Aliyah Boston was the name in the opening, but Paige Bueckers set the pace Thursday night as the Dallas Wings beat the Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center. Bueckers scored Dallas’ first points and reached 15 points in the second quarter, giving the Wings the start they needed after a loss to the Minnesota Lynx.
Paige Bueckers Sets the Pace
Dallas led 24-20 after the first quarter, a four-point edge built while Bueckers pushed the tempo and kept the offense moving early. She reached 15 points before halftime, and that quick scoring burst gave the Wings control before the game could settle into Phoenix’s rhythm.
Jessica Shepard fit beside her in the same flow. She functioned as the connective tissue of the offense, while Azzi Fudd attacked off the dribble for key baskets that kept Dallas from relying on one scorer alone.
Jose Fernandez Wants More Physicality
Before the game, Jose Fernandez said, “I think they’re disappointed in how we played in Minnesota.” He also said, “Us being able to protect the paint and have a little bit more physicality … that has to improve.” Dallas answered that message by playing with more force and better connection than it showed against the Minnesota Lynx.
That shift showed up in the way the Wings defended the lane and moved the ball. Phoenix still got scoring from DeWanna Bonner, but Dallas did not let that become a run that changed the game’s shape.
Dallas Rebounds Quickly
The result gave the Wings an immediate response after the loss to Minnesota and kept them moving in the upper tier of the WNBA standings. For Dallas, the useful part was not just the win itself but the way it arrived: early offense, stronger physicality, and a cleaner balance between Bueckers, Shepard, and Fudd.
Arike Ogunbowale was part of the Wings’ roster in a game that showed how quickly Dallas can reset when its first action is sharp. The Mercury were forced to play from behind for much of the night, and the Wings left College Park Center with the better start and the better finish.
