Napheesa Collier spoils Paige Bueckers WNBA debut as Lynx down Wings

Published: Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 3:06 am

Lynx Dominate Wings in Season Opener, Spoiling Bueckers' WNBA Debut

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Minnesota Lynx kicked off the WNBA season with a resounding victory, defeating the Dallas Wings 99-84 on Friday night. The game, which marked the debut of highly anticipated rookie Paige Bueckers, was dominated by Lynx star Napheesa Collier, who poured in an impressive 34 points.

Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, showed flashes of brilliance, scoring the first points of the season for the Wings. However, she struggled with her shooting, finishing with 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting, along with seven rebounds and two assists in front of a sold-out crowd of 7,000 at the University of Texas-Arlington.

Collier's dominant performance was key to the Lynx's success. She ignited a crucial 13-1 run in the third quarter, extending Minnesota's lead. Courtney Williams contributed significantly with 25 points and nine assists, while Jessica Shepard added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Lynx.

For the Wings, Arike Ogunbowale led the scoring with 16 points, and DiJonai Carrington, acquired in an offseason trade, added 15. The first half was marked by numerous fouls, with the teams combining for 30 free throws before halftime, when the score was tied at 46. Despite Bueckers' early scoring, the Lynx's overall performance proved too much for the Wings to overcome. The Lynx, who lost in the WNBA Finals last year, started their season strong.

Keywords: WNBA, Minnesota Lynx, Dallas Wings, Napheesa Collier, Paige Bueckers, season opener, basketball, women's basketball, Arike Ogunbowale, Courtney Williams, Jessica Shepard, DiJonai Carrington, UConn, rookie, Texas-Arlington, game recap, WNBA debut

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