Aziaha James Shines Off the Bench as Wings Defeat Storm 79-56

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — In a strong performance from the bench, Aziaha James contributed 18 points, leading the Dallas Wings to a decisive 79-56 victory over the Seattle Storm on Monday night. Paige Bueckers also made an impact, scoring 10 points along with nine rebounds and seven assists, all of which were tallied in the first half, helping the Wings establish a 36-25 lead by halftime.

The Wings surged to start the second half, launching an 8-0 run that pushed their lead to 44-25. Seattle struggled to find their rhythm, failing to score from the field until the 5:39 mark of the third quarter. Despite the Wings shooting only 36% from the field, their defensive efforts and rebounding dominance, 48-36, played a critical role in their victory.

Four players from Dallas, now holding a 6-3 record, each scored nine points. Arike Ogunbowale faced difficulties, hitting just 2 of 13 attempts, while Maddy Siegrist managed to convert 3 of her 10 shots. Meanwhile, Jessica Shepard stood out defensively with eight rebounds.

For Seattle, Flau’jae Johnson led the way with 16 points and 10 rebounds but fouled out with 39.7 seconds remaining. Natisha Hiedeman added 11 points to the tally. Notably, Johnson became the second rookie guard in WNBA history to achieve 15 blocks within the first 10 games of her career, joining the ranks of Elena Delle Donne.

Seattle struggled significantly with their shooting, making only 20 of 61 attempts (33%) and just 4 of 19 from beyond the arc. The Storm will aim to bounce back as they prepare to host the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday, while the Wings are set to face the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday.