Bueckers Impresses, But Storm Sink Wings Behind Ogwumike’s Dominance

Summary:

• The Seattle Storm defeated the Dallas Wings 76-71 for their first win of the season.
• Paige Bueckers led the Wings with 19 points and eight assists in her second WNBA game.
• Nneka Ogwumike posted 23 points and 19 rebounds to power the Storm’s victory.

It was a marquee matchup between the top two picks in this year’s WNBA draft, but while Paige Bueckers stole the spotlight on the stat sheet, it was Dominique Malonga and the Seattle Storm who came away with the win.

In front of a star-studded crowd that included Victor Wembanyama and Dirk Nowitzki, the Storm held off a late push from the Dallas Wings to earn a 76-71 victory Monday night.

Standout Performance for Bueckers

Bueckers, playing in just her second WNBA game, delivered a standout performance with 19 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and two steals.

She knocked down 7 of 14 shots from the field and led the Wings in nearly every major category, including minutes, points, assists, and steals.

She hit three of her first four shots, including a smooth catch-and-shoot jumper off an inbounds play and a confident pull-up three-pointer to cap a first-quarter surge that gave Dallas a 26-25 edge.

Bueckers was also crucial in playmaking. The 23-year-old delivered a no-look dime to DiJonai Carrington and launched a pinpoint full-court pass to NaLyssa Smith in transition.

Wings Couldn’t Keep Up

However, despite her efforts, the Wings couldn’t keep pace with Seattle’s hot shooting. The Storm caught fire from behind the arc, connecting on 9 of 15 threes, a blazing 60% clip, and used a dominant second quarter to build a 15-point halftime cushion.
That cushion would prove to be enough, even as Dallas chipped away in the second half.

Malonga, the 19-year-old rookie from France, played just one minute and scored two points, as the Storm continue to ease her into the rotation. Still, the franchise appears committed to her long-term development.

Former league MVP Nneka Ogwumike led the charge for Seattle with 23 points and 19 boards, while veteran Skylar Diggins-Smith added 21 points and nine assists.

Bueckers showed the poise and talent that made her a top pick, but a rough fourth quarter doomed Dallas’ chances. The Wings were held to just 10 points in the final frame and committed 14 turnovers in the game, allowing the Storm to pull away late.

Now 0-2, Dallas will look to bounce back on Wednesday when they travel to face the Minnesota Lynx, a major early-season test against one of the WNBA‘s most complete teams.