SEATTLE, WA – JUNE 22: Azzi Fudd #35 of the Dallas Wings dribbles the ball during the game against the Seattle Storm on June 22, 2026 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jane Gershovich/NBAE via Getty Images)
SEATTLE — Azzi Fudd scored off a driving layup with 13 seconds remaining in overtime and Aziaha James sank a critical free throw with two seconds left to lift the Dallas Wings to a thrilling 112-110 victory over the Seattle Storm on Monday night at Climate Pledge Arena.
In a back-and-forth contest that featured high-octane offenses and spectacular individual performances, Dallas relied on its backcourt depth to survive a career night from Seattle center Dominique Malonga. Malonga’s dominant performance anchored the Storm throughout the evening, finishing with a game-high 37 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks.
The Wings counterpunched with a balanced scoring assault led by Paige Bueckers, who finished with 27 points, five rebounds and five assists. Fudd contributed a career-high 26 points and four steals, while James provided a massive spark off the bench with 18 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Overtime Drama Secures Dallas Victory
SEATTLE, WA – JUNE 22: Jessica Shepard #32 of the Dallas Wings dribbles the ball during the game against the Seattle Storm on June 22, 2026 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jane Gershovich/NBAE via Getty Images)
The extra five-minute period saw both teams trade heavy blows. James opened the scoring in overtime with a quick running layup after forcing a turnover on Natisha Hiedeman. Malonga answered immediately with a hook shot in the paint, tying the score at 98.
After a pair of free throws from Flau’jae Johnson gave Seattle a temporary lead, James answered with a 13-foot jumper to lock the game back up at 100. Bueckers then put Dallas ahead with a step-back jumper, only for Seattle forward Awa Fam to drill a 25-foot 3-pointer on an assist from Hiedeman, giving the Storm a 103-102 advantage. Hiedeman was phenomenal as a playmaker all evening, racking up 11 assists to go along with her 21 points.
With less than 20 seconds remaining and Seattle holding a 110-109 lead following a driving layup by Malonga, Fudd took matters into her own hands. Driving hard to the rim, she converted a contested layup to give Dallas a 111-110 edge. On the ensuing Seattle possession, Malonga lost control of the ball, resulting in a steal by Jessica Shepard. James was fouled with two seconds left, making the second of two free throws to secure the final margin when Hiedeman’s desperation 32-foot attempt missed at the buzzer.
Following successive tight victories for Dallas, Fudd noted the collective grit required to secure outcomes on the road.
“Obviously these two games were not our greatest performances,” Fudd said. “But I’m really proud of how we just stuck together. We grinded it out. Like I said, it wasn’t our prettiest but we found a way to win both games. Defensively, offensively, when it mattered, we figured it out.”
Backcourt Chemistry Anchors Wings Attack
SEATTLE, WA – JUNE 22: Paige Bueckers #5 of the Dallas Wings drives to the basket during the game against the Seattle Storm on June 22, 2026 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Ryder/NBAE via Getty Images)
The guard tandem of Bueckers and Fudd showcased elite chemistry throughout the night. Whenever the Storm threatened to break the game open, one of the two found a way to respond.
Dallas established an early rhythm in the first quarter, jumping out to a 26-19 lead behind the steady playmaking of Bueckers and aggressive inside finishing from Shepard, who narrowly missed a triple-double with 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Fudd found openings early and often, attributing her career-high scoring display to the fluid ball movement of the offense.
“Yeah, just being aggressive, reading what the defense was giving me,” Fudd said. “My teammates were playing incredibly well, making it easy for me. Spacing on the floor, giving me great passes, giving me good looks as well.”
Seattle stormed back in the second period, outscoring Dallas 23-14. Zia Cooke provided instant offense off the bench for the Storm, hitting a pair of timely 3-pointers and finishing the game with 18 points. A late first-half surge capped by a Malonga 3-pointer at the buzzer sent Seattle into the locker room with a 42-40 lead.
Dallas had built a 13-point advantage in the second quarter before Seattle mounted its charge. Fudd emphasized that the team’s halftime conversation focused heavily on maintaining focus against a resilient opponent.
“Yeah, just that they’re a really good team,” Fudd said regarding the halftime message. “No matter if it’s a two-point lead, 13-point lead, we can’t ever settle. We can’t ever take our foot off the gas. And so going into the next half, we just knew we had to come out, play Wings basketball, be the regressors and keep playing together.”
The third quarter became an absolute shootout. Fudd heated up from beyond the arc, hitting a critical 26-foot 3-pointer with 37 seconds left in the period to cut Seattle’s lead. Just before the third-quarter buzzer, Li Yueru hit a spectacular 24-foot 3-pointer to push Dallas ahead 67-66, setting the stage for a dramatic final frame.
Clutch Shots Force Extra Period
Awak Kuier (34) of the Dallas Wings continues to excel in her starting role, tallying six points, four rebounds and two blocks against the Seattle Storm. (Photo: Dallas Wings)
The fourth quarter was a classic heavyweight battle. Seattle managed to build a 94-88 lead with just over a minute remaining following a 14-foot pullup jumper from Hiedeman, who consistently challenged the Dallas backcourt.
James acknowledged that containing a dynamic guard like Hiedeman required constant defensive adjustments when working through screens.
“Yeah, she’s very fast,” James said of Hiedeman. “So, you know, just getting over our screens and, you know, trying not to switch, you know, because like you said, Awa is very big. So, you know, we just got to get over that screen, you know, and stop it.”
With their backs against the wall late in regulation, the Wings turned to Bueckers. The point guard drained a 24-foot 3-pointer to cut the deficit to three. After Malonga missed a 3-pointer on the other end, Bueckers pulled up again, burying another 25-foot triple to tie the game at 94 with 38 seconds left on the clock.
Malonga put Seattle back in front 96-94 on a cutting layup with 20 seconds left, but Bueckers had the final answer in regulation. Sizing up her defender, she hit a 12-foot turnaround fadeaway jump shot with six seconds left to tie the game at 96 and force overtime.
James expressed that the team draws immense confidence from Bueckers’ ability to command the floor during late-game situations.
“Yeah, she’s, you know, one of our captains here,” James said. “You know, she always takes us there every game. Like you saw last game, you know, she’s always ready. So that’s for us, you know, to look up to and, you know, she pushed tempo every time. So that’s what we got to follow.”
Frontcourt Length Challenges Inside Execution
In addition to perimeter battles, the physical matchup inside against Seattle’s tandem of Malonga and Fam altered the driving lanes for Dallas players throughout the contest. James noted that the height and interior presence of the Storm required an all-hands-on-deck approach from the perimeter players to help out down low.
“Yeah, they’re very long,” James said. “You know, it’s hard to attack and, you know, not get the shot block. You know, they’re so good at attacking themselves. You know, we just got to, you know, just hold them down, help our bigs out, box them off.”
The defensive adjustment paid off in the final moments of overtime when Shepard’s crucial steal stopped Seattle’s final opportunity to retake the lead. Dallas moves forward with two consecutive tightly contested wins, relying heavily on late-game execution and backcourt distribution to overcome interior deficits on the road.
On Thursday night, the Wings and Las Vegas Aces face off for the third time in 2026, this time at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
