STWF Sports | LAS VEGAS | June 25, 2026— The Dallas Wings entered Thursday night with a chance to complete their first regular-season sweep of the Las Vegas Aces since 2018, but an early deficit, cold perimeter shooting and too many empty possessions proved costly.

Dallas fell 99-84 to Las Vegas at Michelob ULTRA Arena, closing its two-game road stretch with a loss after Monday’s overtime win in Seattle. The Wings moved to 11-7 on the season, while the Aces improved to 13-5. Despite the result, Dallas still won the season series over Las Vegas, 2-1, marking the Wings’ first season-series victory over the Aces since 2018.

Paige Bueckers led Dallas with 25 points, six assists and three steals, continuing her strong stretch after reaching 1,000 career points earlier in the week. It was her ninth 20-point game of the season, placing her among the league’s most consistent scorers.

Jessica Shepard also delivered another standout performance, matching her career high with 22 points while adding a game-high 14 rebounds. The double-double was her 11th of the season, tying Angel Reese for the WNBA lead. Shepard again gave Dallas a reliable presence inside, scoring efficiently and keeping possessions alive even as the Wings struggled to find rhythm from long range.

The Dallas Wings: A Season of Growth and Challenge

The biggest issue for Dallas came beyond the arc. The Wings shot a season-low 9.5 percent from three-point range, making just 2-of-21 attempts. Dallas went 0-for-12 from deep in the second half, preventing the Wings from fully capitalizing during stretches when they cut into the Las Vegas lead.

The Aces, meanwhile, shot 53.3 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three. Las Vegas also more than doubled Dallas in free-throw attempts, taking 33 compared to the Wings’ 16. A’ja Wilson led all scorers with 32 points, while NaLyssa Smith grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds and Chelsea Gray dished out nine assists.

The game turned early. Dallas started with Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, Azzi Fudd, Awak Kuier and Shepard for the fifth consecutive game, but the Wings had trouble settling in. After a slow opening five minutes from both teams, Las Vegas created separation with an 8-0 run that pushed the lead to 15-4 late in the first quarter.

Sug Sutton knocked down Dallas’ first three-pointer off the bench, and Bueckers scored four of the Wings’ final five points in the period, but Las Vegas still led 28-17 after one. The Aces shot 56.3 percent in the quarter and hit four threes, while Dallas spent most of the frame trying to overcome early turnovers.

Las Vegas extended its lead to 35-20 early in the second quarter, forcing a Dallas timeout. The Wings responded with a brief 5-0 push behind Shepard and Fudd, but the Aces answered again and built a 17-point advantage. Shepard helped stabilize Dallas before halftime, scoring 11 points in the quarter on 4-of-5 shooting. The Wings closed the half on an 11-4 run and trailed 49-39 at the break.

Dallas made its strongest push in the third quarter. Shepard opened the half with a layup, and Kuier followed with a putback to cut the deficit to six. Bueckers and Aziaha James later helped pull the Wings within four, 53-49, with 6:22 left in the quarter.

That was as close as Dallas would get.

Las Vegas answered with an 8-3 run, pushing the lead back to nine and forcing another Wings timeout. Bueckers converted an and-one out of the stoppage, and James scored eight points in the quarter, but Dallas still trailed 71-63 entering the fourth.

The Aces opened the final period with a 7-0 run and kept the lead in double digits the rest of the way. Dallas shot 52.9 percent in the fourth but continued to miss from outside, going 0-for-6 from three in the quarter. Las Vegas shot nearly 70 percent in the final frame and closed with control.

Awak Kuier and Aziaha James each finished with eight points for Dallas, while James also added three assists. The Wings outscored Las Vegas in the paint, 52-40, but were beaten on the glass, 35-24. The Aces also held advantages in second-chance points, fast-break points and bench scoring.

Dallas now returns home to face the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday at College Park Center. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. CT, with the game airing nationally on CBS.