Bueckers and Shepard carry Dallas to a record finish
SEATTLE — The Dallas Wings closed their regular season with a 103-91 victory over the Seattle Storm on Wednesday night, a result that lifted them to 27-16 and sealed the largest single-season improvement in WNBA history. Dallas had won only 10 games the previous season, so the 17-win gain surpassed every previous turnaround in league annals. The Wings also took seven of their final eight contests, their only defeat in that stretch arriving Monday after they had led by 14 points.[S1]
Paige Bueckers paced Dallas with 25 points, while Jessica Shepard delivered 20 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists for her sixth triple-double of the year, the most in the league. Arike Ogunbowale contributed 23 points and six assists. Bueckers has now recorded at least 20 points and five assists in three consecutive games.[S1]
Seattle's late push falls short as Dallas pulls away
Dallas held a 90-71 advantage with 6:55 remaining in the fourth quarter before Seattle answered with a 17-4 surge that trimmed the margin to 94-88. The Wings responded on their next two possessions, with Awak Kuier and Bueckers each connecting from 3-point range to restore control.[S1]
Dominique Malonga led Seattle (8-36) with 29 points and eight rebounds. Awa Fam added a season-high 22 points, Flau'jae Johnson scored 21, and Natisha Hiedeman finished with 10 points and 14 assists. Dallas swept all four meetings with the Storm this season, the first such sweep in franchise history.[S1]
What comes next for both teams
Dallas secured the No. 7 seed in the WNBA playoffs after Atlanta's victory over New York earlier in the night, and now awaits its postseason matchup. Seattle's season is over.[S1]
