The Dallas Wings upset the Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas on Thursday. No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers scored 23 points in the 98-89 win. Yet it was her rookie teammate that shined the brightest.
Aziaha James tallied a career-high 28 points, hitting 5-of-9 3-pointers with six rebounds and six assists in the Wings’ victory. James, Dallas’ second first-round selection in the 2025 WNBA Draft, scored 20 of her points in the first half, 13 of them in the second quarter.
The former NC State star also joined Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi as the fifth rookie to score 25 or more points, grab five or more rebounds, dish out five or more assists and hit at least five 3-pointers in a WNBA game.
Rookie Aziaha James EXPLODED for a career-high in the Wings’ win over the Mercury ✨
28 PTS
5 3PM
6 REB
6 ASTJames becomes just the 5th rookie in WNBA history to drop 25+ PTS, 5+ AST, 5+ REB, and 5+ 3PM in a single game—joining Caitlin Clark (3x), Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna… pic.twitter.com/NnIPuxHoiT
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 4, 2025
JJ Quinerly added 17 points, while Luisa Geiselsoder scored four to give the Wings a combined 72 points from their rookies in defeating the Mercury.
Dallas needed every contribution it could get from its first-year players with Arike Ogunbowale (left thumb) and DiJonai Carrington (rib) out with injury, while Myisha Hines-Allen was limited to 17 minutes and five points struggling with an ankle issue.
The Wings surged to a 32-20 first quarter lead and were ahead 61-43 at halftime. The Mercury cut the deficit to 67-63 in the third quarter on a Kahleah Copper 3-pointer followed by a basket from Alyssa Thomas. But Dallas built its lead back up to 82-71 going into the fourth quarter.
Phoenix was led by Copper’s 33 points, shooting 10-for-17 from the floor (including 4-of-7 on 3s). Satou Sabally scored 20 in her first game against her former team, for whom she played her first five WNBA seasons. Sabally was traded to the Mercury as part of a three-team deal after informing Dallas that she wanted to play elsewhere.
With the win, the Wings improved to 6-13 for the season. But Dallas has won five of its past seven games since ending a seven-game losing streak. The Mercury dropped to 12-6 with the defeat, losing their second consecutive game following a six-game winning streak. Phoenix now holds third place in the WNBA standings, a half-game behind the New York Liberty.