In a dramatic Women’s National Basketball Association encounter, the Dallas Wings suffered a narrow 87-86 defeat against the Phoenix Mercury, a game that saw Latvian national team player Kitija Laksa held scoreless for her second outing.
Game Flow and Final-Quarter Collapse
While that advantage narrowed to four points by halftime at 47-43, Dallas maintained a 68-61 edge heading into the final period. However, the Phoenix Mercury mounted a decisive comeback in the fourth quarter, outscoring their opponents 26-18 to snatch an 87-86 victory.
Laksa’s Struggles Against Her Former Club
For Laksa, the matchup carried added significance against her former club, the Phoenix Mercury. Logging just over nine minutes of playing time, Kitija Laksa failed to score, missing all four of her field goal attempts, including two misses from beyond the arc. Her stat line also included one rebound, one turnover, one personal foul, and a minus-one plus-minus rating, following a similar scoreless performance in Seattle.
Statistical Contrasts Decide the Outcome
Despite dominating the glass with 54 total rebounds compared to Phoenix’s 39, and shooting 43.5 percent from three-point range by converting 10 of 23 attempts, Dallas could not overcome a disparity at the free-throw line. The Mercury capitalized on their trips to the charity stripe, making 26 of 30 free throws, while the Wings converted only 14 of 21 attempts—a discrepancy that ultimately decided the one-point margin.
Standout Performers
Paige Bueckers led the Dallas offense with 30 points on 12-of-22 shooting, adding seven assists. Teammate Jessica Shepard contributed 17 points, 19 rebounds, and six assists. For the victorious Mercury, Kahleja Cooper paced all scorers with 31 points by hitting 10 of 17 shots, while teammate Alyssa Thomas orchestrated a triple-double performance featuring 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists.
Next Steps
The Dallas Wings will look to regroup in their upcoming fixtures on the WNBA calendar, while Kitija Laksa seeks to rediscover her shooting touch. Fans and analysts can follow official team updates and league schedules via the WNBA official website for the latest standings and broadcast information.
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