What happened: The Dallas Wings defeated the Phoenix Mercury 85-70 on Friday, led by a dominant 31-point performance from Paige Bueckers. The home crowd in Dallas offered a standing ovation for "PB5" as the Wings controlled the Commissioner’s Cup matchup from the start.
Why it matters: The victory moves Dallas to 10-4 on the season, solidifying their status as a Western Conference contender. Phoenix falls to 6-10, struggling to contain Bueckers' perimeter scoring as she poured in 24 points in the first half alone.
By the numbers: Bueckers: 31 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST. Shepard: 17 PTS, 10 REB, 7 AST. Fudd: 17 PTS. Wings: 10-4. Mercury: 6-10.
What to watch: Dallas next faces the Las Vegas Aces in a high-profile Western Conference clash, while Phoenix looks to rebound against the New York Liberty.