Wings Secure Arlington Finale Win
Wings Defeat Mercury 87-82 in Final Regular-Season Game at Arlington
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Key Points
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Dallas entered the game on a five-game winning streak and had already clinched a playoff berth before the two-week World Cup break. The victory lifted the Wings from eighth to sixth place, putting them a half-game ahead of the New York Liberty and Washington Mystics.
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Phoenix led 24-19 after a first quarter marked by 16 combined free-throw attempts. Dallas then rallied after Paige Bueckers’ three-pointer tied the game at 41, with Jessica Shepard’s two free throws giving the Wings their first lead; 27 fouls had been called by halftime.
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Dallas coach Jose Fernandez sharply criticized the Wings’ perimeter defense, saying, “It was terrible,” and pointing to inconsistent pick-and-roll coverage, hedging, blitzing, switching and communication that Phoenix exploited.
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Phoenix’s final two games are scheduled for Sept. 21 against Dallas and Sept. 24 against Las Vegas, with both home games tipping off at 7 p.m. at the Mortgage Matchup Center. With the Mercury out of playoff contention, the remaining focus is evaluating younger players.
The Dallas Wings won 87-82 over the Phoenix Mercury on September 19 in their final regular-season game at Arlington's College Park Center, where the team played for 11 seasons. ESPN reported the victory lifted Dallas to 26-16 and into sixth place in the WNBA standings, while Phoenix fell to 15-27 and was already eliminated from playoff contention.
Paige Bueckers led the Wings with 26 points, and Arike Ogunbowale added 22 points and six assists. Dallas will relocate to the American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas beginning in 2027, marking the end of an 11-year tenure in Arlington.
Wings Rally Past Defensive Struggles to Clinch Win
Phoenix led 24-19 after a first quarter filled with fouls and free throws—16 combined free-throw attempts were made. Dallas clawed back when Paige Bueckers hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 41. Jessica Shepard's two free throws gave the Wings their first lead. By halftime, 27 fouls had been called as both teams struggled with physicality.
Coach Jose Fernandez criticized his team's perimeter defense after the game. "It was terrible," he said, pointing to breakdowns in pick-and-roll coverage, hedging, blitzing, switching, and communication that Phoenix repeatedly exploited.
Dallas Moves Into Sixth Place After Playoff Clinch
The Wings entered the game on a five-game winning streak and had already secured a playoff berth before the two-week World Cup break. The victory over Phoenix lifted Dallas from eighth to sixth place in the standings, putting them a half-game ahead of both the New York Liberty and Washington Mystics.
Phoenix Focuses on Development With Playoffs Out of Reach
The Mercury have two remaining games on their schedule: September 21 against Dallas and September 24 against Las Vegas, both tipping off at 7 p.m. at Mortgage Matchup Center. With playoff contention already impossible, Phoenix will use these final matchups to evaluate younger players and develop their roster for next season.
The Mercury's season was derailed partly by injuries, including the loss of Kelsey Plum for the remainder of the year. Team management has shifted focus to building for the future rather than chasing a postseason berth.
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