The Dallas Wings secured their fifth consecutive home victory, defeating the Las Vegas Aces 96-66 on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. Arike Ogunbowale led the scoring for Dallas with 22 points, including five 3-pointers. Jessica Shepard contributed 15 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists in the win.
Dallas established a significant lead early, scoring 29 points in the first quarter and reaching a 28-point advantage with 3:13 remaining in the first half. Las Vegas narrowed the gap with a 9-0 run, making the halftime score 56-37. Shepard recorded 13 points, eight rebounds, and five assists by the break, while Ogunbowale and Azzi Fudd each had 11 points.
Paige Bueckers ended a six-minute field-goal drought for Dallas, spanning halftime, with a 3-pointer early in the third quarter, extending the lead to 59-39. The Wings maintained a double-digit lead throughout the entire second half. Fudd finished the game with 19 points, and Bueckers added 10 points and seven assists for Dallas, improving their record to 9-5.
Awak Kuier, making her first start for the Wings in the third year since Sept. 5, 2023, scored seven points in 27 minutes. Shepard's performance marked her ninth double-double of the WNBA season, tying her with Angel Reese for the most in the league. She was substituted out with 4:41 remaining in the fourth quarter.
For Las Vegas, Jewell Loyd scored 21 points off the bench, including five 3-pointers, and A’ja Wilson contributed 18 points as the Aces fell to 10-4. Chelsea Gray was scoreless in 29 minutes, and Jackie Young managed six points on 3-of-13 shooting. In the teams’ first meeting in the same year on May 28, Shepard recorded 22 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists, leading the Wings to a 95-87 victory over the Aces.
Western Coast Engagements
In San Francisco, the Golden State Valkyries defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 78-58 on Monday night, marking their third consecutive win. Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 16 points, while Kaila Charles came off the bench to contribute 13 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
Rae Burrell scored 13 points for the Sparks. Kelsey Plum and Nneka Ogwumike were limited to nine points each, contributing to an off-night for Los Angeles, which saw its three-game winning streak halted. Forward Cameron Brink sustained an apparent ankle injury in the closing minutes and was helped to the bench, though coach Lynne Roberts stated she was being evaluated. Brink walked out of the locker room unassisted postgame.
Charles scored the final seven points of the first half, shooting 5 of 7 from the floor with two 3-pointers, helping Golden State build a 45-26 lead by halftime. Veronica Burton added 12 points, and Cecilia Zandalasini contributed 10 for the Valkyries. They began the game by making eight of their first 13 shots, establishing a 25-10 advantage after the first quarter. The Valkyries focused on interior play, scoring 36 points in the paint and 30 points from their bench.
Sparks guard Kate Martin, who played the inaugural 2025 season for Golden State in the second year prior and started this year with the team, received a video tribute and a rousing ovation from the sellout crowd at Chase Center. She finished with three points, three rebounds, and two assists in 11 minutes. Golden State initiated the game with an 8-0 lead, making three of its first six shots while Los Angeles missed its first five attempts before Plum hit a 3-pointer with 6:43 left in the opening quarter. Veteran and former Stanford star Ogwumike missed her first three shots, contributing to Los Angeles' 3-of-13 start and 1-for-6 from deep. The Sparks concluded the game shooting 33.3% from the field.
Upcoming Schedule
Both the Las Vegas Aces and Dallas Wings are scheduled to play again on Wednesday. Las Vegas will travel to Phoenix, while Dallas will play at Golden State. The Los Angeles Sparks are set to host Minnesota on Wednesday night, and the Golden State Valkyries will host Dallas on Wednesday night.