Paige Bueckers’ big night not enough for first WNBA victory as Wings fall to Storm

ARLINGTON, Texas — Dallas rookie and former UConn star Paige Bueckers scored 19 points and distributed eight assists in her second WNBA game, but was unable to lead the Wings to its first win of the WNBA season.

Nneka Ogwumike scored 23 points and grabbed 19 rebounds to help Seattle hold off Dallas in the second half to beat the Wings 79-71 on Monday night.

Skylar Diggins finished with 21 points and nine assists for the Storm.

Paige Bueckers drives to the basket during the Wings’ loss to the Storm. NBAE via Getty Images

Gabby Williams scored 17 points for Seattle (1-1) which as a team distributed 25 assists on 29-made baskets.

NaLyssa Smith and reserve Maddy Siegrist scored 12 points apiece and reserve Teaira McCowan 10 for the Wings. Arike Ogunbowale struggled from the field shooting 2 for 14 and scoring eight points.

Dallas (0-2) made just 4 of 19 3-point attempts, with Bueckers going 1-for-2.

Despite falling behind by 17 points in the first half to hot shooting Seattle and trailing 56-41 at the break, Dallas rallied and drew within 64-61 with 46 seconds left in the third on basket by McCowan but it never got closer.

Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (3) shoots over Dallas Wings forward Maddy Siegrist (20) during the second half. Imagn Images

The Storm finished 9-for-11 shooting (81.8%) from 3-point range before halftime and were 18-for-36 shooting overall.

Seattle finished 29 for 70 (41.4%) for the game. Dallas shot 37 percent from the field, including 4-for-19 (21.1%) from beyond the arc.

After Dallas posted a 26-25 lead after the first quarter, Diggins buried a 24-foot 3 to break a 30-all tie with 7:28 before halftime and the Storm led for the remainder.

The basket ignited a 14-4 run and Seattle recorded its first double-digit lead at 44-34.

Williams’ 3 with 1:23 left before the break made it 54-37.