Paige Bueckers Drops 35 in Return, But Wings Suffer 10th Loss in Shooting Struggle Against Mercury

Paige Bueckers made a powerful return to the court after missing time due to concussion protocol and illness, exploding for a career-high 35 points. But even her stellar performance couldn’t lift the Dallas Wings past the surging Phoenix Mercury, who pulled off a 93-80 win on Wednesday night.

Bueckers was the clear bright spot, shooting 13-for-19 from the field, including 5-of-7 from three, and added 4 assists and 6 rebounds. She looked like a star reborn. However, the Wings’ overall shooting woes and defensive lapses told the story of the night.

🔥 Hot Hands vs Cold Streaks

The Wings shot just 26.3% from three as a team, going 5-of-19, compared to Phoenix’s scorching 42.9% (15-of-35) from beyond the arc. The Mercury’s balanced offensive attack, highlighted by Satou Sabally’s 20 points and Kitija Laksa’s 14 points off the bench, helped them pull away in the second half.

Phoenix had six players score 8 or more, showing off their depth and ball movement. The Mercury totaled 23 assists on 35 field goals, led by Alyssa Thomas’ 10 dimes. The Wings only dished out 16 assists, with no other player besides Bueckers scoring more than 11 points.

🧯 Bueckers Gets Little Help

The supporting cast for Dallas struggled. Arike Ogunbowale went just 2-for-10 from the field and failed to connect from deep, finishing with 10 points but a team-worst -15 +/- rating. DiJonai Carrington had 11 points and 8 rebounds, but turnovers (4) and shooting inefficiency dragged the Wings down.

Even with strong rebounding (36 boards total), Dallas couldn’t overcome their lack of perimeter defense or shooting consistency. The Mercury’s ability to stretch the floor and move the ball left the Wings scrambling on defense.

📉 Season Outlook

This marks Dallas’ 10th loss of the season, raising questions about their depth and defensive identity. Despite the excitement of Bueckers’ return, the team has yet to string together a complete performance.

If the Wings want to make a playoff push, they’ll need to figure out their perimeter defense and find a way to support their star rookie — who showed tonight that she’s ready for the moment.