Paige Bueckers scored an efficient 20 points, Maddy Siegrist recorded a double-double and Aziaha James dropped 17 points on Thursday in the Dallas Wings’ 95-80 preseason win over Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever.  

But it’s still early, and the Wings are only just beginning to figure out their identity for the 2026 season. 

Before Dallas matches up again with Indiana for the May 9 season opener at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, they’ll experiment with new lineups and try to clean things up on Sunday against the Las Vegas Aces in a preseason clash at the Moody Center in Austin. 

Dallas committed 32 fouls on Thursday, setting Indiana up for 42 free-throw attempts. The Wings also turned the ball over 22 times. Wings coach Jose Fernandez said postgame that the team will spend time watching film “and hopefully be a lot better on Sunday against Vegas.” 

“A lot of the things that we did tonight are fixable, so [I’m] looking forward to fixing those things,” Fernandez said. 

Bueckers played just 20 minutes against the Fever, and 2026 No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd scored four points on 2-of-7 shooting. She spent 16 minutes on the court after getting into foul trouble.  

Alanna Smith, the reigning co-defensive player of the year, scored five points in 19 minutes. In nearly 15 minutes, veteran point guard Odyssey Sims scored 9 points on 4-of-4 shooting. 

“Probably could have played her some more tonight,” Fernandez said of Sims.  

Fernandez said after Thursday’s win that the team’s top 8-9 players should see more minutes Sunday. 

Two key players, All-Star guard Arike Ogunbowale and top free agency pick-up Jessica Shepard, did not travel with the team to Indianapolis or appear in game action Thursday. But they should be installed soon after missing most of training camp due to overseas commitments. 

The preseason game against the Aces should help the Wings further determine their opening day roster. Dallas still has at least four more cuts to make by May 7, after making four cuts since opening training camp on April 19. 

Under the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, teams must carry 12 active players on the roster and may sign up to two players on development contracts.  

“I think it’s going to come down to needs,” Fernandez said on finalizing the roster. “Needs and fit and rotational things.”