Stretch 4 Alanna Smith's Wings' prayers answered

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Dallas Wings defeated Chicago Sky 93-92 (Final)

Australian Opals centre Alanna Smith, still recovering from a nose injury, played five minutes off the bench in Dallas Wings dramatic 93-92 win against the Chicago Sky in Arlington on Sunday (AEDT).

Smith scored three points on her lone field goal attempt – a made three-pointer – and added two steals as Dallas erased a 14-point deficit with a season-high 36-point fourth quarter to improve to 10-6 and extend its home winning streak to six games.

Game Snapshot

• Quarter scores: Chicago 28-15-28-21 │ Dallas 16-22-19-36
• Chicago led by as many as 14 points before Dallas' fourth-quarter rally
• Dallas extended its home winning streak to six games
• Chicago dropped its fifth straight, falling to 4-11

Chicago set the tone early by dominating the interior, outscoring Dallas 20-0 in the paint during the opening quarter to build a 28-16 lead. Kamilla Cardoso and Sydney Taylor combined to bully the Wings inside, while Dallas struggled to find any offensive rhythm.

The Wings chipped back in the second quarter to trim the deficit to 43-38 at the main break, but the early hole forced them to chase the game for the better part of three quarters.

The Sky reasserted control after halftime, outscoring Dallas 28-19 in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 71-57. Cardoso was masterful inside, finishing one point shy of her career high with 26 points on a sizzling 10-from-13 from the field, adding nine boards in a dominant interior display.

Taylor backed her up with 18 points on 6-from-13 shooting before fouling out, while Skylar Diggins chipped in 14 points and six dimes to keep Chicago's offence ticking.

Trailing by 14 entering the final period, the Wings turned to Paige Bueckers and Jessica Shepard to spark the rally. Bueckers was clutch down the stretch, pouring in 10 of 11 Dallas points during one stretch of the run, finishing with 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

Shepard was equally vital, scoring 17 of her 21 points in the second half on an efficient 7-from-14 night from the floor, adding eight rebounds. Her physicality inside finally answered Chicago's frontcourt advantage when it mattered most.

Rookie Azzi Fudd delivered a strong supporting performance with 13 points on 5-from-13 shooting, including 2-from-6 from deep, while also chipping in four swats defensively. Arike Ogunbowale added 12 points on 4-from-11 shooting, knocking down 3-from-5 from downtown to keep the Wings within range.

Off the bench, Maddy Siegrist provided a critical lift with nine points on 3-from-6 shooting in just 12 minutes, posting a team-best +13 in plus-minus.

With the game on the line, Li Yueru stepped to the charity stripe and calmly knocked down two free throws with 12.5 seconds left to push Dallas in front 93-92 — the Wings' first lead of the night. Dallas shot a solid 81% from the foul line (19-from-21) compared to Chicago's 66% (19-from-29), a key differentiator in the one-point result.

The Wings also shot 40% from outside on 10-from-25, while Chicago managed just 30% from beyond the arc, going 7-from-23. Despite Chicago's 43-35 rebounding edge, Dallas' late-game composure proved decisive.

By the Numbers

• Jessica Shepard (DAL): 21 pts │ 8 reb │ 7-from-14 FG │ 7-of-8 FT
• Paige Bueckers (DAL): 19 pts │ 8 ast │ 7 reb │ 2 stl
• Azzi Fudd (DAL): 13 pts │ 5 reb │ 4 blk
• Arike Ogunbowale (DAL): 12 pts │ 3-from-5 3PT
• Li Yueru (DAL): 5 pts │ 6 reb
• Kamilla Cardoso (CHI): 26 pts │ 9 reb │ 10-from-13 FG
• Sydney Taylor (CHI): 18 pts │ 6-from-13 FG
• Skylar Diggins (CHI): 14 pts │ 6 ast
• Natasha Cloud (CHI): 10 pts │ 6 reb │ 6 ast

Atlanta Dream defeated Indiana Fever 113-96 (Final)

WNBL26 MVP Isobel Borlase played 17 minutes off the bench as the Atlanta Dream defeated Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever 113-96 in Atlanta on Sunday (AEDT).

Borlase scored three points on 1-from-3 shooting, grabbed three rebounds and dished two assists as Atlanta improved to 11-4 and continued its strong start to the WNBA season. The 21-year-old finished +11, the fifth-best mark on the Dream.

Game Snapshot

Quarter scores: Indiana 37-22-15-22 │ Atlanta 30-26-28-29
Atlanta outscored Indiana 57-37 in the second half
The Dream shot 50% from the field and 46% from three
Atlanta improved to 11-4 and 5-2 at home
Indiana fell to 9-7 and 3-4 on the road

Indiana exploded out of the gates behind Caitlin Clark, who had 26 points and seven assists, as the Fever piled on 37 first-quarter points to lead 59-56 at halftime.

But the Dream completely flipped the game after the break.

Atlanta dominated the third quarter 28-15 before pulling away in the fourth, shooting an efficient 40-from-80 from the field and knocking down 12-from-26 from beyond the arc.

Rhyne Howard led the charge with 24 points, including 4-from-10 from three and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line. Allisha Gray added 22 points and five rebounds, while Naz Hillmon scored 19 points on an efficient 8-from-13 shooting night.

Angel Reese produced another all-round performance with 18 points, eight rebounds, two steals and a block, while veteran point guard Jordin Canada orchestrated the offence with 12 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds.

Borlase provided valuable minutes off the bench, adding three rebounds and two assists to go with her three points in Atlanta's balanced attack.

Indiana shot 49% from the field and 43% from three but was undone by 19 turnovers, which Atlanta converted into easy offence throughout the second half.

By the Numbers

Rhyne Howard (ATL): 24 pts │ 4 reb │ 4-from-10 3PT │ 8-of-8 FT
Allisha Gray (ATL): 22 pts │ 5 reb │ 3 stl
Naz Hillmon (ATL): 19 pts │ 6 reb │ 8-from-13 FG
Angel Reese (ATL): 18 pts │ 8 reb │ 2 stl │ 1 blk
Jordin Canada (ATL): 12 pts │ 12 ast │ 7 reb

Isobel Borlase (ATL): 3 pts │ 3 reb │ 2 ast │ 1-from-3 FG │ +11

Caitlin Clark (IND): 26 pts │ 7 ast │ 11-from-18 FG
Kelsey Mitchell (IND): 16 pts
Aliyah Boston (IND): 13 pts │ 9 reb │ 6 ast
Sophie Cunningham (IND): 13 pts │ 3-from-8 3PT
Raven Johnson (IND): 9 pts │ 6 reb

Phoenix Mercury defeated Seattle Storm 93-73 (Final)

Australian Opals guard Jade Melbourne started for the Seattle Storm while fellow Opal Ezi Magbegor remained sidelined with a right foot injury as the Storm fell 93-73 to the Phoenix Mercury in Phoenix on Sunday (AEDT).

Melbourne played 11 minutes, scoring two points from the free throw line while adding one rebound and one assist before Seattle was overwhelmed by Phoenix's dominant second and third quarters. Magbegor did not play as she continues her recovery from a right foot injury.

Perth Lynx star guard and fellow Australian Opal Sami Whitcomb is still out of the Phoenix Mercury line-up through injury.

Game Snapshot

Quarter scores: Seattle 24-17-20-12 │ Phoenix 19-29-33-12
Phoenix outscored Seattle 62-37 across the second and third quarters
Seattle shot just 36% from the field and 29% from three
Phoenix improved to 5-12 and 2-6 at home
Seattle dropped to 3-14 and 1-8 on the road

Seattle started brightly, leading 24-19 after the opening quarter behind Natisha Hiedeman, who scored 20 points on an efficient 6-from-9 shooting night, including 3-from-4 from deep.

But the Mercury seized control in the second quarter, outscoring the Storm 29-17 to take a 48-41 lead into halftime before blowing the game open with a 33-20 third quarter.

Phoenix showcased its balanced offence with six players scoring in double figures.

Kahleah Copper led the Mercury with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Noemie Brochant flirted with a double-double, finishing with 16 points and 10 assists after shooting a blistering 4-from-5 from beyond the arc.

Veteran forward Alyssa Thomas orchestrated the offence with eight points and nine assists, Natasha Mack contributed a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Lexi Held added 11 points.

Off the bench, Valeriane Ayayi was outstanding with 18 points and 10 rebounds on 4-from-7 shooting and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line.

For Seattle, Flau'jae Johnson scored 13 points and Dominique Malonga added 10 points and three rebounds despite shooting just 4-from-16 from the field.

Melbourne's minutes were limited as head coach Noelle Quinn searched for combinations to halt Phoenix's momentum, while Magbegor's absence continued to be felt on both ends of the floor.

Phoenix finished with a 39-29 rebounding advantage and dished 26 assists to Seattle's 17, helping the Mercury shoot 49% from the field in one of their most complete performances of the season.

By the Numbers

Natisha Hiedeman (SEA): 20 pts │ 3-from-4 3PT │ 4 ast
Flau'jae Johnson (SEA): 13 pts │ 2 blk
Dominique Malonga (SEA): 10 pts │ 3 reb
Awa Fam (SEA): 5 pts │ 10 reb │ 3 ast

Jade Melbourne (SEA): 2 pts │ 1 reb │ 1 ast │ 11 min
Ezi Magbegor (SEA): DNP (right foot injury)
Sami Whitcomb (PHO): DNP (ankle)

Kahleah Copper (PHX): 17 pts │ 7 reb
Noemie Brochant (PHX): 16 pts │ 10 ast │ 4-from-5 3PT
Valeriane Ayayi (PHX): 18 pts │ 10 reb │ 8-of-8 FT
Natasha Mack (PHX): 10 pts │ 10 reb
Alyssa Thomas (PHX): 8 pts │ 9 ast