Full Breakdown
Dallas Wings Defeat Phoenix Mercury 85-70 in Commissioner's Cup Game
6/13/2026, 1:03:51 AM
Game Overview
On Thursday night at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, the Dallas Wings beat the Phoenix Mercury 85-70 in a WNBA Commissioner's Cup game. The Wings built a 22-point lead early, fueled by Paige Bueckers’ season-high 31 points, six rebounds and five assists. Bueckers scored 24 points in the first half on 11-of-14 shooting, including a go-ahead three-pointer with 54.2 seconds left to give Dallas a 45-33 halftime edge. The lead was briefly reduced to 80-70 with 1:28 remaining after Bueckers was taken out, but an offensive foul on Phoenix and a three-point play by Li Yueru restored a 13-point cushion. Dallas outscored Phoenix 25-16 in the third quarter and sealed the win.
Background & Context
The contest was part of the WNBA Commissioner's Cup. Dallas entered the game with an 8-4 overall record, while Phoenix was 4-10 after a second straight loss. The victory kept Dallas at 8-4, marking the Wings’ eighth victory of the season, and dropped Phoenix to 4-10.
Key Performers
- Paige Bueckers – 31 points, six rebounds, five assists; 14-of-20 shooting (70%).
- Jessica Shepard – 17 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists; 26th career double-double.
- Azzi Fudd – 17 points, three rebounds, four assists.
- Lexi Held (Phoenix) – 17 points.
- Kahleah Copper (Phoenix) – 13 points.
- Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix) – six points, nine rebounds, ten assists, came within one assist of a triple-double.
- Li Yueru (Phoenix) – three-point play in the final minute.
Data & Statistics
Dallas scored 85 points on 34-of-71 shooting (48%). Bueckers contributed 31 points on 14-of-20 shooting (70%) with six rebounds and five assists. Shepard’s double-double came from 17 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Fudd added 17 points. The Wings outscored Phoenix 25-16 in the third quarter. Phoenix’s top scorer, Lexi Held, had 17 points, while Li Yueru’s three-point play sealed the win.
Impact on Season
The win maintained Dallas’ 8-4 record and gave the Wings their eighth victory of the season. Phoenix’s loss dropped the Mercury to 4-10, extending a two-game losing streak and marking their second consecutive defeat.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Shepard secured her 26th career double-double and seventh of the season.” — ESPN recap
- “Bueckers was unstoppable on her way to 31 points behind red-hot 14-of-20 shooting from the field, while Jessica Shepard stuffed the stat sheet in a supporting role.” — Bleacher Report
- “Bueckers is already one of the best players in the entire WNBA, and Fudd has shown notable improvement as she adjusts to the professional level.” — Bleacher Report
What’s Next
The Wings travel to Portland on Saturday for their next regular-season game.
