DHJ Quick Take: Wings Lock In Team-Wide Defensive Approach For A’ja Wilson
- Bueckers Frames The Wilson Challenge As A Team Effort: Guard Paige Bueckers said the Dallas Wings will guard the reigning WNBA MVP “with five” rather than rely on single coverage in Thursday’s matchup with the Las Vegas Aces at College Park Center.
- Fernandez Highlights Wilson’s Versatility: Head coach Jose Fernandez pointed to Wilson’s size, range, and facilitating ability as what separates her from the rest of the league, noting how she can score off the block, the elbow, and the short corner while also extending the floor with her three-point shot.
- Fudd Calls Wilson ‘Unguardable’: Rookie Azzi Fudd said Wilson’s confidence and ability to get to her spots all over the floor make her the toughest individual cover in the WNBA.
- Aces’ Guard Depth Adds To The Challenge: Bueckers also acknowledged the Aces’ backcourt as one of the best in the WNBA, with Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Jewell Loyd complementing Wilson alongside Chennedy Carter off the bench.
DALLAS — The Dallas Wings host the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces on Thursday at College Park Center, and Paige Bueckers said the team’s plan for stopping four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson requires a collective defensive approach rather than relying on a single matchup.
“Obviously, you think of A’ja Wilson, but they have so many great pieces around her, so it’s hard to just hone in on her, but obviously showing her a lot of defensive attention,” Bueckers said following Wednesday’s practice at SMU. “She’s tough to guard in single coverage, so we know it’s not just a one-on-one matchup, but we’re guarding her with five.”
Wilson is averaging 24.8 points and 7.2 rebounds for the Aces (4-2) through six games to open the season. Head coach Jose Fernandez said the breadth of Wilson’s game is what makes her stand apart in the league.
“I think her versatility for her size. She can get it off the ground, she starts the break,” Fernandez said. “With her range now and extending the floor from how she started off the year finishing the three, but the ways that she can score off the block, the elbow, short corner, and the way she can also facilitate — those things separate her.”
Rookie Azzi Fudd described Wilson as the most difficult individual cover in the WNBA.
“How she’s unguardable. She’s playing with so much confidence everywhere on the floor. She knows her spots, she gets to her spots. You don’t ever see her hesitate,” Fudd said. “She’s shooting the three great now, but it’s everywhere on the floor, whether it’s from three, a contested mid-range shot, somewhere down low. She gets to her spots, she’s strong and she plays with so much confidence. It’s super inspiring.”
Bueckers said the challenge against Las Vegas extends beyond Wilson herself, citing the Aces’ backcourt of Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Jewell Loyd, along with Chennedy Carter off the bench.
“Obviously, their guard play is amazing. They have one of the best backcourts in the league, so to be able to have all those weapons to try to slow it down, be really connected defensively, lock into our scouting tendencies and what they like to do in their offense,” Bueckers said.
Building On the New York Liberty Win
The defensive approach against Las Vegas builds on the Wings’ performance in Sunday’s 91-76 win over the New York Liberty at Barclays Center, where Dallas held the 2024 WNBA champions to just 32 points in the second half.
Bueckers said paint protection was central to that turnaround and remains a focus heading into Thursday.
“We’re trying to protect the paint better. We understand that’s kind of our kryptonite right now — teams getting into the paint. So I think we’ve really honed in on that, trying to protect the paint,” Bueckers told Dallas Hoops Journal. “Be in our gaps, be in our strengths, be at the boxes and elbows, and try to make teams beat us from two by two by two.”
The Wings leaned into a more switch-heavy look in the second half against the Liberty, an approach forward Awak Kuier said played into the roster’s strengths when she spoke with media at Tuesday’s practice.
“I mean, I think the switching helps us be more aggressive. We can really just get to the ball, and I think we’re a very mobile team, so that also helps us a lot,” Kuier told Dallas Hoops Journal at practice Tuesday.
Jessica Shepard credited the chemistry between Kuier and Alanna Smith as a defining factor in the team’s defensive ceiling.
“I think when we’re aggressive as a group, we’re a whole different defensive team. So I think for us it’s just knowing each other, learning who needs help where, and then also really kind of locking in on our concepts defensively,” Shepard told Dallas Hoops Journal on Tuesday. “And then obviously, between Lan and Awak, we have great rim protectors at the five position.”
Fudd echoed the team-defense framing and pointed to rebounding as another critical factor against an Aces team built around interior presence.
“When we really lock in on playing team defense, when we crowd the paint, make things hard for teams, team box out — they’re a huge team, so making sure that we try to limit their rebounds and second-chance opportunities,” Fudd told Dallas Hoops Journal. “We can’t rely just on Jess and Lan and Awak and Li and all of our bigs to do that by themselves. It’s on the guards to help them as well.”
What’s At Stake Thursday
Fernandez said the Wings’ two recent practice days have allowed the team to specifically focus on Las Vegas after a stretch of compressed turnaround time earlier in the schedule.
“Having someone like A’ja inside and her perimeter play, and how Carter’s coming off the bench and doing what she’s doing — we’re gonna have to defend. We’re gonna have to defend. That’s what it’s gonna come down to,” Fernandez said.
The Wings (4-3) and Aces (4-2) tip off Thursday at 7 p.m. CT on Prime. Las Vegas leads the all-time series 46-36, and the Wings are seeking their first regular-season win over the Aces since August 27, 2024.
More Wings Coverage on Dallas Hoops Journal
- Dallas Wings Injury Report: Paige Bueckers, Alanna Smith Listed Ahead Of Las Vegas Aces Matchup
- Dallas Wings Practice Interviews: Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd And Jose Fernandez (May 27, 2026)
- ‘We Can Do Anything’: How Awak Kuier’s Two-Way Surge Is Giving Dallas Wings A Key Chess Piece
- Dallas Wings Practice Notes: Defensive Identity, Azzi Fudd’s Impact And Las Vegas Aces Preparation
- Paige Bueckers On Azzi Fudd’s Breakout Game vs. New York Liberty: ‘We Knew It Was Only A Matter Of Time’
- ‘Took It Personal’: Jose Fernandez Credits Halftime Defensive Adjustment In Dallas Wings’ 91-76 Win Over New York Liberty
- ‘Play A Little Bit Slower’: Azzi Fudd Adjusts Approach To Shatter Dallas Wings’ Rookie Record vs. New York Liberty
- Paige Bueckers Names ‘Controllables’ That Define Dallas Wings Identity After Win Over New York Liberty
- Azzi Fudd On Dallas Wings’ Selfless Culture, Earning Her Time: ‘It Doesn’t Matter If I’m Starting’
- ‘The Numbers Don’t Lie’: Azzi Fudd’s Rookie Record, Dallas Wings’ Suffocating Second Half Power 91-76 Win Over New York Liberty
