Paige Bueckers Shines with 31 Points as Wings Defeat Mercury 85-70

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — In a standout performance, Paige Bueckers tallied a season-high 31 points, leading the Dallas Wings to an 85-70 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night. Alongside her, Jessica Shepard contributed significantly with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.

Bueckers was particularly impressive in the first half, scoring 24 points on an efficient 11-of-14 shooting, which included a pivotal 3-pointer that extended Dallas’s lead to 45-33 with just under a minute remaining in the half. The Wings maintained their momentum by outscoring the Mercury 25-16 in the third quarter, establishing a lead as large as 22 points.

Despite the Wings' commanding position, the Mercury managed to narrow the gap to 80-70 with 1:28 left on the clock after Bueckers had been rested. However, Phoenix's chance to further close the score was thwarted by an offensive foul, and Li Yueru secured a three-point play shortly after, ensuring Dallas's victory with a 13-point lead.

Notably, Bueckers also recorded six rebounds and five assists during her 31 minutes on the court, marking the 17th 30-point game in the WNBA this season. This was her third career game scoring 30 or more points, and the first since she set the rookie scoring record last August. Azzi Fudd also contributed 17 points for Dallas, while Shepard achieved her 26th career double-double, including seven this season.

For the Mercury, Lexi Held led the team with 17 points, while Kahleah Copper managed 13 points on a challenging 3 of 10 shooting. Alyssa Thomas rounded out the performance with six points, nine rebounds, and ten assists.

Looking ahead, the Phoenix Mercury will kick off a three-game homestand on Saturday against Los Angeles, while the Dallas Wings are set to face Portland on the same day.