Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd look to make their return to Connecticut a triumphant one and help the Dallas Wings snap a two-game losing streak when they square off against the suddenly hot Sun on Thursday in Hartford, Conn.
Bueckers and Fudd both played for UConn before being taken first in the WNBA drafts in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
The Wings travel north for the first of a four-game road trip and on the heels of an 85-77 home loss to league-leading Minnesota on Sunday. Dallas (11-8) got a game-high 25 points from Bueckers while Fudd added 21 points, Maddy Siegrist hit for 12 and Jessica Shepard grabbed 16 rebounds.
The Wings trailed by as many as 23 midway through the third quarter before rallying to within four with 5:15 to play.
“We’ve had a lot of close games, a lot of games where we haven’t started great scoring-wise, and that kind of plays over into our defense,” Fudd said. “Then we kind of hit that second gear, but we need to start the game with that gear unlocked already.”
Meanwhile, Connecticut (4-15) has won consecutive games for the first time all year, with the latest victory a 68-57 home decision over Washington on Friday. Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Leila Lacan led the Sun with 12 points each, while Kennedy Burke added 11 and Brittney Griner and Charlisse Leger-Walker scored 10 apiece.
“It’s testament to us staying focused and committed,” Nelson-Ododa said of Friday’s victory and the team’s winning streak. “We’ve had so many games when it’s been a close call and we’ve had trouble finishing. We have been able to find our groove and finish out games in our style by keeping our composure.”
Thursday’s clash is the final Sun game to be played in Hartford. As part of the organization’s Sun Legends campaign, the franchise will fete former player Jasmine Thomas (now VP of basketball operations and assistant general manager for the Wings) and former coach (and current executive vice president and Dallas general manager) Curt Miller to celebrate their contributions to the team.
It’s the first of the teams’ three meetings this season, with the ensuing contests on Aug. 2 and Aug. 30, both in Dallas. The Wings have won three of the past four games played in Connecticut.
–Field Level Media
