Game Preview/Recap

game-recap-mercury-vs-wings-9-11-2025

Game Recap: Mercury vs. Wings (9/11/2025)

highlights-from-paige-bueckers-7-assist-game-2

Highlights From Paige Bueckers 7-Assist Game

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Paige Bueckers with 24 Points vs. Phoenix Mercury

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Dallas Wings vs. Phoenix Mercury - Game Highlights

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Paige Bueckers with one of the day's best plays!

Power Rankings

With only four days remaining in the regular season, this is our final power rankings of the 2025 campaign.
Over the past week, the playoff picture has continued to come into focus, with seven of the eight spots secured. However, the final 11 games on the regular-season schedule will be important to deciding seeding as well as the final playoff berth.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Who’s In: Lynx, Aces, Dream, Mercury, Liberty, Valkyries, Fever</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Who’s Out: Mystics, Sun, Sky, Wings</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Who’s In The Mix: Storm, Sparks</li>
</ul>
As the regular season wraps and the playoffs draw near, we take a look at each team’s season as a whole and how we got to this final snapshot of the league rankings.
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✅ Who’s In: Clinched Playoff Berth
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1. Minnesota Lynx (33-9)
Last Week: 1 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. at IND, Thur. vs. GSV
The Lynx are 33-9 with two games to play, meaning they are guaranteed to finish with a win percentage of at least .750 (33-11). Why is that significant? All six times the Lynx have finished the regular season with a win percentage of .750 or better they have gone on to make the WNBA Finals (2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2024). Can Napheesa Collier and Co. make it seven-for-seven as they enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed?
2. Las Vegas Aces (28-14)
Last Week: 2 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. vs. CHI, Thur. at LAS
A search for the phrase “peaking at the right time” should show A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces as the top results. The Aces enter their final two games of the regular season looking to extend a franchise-record 14-game win streak that has vaulted them to No. 2 in the standings – via a tiebreaker over the Atlanta (3-0 season series lead) – and looking as dangerous as any team entering the postseason.
3. Atlanta Dream (28-14)
Last Week: 3 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Mon. vs. CON, Wed. at CON
Riding a four-game win streak, Atlanta closes the regular season with a home-and-home with Connecticut. Sweeping those two games would see the Dream finish 30-14, cementing the best regular season (.681 win percentage) in franchise history – surpassing the 23-11 (.676) by the 2018 squad and doubling last season’s win total (15-25). The next challenge is the postseason, where Atlanta looks to win a series for the first time since 2016.
4. Phoenix Mercury (27-15)
Last Week: 4 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. vs. LAS, Thur. at DAL
The Mercury completely overhauled their roster last offseason – returning only two players from the 2024 squad. The culmination of those moves is a squad that has locked up home-court advantage in the opening round (PHX holds tiebreaker over NY) and is two wins away from matching the franchise record for wins in a season (29 in 2014) with two games to play. Prior to this season, Phoenix has won 23 or more games three times in a season – they won the Finals all three times.
5. New York Liberty (25-17)
Last Week: 5 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. vs. WAS, Thur. at CHI
The Liberty will open their title defense on the road as they are locked into the 5-seed – New York does not have tiebreaker over only team they can catch (1-3 vs. Phoenix), but does hold the tiebreaker over the only team that can match them (3-1 vs. Golden State). But a key question entering their championship defense is health. Breanna Stewart has averaged a team-high 17.6 ppg, 6.4 reb and 1.4 bpg in five games since returning from a knee injury. However, Sabrina Ionescu has missed the past four games (toe) and Nyara Sabally has not played since mid-July (knee). 
6. Golden State Valkyries (23-19)
Last Week: 6 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. at SEA, Thur. at MIN
The Valkyries made history with Thursday’s win over Dallas, becoming the first expansion team to clinch a playoff berth in their inaugural season. Although a loss to the Lynx on Saturday snapped a five-game win streak, Golden State is guaranteed a winning record in its debut season – setting a foundation to build upon in the years to come as well as the present in the Valkyries’s first postseason.
7. Indiana Fever (23-20)
Last Week: 8 ⬆️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. vs. MIN
On Thursday, Caitlin Clark announced that she would miss the remainder of the season after being limited to 13 games in her sophomore season. However, three days later, the Fever defeated the Mystics to clinch a playoff berth for the second straight year following a seven-season playoff drought. Indiana has overcome multiple injuries – particularly in their backcourt –to not only stay in the playoff hunt, but lock up a top-seven finish.
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👀 In The Hunt: Two Teams Competing For One Spot
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8. Seattle Storm (22-21)
Last Week: 7 ⬇️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. vs. GSV
The Storm have a magic number of one with one game remaining in the regular season, meaning one Storm win or one Sparks loss will clinch a playoff berth for Seattle. With a veteran-laden roster led by Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins, this team has been built to make a playoff run now, but may need to do so from the 8-seed. At the All-Star break, the Storm (14-9) were in fourth place, but an 8-12 run post All-Star has dropped them into a battle for the final playoff spot.
9. Los Angeles Sparks (20-22)
Last Week: 9 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. at PHX, Thur. vs. LVA
L.A. must win its final two games (at Phoenix, vs. red-hot Vegas) and have Seattle lose its regular-season finale (vs. Golden State) in order to secure the final playoff spot. While the Sparks may fall short of reaching the postseason for the first time since 2020, they have already made a 12-win improvement over last season when they won a franchise-low eight games. That’s the season’s second-highest wins leap behind only Atlanta’s 13-win jump from 2024 to 2025.
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🚫 Who’s Out: Eliminated From Playoffs
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10. Washington Mystics (16-27)
Last Week: 10 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. at NYL
After an offseason of change – Elena Delle Donne retired, Ariel Atkins traded, new head coach and general manager and three top-six picks in the 2025 Draft – the Mystics exceeded projections early in the season, entering the All-Star break in seventh place at .500 (11-11) – sending Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen to Indy as the league’s first All-Star rookie teammates since 1999. However, after trading leading scorer Brittney Sykes to Seattle at the deadline for more future assets, the Mystics have gone 5-16 since the break to fall out of the playoff picture.
11. Connecticut Sun (11-31)
Last Week: 11 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Mon. at ATL, Wed. vs. ATL
The Sun knocked on the championship door for eight straight seasons from 2017-2024 – racking up a league-high 181 regular-season wins during that span, but never breaking through to win the franchise’s first championship. The core of that team was broken up in the offseason as the Sun began a rebuild. With a new-look roster featuring five rookies, the Sun struggled early, entering the All-Star break at 3-19. However, they have gone 8-12 since the break thanks to key contributions from veterans Marina Mabrey and Tina Charles and the development of their young talent.
12. Chicago Sky (10-32)
Last Week: 12 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Tue. at LVA, Thur. vs. NYL
The Sky will cap off a challenging season with a challenging final two games, facing two teams that won the past three WNBA titles – Las Vegas (2022 &amp; 2023 champs) and New York (2024 champs) to conclude the 2025 campaign. Chicago struggled with consistency (they won consecutive games only two times all year) and offensive production (currently last at 75.9 points per game). Key injuries to Courtney Vandersloot (torn ACL after seven games) and Angel Reese (Sky went 1-9 in her 10 games missed with a back injury) played a key role as Chicago has its fewest wins since its inaugural season in 2006.
13. Dallas Wings (9-34)
Last Week: 13 ↔️
Remaining Schedule: Thur. vs. PHX
The Wings close out their season on Thursday against the Mercury looking to snap a 10-game losing streak and earn their 10th win of the season. Dallas’ season has featured a mix of highs and lows. No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers has shined, ranked in the top eight in the league in scoring (5th, 19.1), assists (8th, 5.3), steals (5th, 1.6) and minutes (4th, 33.4). However, the team struggled on defense (last in points allowed at 88.3 per game) and through injuries (only three players have appeared in 30+ games). Outside of a seven-game stretch from June 17-July 3 when the Wings went 5-2 with wins over three playoff teams, Dallas has gone 4-32 while enduring five losing streaks of 4+ games.

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2025 WNBA Power Rankings: Week 14

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Game Recap: Wings vs. Sparks (9/7/25)

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Paige Bueckers with 18 Points vs. Los Angeles Sparks

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Los Angeles Sparks vs. Dallas Wings - Game Highlights

Latest

Paige Bueckers

COLLEGE — University of Connecticut — Drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft … sixth UConn player to be selected No. 1 overall in the WNBA Draft and first since the Seattle Storm tapped Breanna Stewart first in 2016 … is UConn&#8217;s 48th WNBA college draft selection and the 28th first-round selection for the program. 
2024-25 (REDSHIRT SENIOR) — Started in all 38 games in the 2024-25 season … capped her collegiate career by leading the Huskies to their record 12th NCAA Tournament Championship … averaged team-highs of 19.9 points and 4.6 assists, with 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game … 3.52 assist/turnover ratio ranked second nationally … field goal percentage (.534) was fifth among all Division I guards … shot over 40-percent from three for the third time in her career … finished with a .419 clip … several 2025 honors, including the Wade Trophy, Nancy Lieberman Award, All-America First Team (AP, WBCA, USBWA), Final Four All-Tournament Team, NCAA Tournament Spokane Region 4 Most Outstanding Player, BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player, BIG EAST Player of the Year and All-BIG EAST First Team … concluded her collegiate career at 50/40/85 – as she shot over 50 percent from the field, over 40 percent from three and over 85 percent from the free-throw line … averaged 24.8 points, 4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.8 steals in the Huskies’ 2025 postseason run … posted a career-high 40 points in Sweet 16 victory over Oklahoma on (3/29), produced 29 points in the second half alone, shot 59.3% from the field and 75% from 3-point range on the night. 
2023-24 (REDSHIRT JUNIOR) — Started all 39 games &#8230; led UConn with 21.9 points per game and 53 blocks &#8230; second on team with 5.2 rebounds per game, 150 assists and 86 steals &#8230; recorded four double-doubles, all in the postseason &#8230; scored in double digits in 38 games, including 27 games with 20+ points &#8230; scored 17 points in NCAA Final Four vs. Iowa (4/5) &#8230; tallied 28 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, two blocks and three steals in Elite Eight vs. USC (4/1) &#8230; notched 25 points, five rebounds and three steals vs. Duke (3/30) &#8230; tied season high with 32 points and added 10 rebounds, six assists and four steals vs. Syracuse (3/25) &#8230; had 28 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and three steals vs. Jackson State (3/23) &#8230; notched 27 points, four rebounds, three assists, five blocks and three steals vs. Georgetown in BIG EAST Tournament championship game (3/11) &#8230; tallied 27 points on 11-16 shooting with career-high 12 rebounds, four assists, four blocks and three steals vs. Marquette (3/10) &#8230; set season high with 32 points on 12-17 shooting and added seven rebounds at Seton Hall (1/17) &#8230; tallied 20 points, five rebounds, four assists, career-high five blocks and two steals vs. Louisville (12/16) &#8230; scored 31 points vs. UCLA (11/24) 
2022-23 (JUNIOR) — Missed the season with an ACL injury suffered in August 2022. 
 2021-22 (SOPHOMORE) — Played in 17 games with 13 starts &#8230; averaged 14.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game &#8230; had 14 points and six rebounds in NCAA Championship game vs. South Carolina (4/3) &#8230; scored 14 points and added five assists vs. Stanford in NCAA Final Four (4/1) &#8230; notched 27 points, including 15 in overtime, vs. NC State (3/28) &#8230; returned to action after missing time to injury vs. St. John&#8217;s (2/25) &#8230; scored 22 points vs. Notre Dame (12/5)&#8230; dished out season-high eight assists vs. Minnesota (11/20) &#8230; scored career-high 34 points in season opener vs. Arkansas (11/14) &#8230; missed 19 games with a knee injury. 
2020-21 (FRESHMAN) — Started and appeared in 29 games &#8230; first freshman to earn the Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, AP Player of the Year and USBWA Player of the Year &#8230; led Huskies in points, assists, steals and three-point field goal percentage &#8230; two-time BIG EAST Player of the Week (2/8, 2/15) &#8230; eight-time BIG EAST Freshman of the Week (12/14, 12/21, 1/4, 1/11, 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15) &#8230; scored in double digits in 28, including 14 20-point games &#8230; set season high with 32 points on 13-for-20 shooting, including 5-for-6 from three and added seven assists vs. St. John&#8217;s (2/3) &#8230; notched first career double-double with 22 points and 12 assists at DePaul (12/31) &#8230; made collegiate debut with 17 points, nine rebounds, five assists and five steals vs. UMass Lowell (12/12). 
INTERNATIONAL — 2019 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year … 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup MVP … won gold at 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup, 2018 Youth Olympic Games, 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup and 2017 FIBA Americas U16 Championship … won tournament titles at 2018 Latvia U17 International Invitational, 2018 Spokane Hoopfest (3&#215;3) and 2018 USA Basketball 3&#215;3 National Championship. 
COLLEGIATE CAREER HONORS 
2025 National Champion 
2025 Wade Trophy winner 
2025 Nancy Lieberman National Point Guard of the Year Award winner 
2025 WBCA, AP, USBWA and Wooden Award First Team All-America 
2025 NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team 
2025 NCAA Tournament Spokane 4 Region Most Outstanding Player 
2025 BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player 
2025 BIG EAST Player of the Year 
2025 All-BIG EAST First Team 
2024 WBCA, AP, USBWA and Wooden Award First Team All-America 
2024 CSC First Team Academic All-America 
2024 BIG EAST Player of the Year 
2024 BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year 
2024 NCAA  Final Four All-Tournament Team 
2024 NCAA Tournament Portland 3 Region Most Outstanding Player 
2024 BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player 
2024 All-BIG EAST First Team 
2022 NCAA Tournament Final Four All-Tournament Team 
2022 NCAA Tournament Bridgeport Region Most Outstanding Player 
2021 Wooden Award winner 
2021 Naismith Trophy winner 
2021 AP Player of the Year 
2021 Nancy Lieberman National Point Guard of the Year Award winner 
2021 USBWA National Player of the Year 
2021 USBWA National Freshman of the Year 
2021 WBCA, AP and USBWA First Team All-America 
2021 WBCA Freshman of the Year 
2021 NCAA Tournament Final Four All-Tournament Team 
2021 NCAA Tournament River Walk Region Most Outstanding Player 
2021 BIG EAST Player and Freshman of the Year 
2021 BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player 
2021 All-BIG EAST First Team 
2021 BIG EAST All-Freshman Team 
2021 espnW Player and Freshman of the Year 
PROGRAM RECORDS 
No. 1 in scoring average (19.8 points per game) 
No. 3 in career points (2,439) 
No. 5 in career three-point percentage (42.3%) 
No. 5 in career field goals made (931) 
No. 8 in career assists (561) 
Most points in NCAA Tournament games by a UConn Husky (477) 
Most points in an NCAA Tournament game by a UConn Husky (40, vs. Oklahoma, 3/29/25) 
Highest assist-turnover ratio in a season (3.52, 2024-25) 
Fastest player in program history to 2,000 career points (102 games) 
Second most points in a season (854, 2023-24); fifth most points in a season (756, 2024-25) 
Scored 1,000th career point in 55th career game, tying Maya Moore as the fastest Huskies to the milestone 
Freshman season record holder for assists (168) 
HIGH SCHOOL — Attended Hopkins High School (Minnetonka, Minnesota) …. No. 1 ranked recruit … 2019-20 Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year … 2020 McDonald’s, SLAM and Jordan Brand Classic All-American … 2020 Naismith Prep Player of the Year … 2020 Morgan Wootten Player of the Year … three-time Gatorade Minnesota Player of the Year … 2019-20 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year … played five seasons of varsity basketball at Hopkins … averaged 21.0 points, 9.2 assists, 5.2 steals and 5.1 rebounds per game as a senior, leading Hopkins to a 30-0 record and the Class AAAA state championship game, which was canceled due to coronavirus … played AAU for North Tartan. 
PERSONAL — Born Oct. 20, 2001… daughter of Bob Bueckers and Amy Fuller … has two brothers, Ryan and Drew, and one sister, Lauren … mother competed in cross country and track &amp; field at the University of St. Thomas … organized series of youth basketball clinics called “Buckets With Bueckers” in Minnesota and Montana &#8230; graduated in May 2024 with a bachelor&#8217;s degree in human development &amp; family sciences.