For the first time in several years, the Dallas Wings are approaching the one-month mark of the WNBA season in fine form, dismantling Seattle 79-56 Monday for their fifth win in six games. 

The Wings are now tied for the third-best record in the WNBA at 6-3 and sit just a game behind Minnesota for first place in the Western Conference standings. ESPN released its WNBA team grades after one month of regular-season action on Thursday and delivered heaps of deserved praise to Dallas, awarding the team an “A-” while highlighting the contributions of former UConn women’s basketball star Azzi Fudd. 

“The Wings were bound to improve from last year given the talent they acquired this offseason,” ESPN’s Alexa Philippou writes. “They’re off to their best nine-game start (6-3) since the franchise relocated to Dallas ahead of the 2016 season and notched their sixth win Monday. …Two of the factors behind their recent surge of five wins in six games: The emergence of No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd, whose playing time and comfort level have increased in recent weeks, and who leads Dallas with a plus-27.2 net rating.”

Fudd arrived in Dallas as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, transforming from an off-the-bench player to an indispensable member of Jose Fernandez’s backcourt in less than a month. Her high-octane shooting has been as advertised, maintaining a 67.4% effective field goal percentage, but it’s been Fudd’s point-of-attack defense that has helped the Wings improve their defensive rating by six points per 100 possessions so far this season and become a more competitive ballclub. 

Meanwhile, her former UConn teammate, Paige Bueckers, has enjoyed another dominant season in the WNBA after cruising to Rookie of the Year honors last year. Bueckers is averaging 18.3 points per game, and her 3-point percentage, perhaps the one blemish on her statistical record in 2025, has jumped up to 42.5% on over four attempts per game. 

Dallas will head west to face off against Kelsey Plum and the Los Angeles Sparks Friday evening. With a win, the Wings have a chance to pull even in the Western Conference standings Tuesday as they seek revenge for an early-season setback against the Lynx.