Paige Bueckers scores 21 in return to Connecticut as Wings beat Sun

By Canadian Press on June 20, 2025.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Paige Bueckers had 21 points and seven assists in the former UConn star’s return to Connecticut, fellow rookie Aziaha James scored all of her season-high 17 points in the second half, and the Dallas Wings beat the Connecticut Sun 86-83 on Friday night.

NaLyssa Smith scored 12 points and Li Yueru added 11 points and nine rebounds, both season highs, for the Wings.

The game featured 12 lead changes and 10 ties, the last of which came when the Sun’s Aneesah Morrow scored in the lane to make it 62-62 with 1:18 left in the third quarter. James answered 26 seconds later with a floater that gave Dallas the lead for good.

Morrow made a driving layup that trimmed Connecticut’s deficit to 76-73 with three minutes to play, but Arike Ogunbowale hit a 3-pointer and then made two free throws before DiJonai Carrington made a layup with 45.8 seconds left that gave the Wings a 83-76 lead.

DREAM 92, MYSTICS 91

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (AP) — Allisha Gray scored 18 points to lead all five Washington starters in double figures and Mystics beat Atlanta.

Brionna Jones scored 14 points for Atlanta (9-4) and Rhyne Howard had 13 points and six assists. Jordin Canada added 11 points and Brittney Griner scored 10.

Emily Engstler made a basket in the lane with 31.7 seconds remaining and, after Jones missed a layup, Brittney Sykes was fouled on a 3-point shot with 0.1 seconds left but missed the second of three free throws.

Sykes — who went into the game shooting 80% on 9.5 foul shots per game, most in the WNBA — finished 10 of 11 from the free-throw line.

Shakira Austin made 13 of 17 from the field and finished with a career-high 28 points and 10 rebounds for Washington (5-8). Sykes had 21 points and eight assists and Sonia Citron scored 17.

The Associated Press

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