WNBA Recap: Shepard’s Historic Triple-Double Fuels Wings; Valkyries Outlast Fever

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Thursday night featured two WNBA games, including a historic, record-shattering individual performance in Texas and a gritty, high-stakes revenge game by the Bay. The other was a sweet revenge win in the Bay.

History in Arlington: Shepard and Fudd Spark Wings Past Defending Champ Aces

The Dallas Wings pulled off a thrilling, come-from-behind, 95–87 victory over the defending WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces at a sold-out College Park Center. While the win itself snaps a five-game losing streak against Las Vegas dating back to last season, the manner in which it happened will be written into the history books.

The Jessica Shepard Show

Wings forward Jessica Shepard put together a performance for the ages. Scoring 11 of her points in a pivotal third-quarter surge, Shepard secured her second triple-double in the last eight days. But this wasn’t just any triple-double—Shepard finished with a career-high-tying 22 points, a career-high 20 rebounds, and 10 assists.

With that stat line, Jessica Shepard became the first player in WNBA history to record a triple-double featuring at least 20 points and 20 rebounds.

Shepard officially locked in the historic milestone when she found Awak Kuier for a corner three-pointer with just under three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to put Dallas up 90–81.

Azzi Fudd Shines in Her First Career Start

With Arike Ogunbowale heavily limited due to an illness, the Wings gave rookie sensation Azzi Fudd—the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft—the first start of her professional career. Fudd absolutely capitalized on the moment.

Coming off a scorching 24-point performance off the bench against New York, Fudd played with veteran composure, matching Shepard with 22 points of her own. Her explosive shooting space helped Dallas erase a 13-point first-half deficit and completely outscore Las Vegas 50–34 across the final two frames. Paige Bueckers added a smooth 20 points and 6 assists to seal the deal, overshadowing a hard-fought 21-point night from the Aces’ A’ja Wilson.

Revenge at Chase Center: Valkyries Suppress Fever in Final Seconds

Meanwhile, out West, an intense rematch unfolded at Chase Center as the Golden State Valkyries exacted revenge on the Indiana Fever, grinding out a thrilling 90–88 win before a raucous, hostile crowd.

Burton and Williams Hold the Fort

Exactly one week after dropping a decision to Indiana on the road, Golden State leaned heavily on its defensive identity and its backcourt. Veronica Burton was spectacular, logging a team-high 25 points, 6 rebounds, and a career-best 5 blocks. Partnering with her in the clinic was Gabby Williams, who orchestrated the offense beautifully with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals.

The Valkyries used an aggressive defensive scheme, recording 11 total blocks as a team, to disrupt Indiana’s fast-paced offense early, jumping out to a 21–14 lead in the first quarter and holding on for dear life down the stretch.

A Night to Forget for Caitlin Clark

For Indiana’s franchise cornerstone, Thursday night was a grueling uphill battle. The hostile San Francisco crowd booed Caitlin Clark every time she touched the ball, and Golden State’s physical defense clearly threw her off her rhythm.

Clark struggled significantly from the floor, finishing just 3-for-12 from the field (16 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds). While she hit a deep three-pointer with 3:55 left to drag the Fever within one point, her late-game execution proved costly:

1:32 Remaining: Turned the ball over with Indiana trailing by three.

1:06 Remaining: Coughed up another crucial turnover on an entry pass.

0:40 Remaining: Missed a potential game-tying three-pointer.

Though Aliyah Boston had a chance to win it at the buzzer with a turnaround jumper, it clanged off the iron, snapping Indiana’s three-game winning streak.

The Silver Lining: Despite the rough shooting night, Clark made history at the 4:05 mark of the second quarter by recording her 500th career assist. Doing so in just her 59th game, she shattered Sue Bird’s previous record (82 games) to become the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,000 career points and 500 career assists.