WNBA Recap: Bueckers' Heroics, Copper Cooks the Storm, and Mystics Grind Out a Thriller

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The WNBA was back in action on Thursday night, and the games did not disappoint. From Paige Bueckers big game to the lack of effort from the Dream.

With the All-Star starters freshly announced, the league’s top talent showed exactly why they earned those spots. Here is everything you need to know about last night’s three-game slate.

Last Night’s WNBA Scores

Away Team	Score	Home Team	Score	Top Performer
Dallas Wings (12-8)	86	Connecticut Sun (4-16)	83	Paige Bueckers (25 PTS, 7 REB, 7 AST)
Seattle Storm (5-16)	67	Phoenix Mercury (8-13)	90	Kahleah Copper (30 PTS, 12-21 FG)
Atlanta Dream (12-8)	76	Washington Mystics (10-9)	81	Shakira Austin (21 PTS, 9 REB)

Dallas Wings 86, Connecticut Sun 83

The Paige Bueckers Show Comes to Hartford

The Connecticut Sun moved last night’s game to a packed PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, drawing an electric crowd of 14,578 fans desperate to see former UConn icons Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd return to their old stomping grounds. The game completely lived up to the massive hype, culminating in a thrilling 14-point comeback victory for the Wings.

Breaking Down the Action

Connecticut controlled the first three quarters, exposing Dallas on the interior and building a double-digit cushion. However, the fourth quarter belonged entirely to Bueckers. The reigning Rookie of the Year put on a superstar clinic, scoring 11 of her game-high 25 points in the final ten minutes on a flawless 4-of-4 shooting display.

The Defining Sequence: With just over a minute left, Bueckers hit a cold-blooded step-back jumper through contact, completing the three-point play to give Dallas its first lead since the opening quarter.

Connecticut had a final chance to tie or win down 84-83 with 25 seconds left, but rookie Leila Lacan’s driving layup rolled off the rim. Newly named All-Star starter Jessica Shepard (14 points, all in the second half) secured the board, drew the foul, and sank both free throws to secure the win. Lacan finished with 18 points for the Sun, while Brittney Griner tallied 13 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.

Phoenix Mercury 90, Seattle Storm 67

Copper Destroys Seattle in a First-Half Blitz

If you walked away from your TV during the first half at the Footprint Center, you missed the entire game. The Phoenix Mercury extended their winning streak to three games by absolutely dismantling the Seattle Storm in a 90-67 blowout, spearheaded by a blistering offensive masterclass from Kahleah Copper.

Total Perimeter Dominance

Copper was entirely untouchable from the jump. She cooked the Seattle defense for 23 of her game-high 30 points in the first half alone, missing just three shots (9-of-12) before intermission to help Phoenix mount a massive 55-36 lead.

The Supporting Cast: Valeriane Ayayi provided an incredibly efficient 18 points, while Lexi Held caught fire, draining a career-high five three-pointers to finish with 17 points.

Suffocating Defense: While Seattle’s Alyssa Thomas flirted with a triple-double (9 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists), Phoenix completely erased DeWanna Bonner, holding the veteran to just 6 points on a dismal 3-of-10 shooting performance.

Washington Mystics 81, Atlanta Dream 76

Mystics Overcome 27 Turnovers to Ground the Dream

It wasn’t always pretty, but a win is a win. Despite coughing up a staggering 27 turnovers and trailing by nine points at the half, the Washington Mystics relied on their formidable frontcourt depth to snap Atlanta’s momentum and hand the Dream their fourth consecutive road loss.

Winning in the Mud

Washington entered the night short-handed with leading scorer Sonia Citron sidelined due to right knee soreness. In her absence, Shakira Austin stepped up to anchor the interior, racking up 21 points and 9 rebounds.

The breakout star of the night, however, was Kiki Iriafen. Iriafen secured her eighth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds. With the game locked in a 74-74 stalemate late in the fourth, Iriafen converted tough, back-to-back contested layups to put the Mystics ahead for good.

Atlanta fought valiantly behind a 24-point night from Rhyne Howard and another rugged double-double from Angel Reese (13 points, 13 rebounds), but the Dream’s ice-cold perimeter shooting down the stretch ultimately doomed their comeback efforts.