In an upcoming Commissioner's Cup contest set to unfold in Arlington, Texas, both the Dallas Wings and the Phoenix Mercury are determined to regain their momentum following recent setbacks. The Wings, fresh off a dominant four-game victory run, experienced a considerable loss against the Minnesota Lynx. Concurrently, the Mercury wrapped up a challenging four-game road stretch with a defeat at the hands of Golden State, despite showcasing a resilient second-half rally. This pivotal matchup represents the initial encounter in a series of three scheduled games between these formidable WNBA adversaries this season, promising an intense competition as each team strives to assert its dominance and establish a renewed winning trajectory.
Dallas Wings Aim to Bounce Back from Crushing Defeat
The Dallas Wings are gearing up to host the Phoenix Mercury in a crucial Commissioner's Cup encounter in Arlington, Texas, with both squads eager to turn the page after recent disheartening losses. The Wings, despite boasting a commendable 7-4 season record and a 2-1 standing in the Commissioner's Cup, are looking to shake off a significant 100-76 thrashing by the Minnesota Lynx. This defeat abruptly ended their impressive four-game winning streak. Paige Bueckers, who led Dallas with 23 points in the Minnesota game, acknowledged the nature of such tough nights but emphasized the team's opportunity to respond swiftly within 48 hours. She underscored the importance of learning and growing from the experience without letting it become a persistent issue.
Key players like Arike Ogunbowale contributed 16 points and six assists, while Jessica Shepard added 12 points and nine rebounds against the Lynx. However, top draft pick Azzi Fudd struggled, scoring only six points on 2-for-12 shooting, as Dallas found themselves trailing by a daunting 27 points in the second quarter and 20 by halftime, never truly threatening a comeback. Bueckers remains the team's leading scorer this season with an average of 18.7 points per game, supported by Ogunbowale (14.9), Shepard (13.4), and Fudd (11.4), all of whom average double-digit points. Shepard also leads the team in rebounds, averaging 11.2 per game, highlighting her pivotal role in the Wings' performance as they seek to restart their winning streak.
Phoenix Mercury Seek to Build on Second-Half Resilience
The Phoenix Mercury are set to face the Dallas Wings in Arlington, Texas, following a challenging four-game road swing that concluded with an 87-81 loss to Golden State. This defeat snapped their modest two-game winning streak, leaving their season record at 4-9 overall and 2-2 in the Commissioner's Cup. Despite being down by 17 points at halftime against Golden State, the Mercury mounted an impressive comeback, narrowing the deficit to just one point, 76-75, with three minutes remaining in the game. This remarkable display of resilience, particularly in the second half, provided a silver lining for the team.
Alyssa Thomas was instrumental in this comeback, scoring 20 of her 22 points in the second half. Monique Akoa Makani delivered a season-high 19 points in only her sixth WNBA appearance, having recently concluded her season in France. Noemie Brochant also contributed with 10 points and six assists, although leading scorer Kahleah Copper was limited to nine points on 3-for-11 shooting. Thomas, reflecting on the game, emphasized the team's growth, stating that they could have easily given up but instead fought back, highlighting their potential. Copper leads the Mercury with 17.4 points per game this season, followed by Thomas (15.6), Akoa Makani (12.3), Jovana Nogic (11.0), and Natasha Mack (10.2), all consistently scoring in double figures. This game marks the first of three encounters between the two teams this year, with the remaining matches scheduled for September.
