Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers flexes on the bench as she celebrates a basket by Li Yueru during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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ARLINGTON — When Paige Bueckers limped off the court and ran toward the locker room during a timeout late in the second quarter, fans could only hope the Dallas Wings star wasn’t the latest player to catch the injury bug.
If they felt any anxiety at all, it didn’t last long. Bueckers returned to the court after not even a full minute had passed on the game clock, scoring seven points after rolling her ankle on a rebound.
Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) is tied up by Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (center) dances with guard Aziaha James as the team take the court for the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) drives to the basket against Phoenix Mercury guard-forward Kahleah Copper (2) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings head coach Jose Fernandez calls in a play during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) celebrates a basket during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd (35) dribbles past Phoenix Mercury forward Noemie Brochant (1) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers reacts to a call during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) talks with guard Aziaha James (10), head coach Jose Fernandez and guard Azzi Fudd (35) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) drives between Phoenix Mercury guard-forward Kahleah Copper (2) and forward-guard DeWanna Bonner (24) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) is tied up by Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Wings face the Phoenix Mercury during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers is slow to get up after taking a tumble during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers grimmaces as she leaves the court after taking a tumble during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Wings head coach Jose Fernandez motions as guard Azzi Fudd (35) works against Phoenix Mercury forward Noemie Brochant (1) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers calls a play as she brings the ball up the court during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings fans wave rainbow fans as they cheer their team during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings guard Aziaha James (10) wrestles a loose ball away from Phoenix Mercury forward-center Natasha Mack (4) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings forward Alanna Smith (8) grabs a rebound from Phoenix Mercury guard Quionche Carter (20) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings guard Aziaha James (10) defends against Phoenix Mercury guard Jovana Nogic (29) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings forward Alysha Clark tumbles to the court after being fouled during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings guard JJ Quinerly (11) drives against Phoenix Mercury forward Ashten Prechtel (10) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings guard Aziaha James (10) wrestles a loose ball away from Phoenix Mercury forward-center Natasha Mack (4) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd takes a selfie with fans after a victory over the Phoenix Mercury in a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers signs autographs after a victory over the Phoenix Mercury in a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers tosses balls to the crowd after a victory over the Phoenix Mercury in a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
“Just had to go in the back, get taped,” Bueckers said postgame. “Adrenaline is the best drug, so [I] didn’t really feel it during the game. Just wanted to power through, help the team get a win.”
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That’s exactly what happened. The phenom finished with a game and season-high 31 points in the Wings’ 85-70 win over the Phoenix Mercury (4–10) on Thursday night at College Park Center. Dallas (8-4) improved to 3–1 in Commissioner’s Cup play.
Related: Paige Bueckers playing better than ever this year, moving up WNBA record books
Bueckers, shooting 14-of-20 from the field and 3-of-5 from 3 while posting six rebounds and five assists, recorded the 17th 30-point game in the WNBA this season and the third of her career. It was her first 30-point outing since she set the single-game rookie scoring record with a 44-point performance against the Los Angeles Sparks last August.
“When she gets going, it’s easy for me to put her in spots,” Wings coach Jose Fernandez said of Bueckers postgame. “That’s why she’s one of the best in the world.”
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While Bueckers jokingly critiqued herself for missing six shots, it was another efficient night for the guard in her sophomore WNBA season.
“You want to go into every game thinking you’re going to make every shot, thinking you’re going to play your best,” Bueckers said. “I just try to go into every game playing the possession, serving the moment.”
Related: Azzi Fudd, Paige Bueckers are relying on signature shots to add new dimension to Wings’ offense
Thursday also marked a bounce-back performance by Dallas after falling 100-76 to the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday. The Wings shot 37-of-71 throughout the game and outscored the Mercury 40-34 in the second half, when more Dallas players started to get involved.
Bueckers recorded 24 points in the first half, which culminated in a 45-36 Wings halftime lead. While she added seven out of the locker room, she didn’t carry as much of the scoring load.
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Bolstered by strong second-half performances, Jessica Shepard and Azzi Fudd each finished with 17 points. Shepard nearly recorded her third triple-double of the season with 10 rebounds and seven assists. Fudd had three blocks and a steal, showcasing her defensive prowess.
Related: It’s early in the 2026 season, but this Dallas Wings team already looks radically different
“For me, defense growing up was a priority and it’s just, in my opinion, mostly effort,” Fudd said postgame. “When I’m out there, I think defense is something you can control. You can’t control whether shots are falling.”
Fudd showed up on both sides of the ball for the new-look Wings, who are now two victories away from matching their win total in 2025, when the team finished 10–34.