The Dallas Wings return home to face the Phoenix Mercury after suffering a 100-76 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. at College Park Center.
Following the loss to Minnesota, Jose Fernandez said the team needs to have short term memory as it was not their best night. Having a game on Thursday at home offers a quick opportunity for Dallas as the Wings return home to face Phoenix, who also suffered a loss on Tuesday night.
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The Mercury suffered a 87-81 loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Tuesday night. Before the loss, Phoenix had won back-to-back games to start its four-game road trip that ends with Dallas. The game offers both teams a chance to return to the wining column.
Fudd’s Increasing Role
Because of Dallas having its pick of all the players in the 2026 WNBA Draft with the No. 1 overall pick, Azzi Fudd is always going to be compared to Olivia Miles. Since Miles was selected with the second overall pick after Dallas selected Fudd, there are always going to be questions about the choice Dallas made as Miles is playing well to start her WNBA career while Fudd has her moments.
Miles scored 24 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc along with six assists and seven rebounds in the Lynx win over the Wings on Tuesday night. In comparison, Fudd scored six points on 2-of-12 shooting from the field and 2-of-6 from beyond the arc in the loss to Minnesota.
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While Miles outperformed Fudd on Tuesday night, Fudd has demonstrated her potential with two 20 point games in wins against the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces.
She also has been recently inserted into the starting lineup, and on Tuesday night she appeared to have accepted some new responsibilities. One responsibility was guarding Miles as the primary defender. In the introductory press conference, Jose Fernandez talked about the idea of Fudd being the primary defender in the starting lineup. Another responsibility was Fudd bringing the ball up the court.
It appears Fernandez has been slowly adding to Fudd’s workload as she worked her way from a bench to the starting five. Tuesday night may have served as an introduction to Fudd expanding her role in the offense as a way to give Paige Bueckers a break from receiving defensive pressure when bringing the ball up the court. The game against the Mercury serves as a way to another game for Fudd to gradually improve in her rookie season.
How will the Dallas offense respond?
The high-flying Dallas Wings offense struggled against the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday night.
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Dallas entered the game second in points-per-game (89.4) and fourth in field goal percentage (46.1%), but the Wings finished the game shooting 38% from the field and scored 76 points. Minnesota caused problems for Dallas as the Lynx players forced the Dallas players into difficult shots and difficult situations. While boasting a top offense in the WNBA, Minnesota also boasted a team that was second in steals-per-game (8.6). Minnesota forced 12 turnovers along with Dallas struggling to get into rhythm on offense.
Phoenix is ranked fourth in the WNBA in steals per game so the Dallas offense faces another test against with a team known for stealing in the WNBA.
The Occasional Dallas Defense
Defense has been talked about by the Dallas Wings throughout the start to this season. Dallas has shown the ability to defend well at times this season, but the last two games against high-scoring teams have not been examples of good defense.
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Although Dallas defeated the Las Angeles Sparks in a 104-96 victory on June 5, the Wings still allowed the Sparks to meet their average in points-per-game. Kelsey Plum was able to get to the basket whenever she wanted, and Miles continued that theme on Tuesday night.
Against the Lynx, Dallas also allowed Minnesota to continue scoring especially in the first half when the Lynx shot 72% from the field and 75% from the 3-point line.
Phoenix enters the game with five players averaging double figures. Kahleah Cooper averages 17.4 points-per-game, Alyssa Thomas averages 15.6 points-per-game, Monique Akoa Makani averages 12.3 points-per-game, Jovana Nogic averages 11 points-per-game and Natasha Mack averages 10.2 points-per-game.
