mckinneyweekly.news chose Awak Kuier for Defensive Player of the Night, and Richardson's shorter piece opens where the AP did: five blocks before halftime.
Those five tied Kuier's career high from her 2021 rookie season, the Associated Press reported, before she added two more after the break for seven total. ESPN's box score credits her with seven blocks, 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists, one steal, and zero turnovers in 36 minutes on 4-for-8 shooting and 2-for-6 from three. Dallas blocked eight shots as a team.
CBS Sports agrees on the counting stats.
Names on the rejections
The AP listed blocks against Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Makayla Timpson. Mitchell still scored 37 with 21 before half, per the AP. ESPN had Boston at 14 and nine on 5-for-11 in 29 minutes, Timpson at 11 and 12, and Clark at 4-for-15.
Why seven blocks showed in a 91-85
The Fever shot 27-for-66 (41 percent) and 24-for-26 at the free-throw line, ESPN's team board shows. Dallas could not dry up Indiana at the stripe; Kuier's rim work removed some of the paint looks. She also made a 23-footer and a 27-footer in ESPN's play-by-play, stretching a defense already dealing with Ogunbowale's 32 and Shepard's 26.
ESPN listed Dallas at 21-16 and Indiana at 24-13. The AP said Indiana's five-game streak ended short of a franchise wins record and that Dallas was in its first game after announcing Azzi Fudd's season-ending right-knee surgery.