Paige Bueckers returned to her home state of Connecticut, scoring 21 points and dishing out seven assists, while rookie Aziaha James made a significant impact with a career-high 17 points, all scored in the second half. The Dallas Wings triumphed over the Connecticut Sun with a final score of 86-83 on Friday night.
Both Bueckers and James have distinguished themselves as the only rookies this season to achieve a game with at least 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists, with Bueckers accomplishing this feat three times.
NaLyssa Smith contributed 12 points, while Li Yueru added 11 points and nine rebounds, marking their respective season highs for the Wings.
The match was tightly contested, featuring 12 lead changes and 10 ties. The last tie occurred when Aneesah Morrow of the Sun scored to level the game at 62-62 with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter. James quickly responded with a floater, reclaiming the lead for Dallas.
As the game progressed, Morrow's driving layup narrowed Connecticut's deficit to 76-73 with three minutes left. However, Arike Ogunbowale answered back with a crucial three-pointer followed by two free throws. DiJonai Carrington then sealed a late layup, extending the Wings' lead to 83-76 with under a minute remaining.
Despite shooting only 36% (11 of 31) in the second half, the Wings excelled at the free-throw line, converting 21 of 26 attempts (81%), compared to Connecticut's 12 of 15.
The Sun's struggles continued as they fell to 2-11, marking their fifth consecutive loss. Meanwhile, Dallas improved to 3-11, celebrating their first home victory of the season after snapping a seven-game losing streak earlier in the week against Golden State.
This win also marked a repeat performance for the Wings against Connecticut, having previously defeated them 109-87 on May 27, which was their first win of the season.
"It's fun coming back here every single time," Bueckers remarked during the post-game press conference about her return to Connecticut, where she won an NCAA Championship with UConn. "They've always shown so much love to me, and it's been a state that's done a lot for me. It's always amazing to come back and get another win here."
The Wings are set to face off against Washington on Sunday, June 22.
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