The Dallas Wings continued their midseason surge with a 98-89 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday in Arlington, Texas, fueled by a standout night from guard Paige Bueckers.
Bueckers finished with 23 points, five assists, and four rebounds, hitting 8-of-11 shots. She was joined by rookie Aziaha James, who scored a career-high 28 points and added six assists and six rebounds. The victory helped the Wings improve to 6-13 on the year.
Paige Bueckers Acknowledges Emotional Struggles Despite Win
Bueckers did not shy away from self-critique after the game, addressing her performance and mindset during the physical contest.
“I wish I could’ve taken care of the ball a little bit better…I’m human sometimes, I let my emotions get the best of me sometimes (regarding physicality)….Just a learning process every single night,” Bueckers said.
Paige Bueckers
“I wish I could’ve taken care the ball a little bit better…I’m human sometimes, I let my emotions get the best of me sometimes (regarding physicality)….Just a learning process every single night”
— Moreau Sports Media Prod Co. (@MoreauSportsCo) July 4, 2025
Her comments came after she recorded her seventh 20-point game as a rookie, and now has the third most games by a rookie with 20+ points on 80%+ true shooting.
Bueckers returned to the lineup after missing the previous game against the Washington Mystics, and quickly made her presence felt with eight first-quarter points and perfect shooting.
She played a central role in helping Dallas build an 18-point halftime lead and stave off Phoenix’s late run. The Mercury were led by Kahleah Copper’s 33 points but struggled to close the gap as Bueckers and James took control.
Despite the strong numbers, Bueckers was candid about the challenges that come with handling emotions and physical play at the pro level.
Bueckers is the first WNBA guard since Seimone Augustus in 2006 to hit the 250-point mark in just 13 games. She also holds the fastest pace for a guard to reach more than 250 points, 50 rebounds, and 50 assists. The WNBA recognized her efforts with the Rookie of the Month award for June and named her an All-Star starter.
More: WATCH: The Moment Paige Bueckers Learned She Was Voted a WNBA All-Star Starter as a Rookie
Dallas Wings Rookies Continue To Make Franchise History
The Wings have leaned heavily on their rookie class during a stretch without All-Star guard Arike Ogunbowale, who missed the game due to a thumb injury. Dallas started four rookies against Phoenix, the first team to do so since the Minnesota Lynx in 2000. James led all scorers with 20 first-half points, finishing with 28 on 11-of-17 shooting.
JJ Quinerly added 17 points and a team-high seven assists, while Li Yueru collected a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Phoenix, now 12-6 after back-to-back losses, got a season-high from Copper and 20 points from Satou Sabally, but struggled to contain Dallas’ rookies. The Mercury will get a rematch on July 7, hosting Dallas in Phoenix.
