The Minnesota Lynx kicked off their WNBA season with a 99-84 victory over the Dallas Wings on Friday night.
Key Performers
- Napheesa Collier led the charge for the Lynx, scoring 34 points and spoiling the WNBA debut of fellow UConn alum Paige Bueckers.
- Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, scored the first points of the season for the Wings, finishing with 10 points in front of a sellout crowd at Arlington Hall on the Texas-Arlington campus.
- Courtney Williams also had a strong performance for Minnesota, contributing 25 points and nine assists.
- Jessica Shepard added to their success with 15 points and eight rebounds.
For Dallas, All-Star guard Arike Ogunbowale led with 16 points. DiJonai Carrington, acquired from the Connecticut Sun during an offseason trade, contributed but her total points were not specified.
Season Outlook
The game marked a significant moment for both teams as they aimed to make a statement in their respective seasons. The Lynx are looking to build on last year’s playoff appearance, while Dallas seeks to bounce back from missing out on postseason play.
Other League Highlights
In other action around the league:
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The Los Angeles Sparks opened their season by defeating the Seattle Storm by two free throws at home, led by Nneka Ogwumike’s double-double (23 points, 11 rebounds). Brittney Sykes scored all four of her three-pointers in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough for the Storm, who were playing without Sue Bird due to injury.
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The New York Liberty defeated the Washington Mystics behind Sabrina Ionescu’s career-high seven three-pointers (28 total points).
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The Chicago Sky won against the Atlanta Dream, largely due to Kahleah Copper’s career-high six three-pointers (24 total points).
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The Phoenix Mercury beat the Las Vegas Aces with Diana Taurasi contributing five three-pointers (19 total points).
Offseason Changes
The WNBA has undergone significant changes this offseason, including new rules regarding player conduct and expanded access for media outlets covering games.
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