Wings beat Storm 103-91 to close season as No. 7 seed

The Dallas Wings beat the Seattle Storm 103-91 on Wednesday, September 23, to close the regular season with a win and secure the No. 7 seed in the WNBA playoffs. Paige Bueckers scored 25 points, and Jessica Shepard recorded 20 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists for Dallas, which finished 27-16. Dallas’s playoff position was settled earlier Wednesday when the Atlanta Dream defeated the New York Liberty 83-65. The Wings were therefore the seventh seed regardless of the result against Seattle, and are set to face the Golden State Valkyries in the first round. The playoffs were reported to begin Saturday, September 26. Shepard’s performance was her sixth triple-double of the season, according to the game coverage. Arike Ogunbowale added 23 points and six assists for Dallas. Dominique Malonga led Seattle with 29 points and eight rebounds, while Awa Fam scored a season-high 22 and Flau’jae Johnson had 21. Dallas built a 29-10 lead in the opening quarter and was ahead 90-71 with 6:55 remaining. Seattle cut the margin to six with a 17-4 run, but three-pointers by Awak Kuier and Bueckers on consecutive Dallas possessions helped the Wings pull away.