Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers Set for Preseason Showdown as Fever Host Wings

Key facts

• Caitlin Clark returned from a season-ending groin injury on Saturday, leading the Fever to a 109-91 win over the Liberty.
• Paige Bueckers, the 2025 No. 1 pick, will make her preseason debut for the Dallas Wings on Thursday.
• Aliyah Boston (lower leg) and Lexie Hull (hamstring) are ruled out for the Fever against the Wings.
• Ty Harris (knee) and rookie Justine Pissot (lower leg) also will not play for Indiana on Thursday.
• The game features the last four No. 1 overall picks: Boston (2023), Clark (2024), Bueckers (2025), and Azzi Fudd (2026).
• Indiana's final preseason game is Saturday against the Nigerian national team; the regular season opens May 9 at home vs. Dallas.

A Rivalry Renewed in Preseason

Caitlin Clark will be back on the court for the Indiana Fever on Thursday when they host the Dallas Wings in a preseason matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where a capacity crowd is expected. The game pits two of the WNBA's brightest young stars against each other: Clark, the 2024 No. 1 pick, and Paige Bueckers, the 2025 No. 1 pick, who have been rivals since their college days. Clark played her first game back for the Fever on Saturday after a season-ending groin injury in 2025, helping Indiana defeat the New York Liberty 109-91 in their preseason opener. Bueckers, meanwhile, will make her preseason debut for Dallas after being selected first overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Fever Shorthanded as Key Players Sidelined

Indiana will be shorthanded against Dallas, with Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hull both ruled out due to injuries. Boston is dealing with a lower leg injury that also caused her to miss the Unrivaled playoffs and the FIBA Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament in the offseason; Hull is nursing a minor hamstring issue. Neither played against the Liberty on Saturday. Free agent recruit Ty Harris is also out with a knee injury and has not been cleared to make her Fever debut. Rookie Justine Pissot, who logged 10 minutes against New York, will not play on Thursday due to a lower leg issue. Coach Stephanie White confirmed the injury report, noting that neither Boston's nor Hull's injuries are considered serious.

Boston Declares Full Health for Regular Season

Despite her absence on Thursday, Aliyah Boston told reporters on Monday that she is fully healthy and “100%” ready for the start of the regular season. The three-time All-Star has been recovering from a lower extremity injury that forced her to miss significant offseason action. Hull's next chance to suit up will be on Saturday against the Nigerian national squad, which will be the Fever’s final preseason matchup. The Fever’s first regular-season game is scheduled for May 9 at home against the Wings, setting the stage for a continuation of the rivalry that will be previewed on Thursday.

White Expects a Star-Studded Atmosphere

Fever coach Stephanie White expressed enthusiasm for the matchup, highlighting the presence of two of the world's best young players. “Yeah, I think it’s gonna be great. I mean, you’ve got two of the best young players in the world that are playing. [They’re] kind of highlighted, in terms of coverage,” White said on April 29. She noted that the game also features the last four No. 1 overall picks: Aliyah Boston (2023), Clark (2024), Bueckers (2025), and Azzi Fudd (2026), who was drafted by Dallas this year. “You’ve got back-to-back number one picks with Dallas, and they have a lot to be excited about. They had a great free agency, they’re gonna have a different team. Jose [Fernandez] is an outstanding coach,” White added.

Preseason as a Strategic Prelude

White acknowledged that both teams are still integrating new players and will not have everyone available, but she sees the game as an opportunity to test different defensive schemes. “We’ve got to be prepared for a lot of different things, and just like us, it’s like they don’t have a lot of it in right now, they don’t have everybody playing right now. But it really gives us an opportunity to guard differently than we had to in our last matchup,” she explained. With the regular-season opener between the same two teams on May 9, Thursday's preseason contest will provide valuable insights for both sides. “I expect it to be fun. It still is preseason, so it is what it is from that standpoint. But it should be a good atmosphere,” White concluded.

A Glimpse into the WNBA's Future

Beyond the final score, the matchup between the Fever and Wings shines a spotlight on the league’s present and future. The convergence of four consecutive No. 1 picks on the same court underscores the depth of young talent entering the WNBA. For fans, it is a preview of a rivalry that could define the next era of the league. As both teams prepare for the regular season, Thursday's game offers a tantalizing taste of what is to come. The Fever will look to build on their preseason win, while the Wings aim to integrate their new stars. All eyes will be on Gainbridge Fieldhouse as Clark and Bueckers share the court once again.

The bottom line

• Caitlin Clark returned from a groin injury and led the Fever to a 109-91 preseason win over the Liberty on Saturday.
• Paige Bueckers will make her preseason debut for the Wings on Thursday, facing Clark for the first time since college.
• The Fever will be without Aliyah Boston, Lexie Hull, Ty Harris, and Justine Pissot against Dallas due to injuries.
• Boston declared herself fully healthy and ready for the regular season, while Hull may return on Saturday against Nigeria.
• The game features four consecutive No. 1 overall picks: Boston, Clark, Bueckers, and Fudd.
• The regular-season opener between the Fever and Wings is scheduled for May 9 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.