DHJ Quick Take: Wings Smother Storm 79-56 to Open Commissioner’s Cup Play
The Dallas Wings held the Seattle Storm to a season-low 56 points and grabbed a season-high 48 rebounds in a 79-56 Commissioner’s Cup opener, their best start since the franchise moved to Texas in 2016.
- How did the Wings win? Dallas shot just 35.8% from the field and 5-of-25 from 3-point range, but it held Seattle to a season-low 56 points, won the offensive glass with 18 of its 48 rebounds, and turned that into a 25-6 edge in second-chance points.
- Who led Dallas? Aziaha James scored a season-high 18 points off the bench, while Paige Bueckers finished one assist shy of a triple-double with 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists.
- Why does the win matter? At 6-3, the Wings own their best start through nine games since relocating to Texas in 2016 and have won three straight, their longest streak since 2024.
- What’s next? Dallas visits the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday at 9 p.m. CT in a game televised nationally on ION.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Dallas Wings guard Aziaha James led Monday’s 79-56 rout of the Seattle Storm, scoring a season-high 18 points off the bench in 17 minutes. She added 3 rebounds and 1 assist and shot 7-for-14 from the field, including 1-for-2 from behind the arc.
Head coach Jose Fernandez credited James for staying aggressive instead of settling for the extra pass.
“She attacked the rim and she got to her spot,” Fernandez said. “(We’ve had conversations about) extra passes and sometimes settling for stuff, but I thought she came in and she was aggressive and did a good job.”
Aziaha James Leans on Her Attacking Game
James is averaging 5.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1 assist in 10 minutes off the bench this season. Most of her offense comes from attacking the paint for layups, an approach that fits a player whose perimeter shot is still developing.
She is shooting 33.3% from three this season, up from 28.6% a year ago, though she went 1-for-5 from deep across the four games leading into tonight’s matchup.
That pattern goes back to North Carolina State University, where, over four years, her best three-point season was 34.2% as a junior and her lowest was 28.8% as a sophomore.
Because long-range shooting has not been her calling card, James has built her offense around attacking the rim to stay productive, and she said the recent slump has not changed her plan.
“My three’s been off lately,” James said. “Attacking downhill has always been my strong suit, so (I) just keep going, trying to get to the foul line.”
She attempts just 1.3 free throws per game but has converted at a 90% clip, and she went 3-for-4 from the line against Seattle.
Aziaha James Makes Her Mark on Defense
James’ minutes and scoring have dropped this season, but her defense has taken a clear step forward. Her block and steal numbers are both up, and she drew two charges against Seattle, one of which earned an emphatic clap from Fernandez on the sideline.
Fernandez pointed to James’ ball pressure and her work navigating screens as the clearest signs of her growth.
“Everyone has seen her improvement on the defensive end,” Fernandez said. “(She’s been) keeping the ball in front of her and she’s been disruptive all year with ball pressure and guarding pick and rolls and getting over screens. So for her to get the time and use the time and come out of this game feeling really good, that’s what you want.”
Playing behind several of the WNBA’s most promising young guards has limited James’ opportunities, and her three-point shot remains a work in progress. Her night against Seattle showed what she can deliver when those minutes come, whether by attacking the rim or pressuring the opposing team’s top guard.
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