Wings secure victory over Liberty in Ionescu’s season debut
Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd combine for 48 points to overcome the return of Sabrina Ionescu, who missed five games with injury.
The Dallas Wings defeated the New York Liberty 91-76 on Sunday, securing a decisive victory that improved their season record to 4-3. The match served as the long-awaited season debut for Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, who had been sidelined for the first five games of the WNBA campaign due to a foot injury sustained during a preseason contest against Connecticut.
Despite Ionescu’s return, Dallas controlled the pivotal third quarter, outscoring New York to build an insurmountable lead. The Wings entered the period trailing by just one point but utilised a barrage of seven three-pointers to surge ahead. Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 pick in the April WNBA draft, led this offensive surge, contributing 17 of her season-high 24 points in the quarter alone.
Fudd’s performance included a critical stretch where she made five consecutive three-point attempts after missing her first of the period. Her efforts, including a bank shot that extended the lead to 66-53 with 3:15 remaining in the third, proved instrumental. Paige Bueckers also played a central role for Dallas, finishing with 24 points to anchor the victory.
For New York, Satou Sabally led the scoring with 20 points in her second game back for the Liberty. Sabally is recovering from a concussion suffered during the WNBA Finals last season while playing for Phoenix. Ionescu finished with 11 points, seven assists, and five rebounds, with her final points coming from a deep three-pointer with 5:11 left in the first half.
The Liberty’s record remained at 3-3 following the defeat. The team continues to be without Betnijah Laney-Hamilton for personal reasons. Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale added 19 points to support the win, while New York prepares to host Portland in the second game of a back-to-back schedule on Monday.
