ARLINGTON – Aziaha James lit up the scoreboard with 28 points, including 20 in the first half, while Paige Bueckers contributed 23, leading the Dallas Wings to a 98-89 win against the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night.
JJ Quinerly made a significant impact off the bench, scoring a career-high 17 points for the Wings (6-13), who have now claimed five victories in their last seven outings. Rookie Luisa Geiselsöder added four points, while second-year center Li Yueru showcased her skills with 12 points and 11 rebounds, going an impressive 10 of 12 from the free-throw line.
James not only excelled in scoring, hitting five 3-pointers, but also contributed six rebounds and six assists to her team's effort.
Kahleah Copper was the standout for the Mercury (12-6), scoring 33 points, marking her 11th career game with at least 30 points. Satou Sabally supported with 20 points, and Monique Akoa Makani added 14. The Mercury's loss marks their second consecutive defeat after a six-game winning streak.
The Wings started strong, making 10 of their first 13 shots, including three from beyond the arc, and converting all nine free-throw attempts to establish a commanding 32-20 lead by the end of the first quarter. James was particularly explosive in the second quarter, scoring 13 points and surpassing her previous career high of 17 before halftime. The Wings concluded their most productive half of the season with a 61-43 lead, shooting an impressive 61% from the field, 7 of 13 from three-point range, and 14 of 15 from the charity stripe.
In contrast, Phoenix struggled offensively in the first half, shooting just 37% and making only 3 of 14 attempts from long range. However, they managed to stay competitive by converting 14 of their 16 free throws.
Copper ignited a third-quarter comeback for the Mercury, sinking two three-pointers and scoring eight points in less than a minute. Alyssa Thomas, who finished with nine points, ten assists, and seven rebounds, added a layup that narrowed the gap to 67-63 midway through the period. Yet, James quickly countered with a three-point play, allowing Dallas to extend its lead to 82-71 heading into the final quarter.
The Wings maintained control throughout the fourth quarter, pushing their lead to as much as 18 points at 92-74.
