STWF Sports | DALLAS, Texas | Aug. 7, 2026 — The Dallas Wings could not keep pace with the Golden State Valkyries on Friday night, falling 94-76 at American Airlines Center in their second appearance at the downtown Dallas venue this season.

Performance Highlights of the Golden State Valkyries

Dallas dropped to 19-13 with the loss, while Golden State improved to 22-9. The teams will meet once more during the regular season on Aug. 17 at Chase Center in San Francisco.

The game carried added significance for the Wings, who were playing at AAC for the first time since announcing earlier in the week that the arena will serve as their full-time home beginning in 2027.

Paige Bueckers led Dallas with 17 points, shooting 6-of-12 from the field and 2-of-4 from three-point range. Aziaha James added 13 points in a spot start after Azzi Fudd was ruled out shortly before tipoff with right knee soreness. Alanna Smith finished with 11 points and six rebounds, marking her third double-digit scoring performance in four games.

Golden State, however, controlled the game with perimeter shooting and steady offensive execution.

The Valkyries knocked down 12 three-pointers and shot 46.5 percent from the field. Veronica Burton led Golden State with 22 points and seven assists, while Gabby Williams added 19. Together, Burton and Williams accounted for 41 points.

Dallas struggled to generate the same offensive rhythm. The Wings shot 33.9 percent overall and 28 percent from three while recording only eight assists, their lowest total in a game since 2019.

The Wings did get to the free-throw line frequently, attempting 38 foul shots, their most in a game since 2022. Still, they converted at a 71.1-percent rate and were unable to offset Golden State’s more efficient shooting.

Dallas started quickly behind Bueckers, who buried back-to-back threes to open the game. She scored 11 first-quarter points and accounted for four of the Wings’ five made field goals in the period.

The opening quarter featured five ties and five lead changes, but Golden State closed on a 6-0 run, all from Tiffany Hayes at the free-throw line, to take a 26-21 advantage.

The Valkyries continued to create separation in the second quarter. Dallas remained within striking distance behind contributions from Smith, Sug Sutton and Awak Kuier, but Williams hit a three-pointer with 3.2 seconds remaining to send Golden State into halftime with a 44-36 lead.

The third quarter proved decisive.

Golden State opened the half by making four of its first five shots, including two threes, and quickly pushed the margin to 16. The Valkyries shot nearly 60 percent in the period and went 5-of-7 from deep, while Dallas managed just 5-of-17 from the field.

The deficit grew to 20 before Li Yueru provided a spark off the bench, helping the Wings trim the margin to 14. Golden State still carried a 74-58 lead into the fourth.

Dallas tried to make one final push when Arike Ogunbowale opened the final period with a three-pointer, but the Valkyries answered nearly every run with timely perimeter shooting of their own.

Golden State also held advantages in points in the paint, 38-24, and fast-break scoring, 15-5. Dallas won the rebounding battle 39-38 and finished with a 17-10 edge in second-chance points.

The Wings now close a demanding stretch of six games in 12 days with a road matchup against the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday at Target Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT, with national coverage on NBC and Peacock.