{"id":37267,"date":"2025-07-04T05:38:12","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T05:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/37267\/"},"modified":"2025-07-04T05:38:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T05:38:12","slug":"dallas-wings-rookie-phenoms-paige-bueckers-and-aziaha-james-show-out-in-win-over-mercury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/37267\/","title":{"rendered":"Dallas Wings\u2019 rookie phenoms Paige Bueckers and Aziaha James show out in win over Mercury"},"content":{"rendered":"

ARLINGTON \u2014 On the same day that point guard Paige Bueckers was named WNBA Rookie of the Month for June<\/a>, it was only fitting that all of the Dallas Wings<\/a> rookies showed out in the 98-89 win against the Phoenix Mercury<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Only eight Wings players were available for Thursday\u2019s game at the College Park Center. DiJonai Carrington missed her fifth game in a row with a rib injury, and Arike Ogunbowale was out with a left thumb injury.<\/p>\n

Photos: Dallas Wings soar above injuries with win over Phoenix Mercury<\/p>\n

\"DallasView Gallery<\/p>\n

\u201cWe faced a lot of adversity this whole week, and we never gave up on ourselves,\u201d small forward Aziaha James said after the win. \u201cWe stayed together, we stayed composed and we did what we had to do tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sports Roundup<\/p>\n

Get the latest D-FW sports news, analysis and opinion delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, Kevin Sherrington’s A La Carte.<\/p>\n

Five of the eight available players are rookies, and four of them started.<\/p>\n

Related:Amid a period of injury-riddled chaos, the Wings get a marquee victory over the Mercury<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThe rooks, we always compete in practice against the vets and know that when it\u2019s game time we\u2019re ready whenever our number\u2019s called,\u201d James said. \u201cSo tonight was definitely the rooks\u2019 night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rookies scored 72 of the team\u2019s points Thursday.<\/p>\n

James and Bueckers started alongside rookies JJ Quinerly and Luisa Geisels\u00f6der. The only starter who was not a rookie was center Li Yueru, in her third season in the WNBA.<\/p>\n

In the first half, 77% of the team\u2019s 61 points were scored by the rookie starters.<\/p>\n

Small forward Aziaha James led the group with 20 points at the half, more than three times her average of 6.7 points per game. She finished the game with 28 points, six rebounds and six assists. James was the 12th pick of the 2025 draft, coming to Dallas from North Carolina State.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously it was the Aziaha James game, so that was extremely fun to watch and to be a part of,\u201d Bueckers said. \u201c…To be fearless and to just be confident, I\u2019m so happy for her, because she has it in her. She\u2019s always had it in her.\u201d<\/p>\n

The four rookie starters each played more than 30 minutes of the game. Quinerly, who averages 9.1 minutes per game, played 35 minutes. James played 38 minutes, more than double her average of 16.9 minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought that was a really good 40 minutes tonight,\u201d Koclanes said. \u201cAnd again, not perfect, but loved our start. \u2026We came out and we established right from the tip, how physical we were going to play and that we were going to set the tempo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bueckers finished the game with 23 points, four rebounds and five assists. Quinerly had 17 points, five rebounds and seven assists.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re just fearless, and they have tremendous belief in who\u2019s in that locker room, regardless of who is suiting up that night,\u201d Koclanes said of his team. \u201cYou win a game without Paige, you win a game without Arike, everyone can contribute. It\u2019s our competitive depth, and everyone\u2019s going to continue to buy into that.\u201d<\/p>\n