes away our flow and continuity. But then, there is no excuse to not come back. I think we could consistently try more in infections.”
In the third quarter, he led fever as 29 and ended with five players in double figures for the fourth time in this season, headed by a joint 55 points. Kelsey michelle (20), Natasha Howard (1)) And Aliah Boston (1 ().
“I think we were just firing on all cylinders, pushing the ball well, going into the next action, playing a pick and rolling well,” Clarke said. “And then our protection was good and we found a lot of buckets in infection.”
Indiana coach Stephanie White was added: “To play in transition, we are closed at the defensive end. And the ball was moving forward – we were playing close to .5 basketball in that second quarter.”
On Wednesday, after showing a putrid aggressive in which fever (11–10) scored just 61 points with a 30% shooting clip, Indianana has now scored 201 points in their last two matches. White said she is “pleased with our progress” as the team looks at strengthening its identity.
Dallas (6-16) watched Sunday’s return Arik Ogunbole A thumb injury that sidelined him for three competitions, but the four-time all-star struggled to find his shooting stroke. She ended with two points and missed all her 10 attempts from the field – the most field round attempt without makeer in her career.
“You can tell that he didn’t play a little. I want something [shots] It must have fallen early for him, “Koklane said.” He continues to continue the balance of really working hard to get up on the floor and get a spot and take action, and then I have been continued to help him. ,
Bukers were added: “It was best because I went here that he replied [shooting woes]It may be that it was not shooting her night ball, but the way she remained in the game, she did not let her effort to affect her effort on both ends of the floor, as a leader of this team, it was too big for me to be able to see it. ,
