Dallas Wings Surge Past Phoenix Mercury in Finale, 97-76

Paige Bueckers had a complete game for the Dallas Wings as she scored 24 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in a 97-76 win over the Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

ARLINGTON, Texas — Paige Bueckers closed her rookie season with a signature performance. The Dallas Wings guard steadied her team in the season finale, shot efficiently from every area of the floor and guided her team to a convincing 97-76 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night at College Park Center.

Phoenix struck first when Natasha Mack finished inside and Satou Sabally connected from deep to give the visitors an early edge. Grace Berger and Maddy Siegrist answered with jumpers for Dallas, but Sabally hit another long shot and Kahleah Copper added a three-pointer to extend the Mercury’s lead. Within five minutes, the Wings trailed 20-6.

Dallas settled down behind Bueckers. After two early misses, she buried a long three from the top of the arc. Moments later, the rookie knocked down a midrange jumper, then set up Myisha Hines-Allen for a layup and free throw chance. The Wings’ ball movement improved and the deficit shrank. Berger’s layup in the final seconds pulled Dallas within 28-25 after one quarter.

The second period swung momentum in Dallas’ favor. Hines-Allen scored through contact to cut the gap to one, and Aziaha James tied it with a three from the corner. Amy Okonkwo entered and hit back-to-back threes, then followed with an inside finish. Siegrist and James added buckets that pushed the Wings ahead. Bueckers, showing her rhythm, hit a jumper and later a transition three that lifted the crowd.

By the late stages of the half, Dallas was in full control. Okonkwo drilled another three, Bueckers launched and connected from 24 feet, and Siegrist scored inside. Phoenix struggled to contain the ball and lost track of shooters. The Wings closed the half on a 15-4 burst to lead 57-47.

“I feel like just being able to get a couple games under your belt, kind of navigating the first couple games and realizing what your team is going to need from you, how to navigate being in the pros, the physicality, the speed, the pace. So once you get a couple games under your belt and you learn and you grow and you watch film, you gain confidence,” Bueckers said. “But that’s throughout the entire season. And my teammates and coaching staff just pouring into me. So that’s been an ongoing thing. And honestly, just most proud of truly everything, the way we handled the adversity, the way we handled different people being in and out of the lineups, just how we stuck together as a team.”

Phoenix tried to rally early in the third quarter. Copper made a jumper in the lane, and Sabally fought for points inside. Dallas quickly regained control. Berger sank free throws, Hines-Allen grabbed rebounds and scored on putbacks, and Bueckers added a short jumper after blocking Copper’s shot on the other end.

The Wings widened their lead with contributions from multiple players. James scored in transition, Okonkwo buried another three, and Diamond Miller drew fouls to add points at the line. Phoenix could not find a consistent rhythm, and the Wings’ defense held the Mercury to 13 points in the quarter. Dallas entered the fourth up 82-60.

Paige Bueckers’ midrange game was on full display for the Dallas Wings as they defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 97-76. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

Phoenix opened the final period with free throws from Mack, but Bueckers responded with a floater. James added a driving layup, and Okonkwo continued her hot shooting with another triple. Even when Phoenix produced baskets from Kalani Brown and Kitija Laksa, Dallas answered each time. Bueckers sliced into the lane for a layup, James scored on the glass, and Okonkwo finished another feed from Miller.

The Wings’ reserves handled closing duties. Christyn Williams drilled a jumper, Miller attacked the rim, and James capped her strong outing with another layup. The final horn brought a 97-76 result, a wire-to-wire showcase of Dallas’ depth and defensive commitment.

Bueckers set the tone and finished with a complete performance. She scored in double figures, added assists and rebounds, and recorded a pair of blocks. Okonkwo supplied critical energy off the bench with four three-pointers and steady defense. James pushed the tempo and created scoring chances. Siegrist and Hines-Allen chipped in during important stretches, while Miller and Williams closed with aggression.

Phoenix relied heavily on Sabally and Copper, who combined for much of the early scoring. Brown provided inside presence, and Laksa hit from the perimeter late, but the Mercury could not match Dallas’ balance. Turnovers and defensive breakdowns compounded as the game progressed.

Dallas head coach Chris Koclanes praised the growth of his rookie guard and the team’s ability to remain together through a long campaign.

“It’s that entire locker room navigating new roles across the board through all the adversity, and for P just really stepping into a leadership role as a rookie and leaning into that discomfort and remaining true to herself,” Koclanes said. “So that’s what I’ll take away… to lean into discomfort, to be able to be what the team needs you to be and give what they need you to give while still remaining true and authentic to who you are and what makes you tick. And that’s not easy to do. And so just again, credit to our players, credit to P, credit to the work that they do, not only on the floor but off the floor to continue to build and just value that team chemistry.”

Bueckers, reflecting on her first professional season, emphasized the team’s resilience.

Paige Bueckers is honored by Dallas Wings general manager Curt Miller and president and CEO Greg Bibb. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

“You can’t teach resilience, a fight, like a doggedness and a faith. That’s something that’s in you. And I feel like we all embodied that as a team and a coaching staff. And we just continue to show up for each other and go to war with each other and just love each other through it, through everything and maintain joyful, passionate,” Bueckers shared. “And obviously, every dog has their day. And to be able to lean on somebody and pick them up and have somebody else pick you up, there’s so many things to be proud of throughout this entire season.”

The Wings limited Phoenix to 29 points after halftime, controlling the boards and forcing turnovers that led to transition chances. Their defense held firm while the offense remained efficient, producing 40 points over the final two quarters.

For Dallas, the season finale reflected progress and promise. Bueckers emerged as a reliable scorer and leader, Okonkwo and James provided energy in reserve roles, and the roster closed its campaign on a high note. Phoenix, meanwhile, heads into the offseason with questions about consistency and depth.

The Wings left the court celebrating both the night and the growth they experienced throughout the season. Their performance against the Mercury underscored a theme that carried from opening night to the finale: resilience, teamwork, and belief in one another.

Next Flight

While the Dallas Wings’ season wraps up at 10-34, the team awaits for season awards. Paige Bueckers, Aziaha James, JJ Quinerly and Luisa Geiselöder wait for any word on making the WNBA All-Rookie Team while Bueckers is in the running for the WNBA Rookie of the Year award and potential consideration for All-WNBA First Team or All-WNBA Second Team.

Phoenix Mercury: By the Numbers

Lexi Held (No. 1) was for 1-3 from downtown for the Phoenix Mercury against the Dallas Wings. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

Dallas Wings: By the Numbers

Paige Bueckers (No. 5) exemplified professionalism and grit for the Dallas Wings along with solid screening by Myisha Hines-Allen against the Phoenix Mercury. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)