The Defending Champs Gave Up 101 Points, And the Dallas Wings' Red-Hot Rookie Is Coming For Them

Alright Seattle, listen up, because the WNBA is already throwing down some wild storylines, and Thursday's game? It's gonna be a must-watch! The Dallas Wings are hitting their stride big-time, fresh off a sweet 91-76 win against the New York Liberty on Sunday. But here's the kicker: their next opponent is none other than the defending league champion Las Vegas Aces. This isn't just another game, folks, this is an early season showdown in Arlington, Texas, that's gonna tell us a lot about where the Wings really stand.

The Dallas Wings Are Flying High

Seriously, you gotta talk about Azzi Fudd! This rookie guard just dropped a season-high 24 points against the Liberty, with 17 of those coming in a single third quarter burst. She matched New York's *entire output* in that period, practically grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck! Her backcourt teammate Paige Bueckers also chipped in 24 points, with Arike Ogunbowale adding 19 and Jessica Shepard going off for 10 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. Fudd herself is locked in, saying her goal was to "slow down" and that her teammates were setting "great screens, giving me great passes." Ogunbowale heaped praise on her, reminding everyone Fudd is "still a rookie" and "it's literally only game seven, and she's coming into her own." Coach Jose Fernandez challenged his squad to be tougher and less selfish a few games back, and guess what? They've responded, winning three of their past four games, including two on the road, all by double-digits. These Wings are flying high, 4-3 overall, and they mean business!

Aces Defense Is a Mess Right Now

Now, the defending champs, the Las Vegas Aces, are rolling into Dallas-Fort Worth with a 4-2 record, but they just took a punch to the gut. They lost 101-95 at home to Los Angeles on Saturday, snapping a four-game winning streak. A'ja Wilson did her thing with 24 points and 15 rebounds, and Na'Lyssa Smith added 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting with nine boards, while Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd contributed 12 and 10 points respectively. But the real story? That defense! They let Los Angeles shoot a scorching 55.2% from the floor and knock down 14 of 29 three-point attempts. Aces coach Becky Hammon didn't mince words, calling it a "disappointing night on the defensive end for us, plain and simple." Interestingly, the Aces are actually 0-2 at home this season but have snatched all four of their away games. Oh, and shoutout to Chennedy Carter, who's been a spark plug off the bench, averaging 20 points in 22.2 minutes per game. Hammon explicitly signed her for that "hard-nosed aggression." But can that aggression cover up the defensive cracks? So, Thursday night in Arlington, Texas, is gonna be epic! It's the first of three matchups between these two squads this season, and for the Dallas Wings, it's a golden chance to prove their early season surge is legit against the defending champions. Can they keep that offensive rhythm going and expose the Aces' defensive struggles, especially on their home court where Vegas hasn't won yet? Or will the champs tighten up and remind everyone why they wear the crown? You know I'll be glued to my screen, cheering for some serious WNBA fireworks! Don't miss it!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.