Bueckers leads Wings past the Sun for 1st win of season

By Canadian Press on May 27, 2025.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Paige Bueckers had a triumphant return to Connecticut by scoring a career-best 21 points as Dallas won its first game of the season, beating the Sun 109-87 on Tuesday night.

Bueckers, the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, shot 8 for 10 from the field and finished with seven assists and five rebounds.

Bueckers remained perfect at Mohegan Sun Arena, where the Sun play their home games. She went 15-0 at the building in college while playing for UConn, including winning four Big East championships with the Huskies. Many of her former teammates were in attendance Tuesday night.

She received a loud ovation from the sellout crowd when introduced before the game, and many fans were wearing her No. 5 jersey from UConn and Dallas.

LIBERTY 95, VALKYRIES 67

NEW YORK (AP) — Breanna Stewart scored 24 points, Jonquel Jones added 13 points, 10 rebounds and five assists and New York never trailed in a win over Golden State.

The defending WNBA champion, New York (4-0) has won eight consecutive regular-season games.

Kayla Thornton, who was selected by the Valkyries in December’s expansion draft, and Veronica Burton scored 13 points apiece to lead Golden State and Temi Fagbenle added 11. Thornton spent the last two seasons with the Liberty.

Marine Johannes scored 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting from 3-point range for the Liberty. Natasha Cloud had 10 of New York’s season-high 30 assists.

LYNX 82, STORM 77

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Courtney Williams scored 23 points, Napheesa Collier had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Minnesota held on to beat Seattle in a matchup of early season leaders in the Western Conference.

The Lynx extended their season-opening winning streak to five games and welcomed the return of Kayla McBride, who missed the first four games for personal reasons.

Minnesota led by double digits early before Seattle’s Dominique Malonga scored to open the fourth quarter and pulled the Storm within 54-53. The Lynx maintained their lead and consecutive 3-pointers by Williams and Alanna Smith made it 70-64 near the four-minute mark.

Williams hit a couple of pull-up jumpers for a 76-69 lead with two minutes left.

Seattle scored the next four points, and it was 76-73 with 27 seconds remaining. McBride added four free throws and Minnesota led 80-74 with 14 seconds remaining. Erica Wheeler hit a 3 for Seattle, Collier added two more free throws for the Lynx, and the Storm turned it over on their final possession.

The Associated Press

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