Wings move potential Clark-Bueckers matchup to Mavericks’ home arena

WNBA

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Indiana’s Caitlin Clark missed the Fever’s first meeting against Dallas earlier this season. Michael Conroy / ap

Wings rookie Paige Bueckers had 27 points in Dallas’ first game against Indiana, a 94-86 loss. Tony Gutierrez / ap

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The Dallas Wings will try again showcasing a Caitlin Clark-Paige Bueckers matchup at the home of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.

The Wings said Monday the club is moving the Aug. 1 game against Clark and the Indiana Fever to American Airlines Center.

What was supposed to be the first matchup of the past two No. 1 picks in the WNBA draft was held at the AAC on June 27. Clark missed the Fever’s 94-86 victory with a groin injury. Bueckers scored 27 points, the second-highest total of her rookie season.

If Clark returns this week from the groin injury that has sidelined her the past five games, the first meeting with Bueckers could come Sunday at Indianapolis.

Despite Clark’s absence last month, the Wings’ first game at the home of the Mavs drew 20,409 fans. It was the eighth regular-season game in WNBA history to draw at least 20,000.

Included in the crowd were nine-time NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving of the Mavericks, star Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons and Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft by the Mavericks last month.

The Wings normally play at the 7,000-seat College Park Center on the Texas-Arlington campus, about 20 miles from downtown Dallas. The Wings, who relocated from Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2016, are planning to move into a renovated arena at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas in the next year or two.

Lynx extend home streak to 11

Courtney Williams tied her season high with 25 points, Napheesa Collier scored 21 and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Chicago Sky 80-75 on Sunday night.

Minnesota (17-2) set a franchise record with 11 consecutive home wins to start a season. The Lynx won 10 in a row at home on their way to the 2013 WNBA title.

Collier made 7 of 7 from the free-throw line and has made a franchise-record 45 consecutive foul shots. Lindsay Whalen previously held the single-season record of 41 straight free throws while Candice Wiggins made 44 in a row to close the 2009 season and open 2010.

Angel Reese had her 11th double-double of the season, finishing with 16 points, 17 rebounds and six assists for Chicago (5-12).

Kayla McBride made a running floater as the shot clock expired to give the Lynx a 76-70 lead with 27 seconds to play. Rachel Banham hit a 3-pointer that made it 77-75 with 17 seconds left, McBride made 1 of 2 from the free throw line and Alanna Smith blocked a potential tying 3-point shot by Banham with 9.1 seconds left.

Banham hit six 3s and scored 20 points, both season highs, for the Sky and Elizabeth Williams had 12 points. Ariel Atkins and Michaela Onyenwere scored 11 apiece.

The Sky took a 24-10 lead — their biggest of the game — at the end of the first quarter but shot just 25% (5 of 20) in the second. The Lynx used a 16-2 run to take a three-point lead before Reese made a layup to make it 38-37 at halftime.

The Lynx played their third game in four days and fourth in six.