WNBA Rookie of the Year candidates face off as Lynx hold off the Wings
The third time was not a charm for the Dallas Wings Sunday afternoon against the Minnesota Lynx.
Despite a second-half surge, the Wings still couldn’t figure out the Lynx, losing 85-77 at College Park Center in Arlington. It was the Wings third loss to Minnesota this season.
Guard Azzi Fudd continued her Rookie of the Year campaign against the Lynx and got off to a slow start. The number one pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft had 21 points against the Lynx in the loss.
“I would say that there were a lot of possessions that I could have done a lot better tonight. Trying to slow down, trying to read and listen, listen to our bigs, what coverage we’re calling,” Fudd said. “There’s a lot of games where we haven’t started great scoring wise and that kind of plays over into our defense, and then we come in the second half down a little bit.”
Fudd has had a successful rookie season so far and has been a big contributor for the Wings. Fudd started the season off the bench for the Wings but quickly earned a starting role just after six games of her WNBA career and is averaging 13.2 points on the season. She has helped Dallas to an 11-8 start on the year.
Wings guard Paige Bueckers contributed 25 points, but it wasn’t enough for the Wings.
Former TCU guard Olivia Miles had 21 points and nine assists against the Wings. Miles has taken the WNBA by storm and has inserted herself as the leading rookie of the year candidate. Miles was the second overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft and is currently the favorite to win the award.
Miles has helped lead the Lynx to a WNBA best record of 15-4.
TCU women’s basketball coach Mark Campbell was in attendance with his team and participated in a T-shirt toss during the second quarter of the game. Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry was also in attendance, sitting courtside next to the Lynx bench.
The Wings will hope to bounce back as they begin a four-game road trip at 7 p.m. Thursday against the Connecticut Sun.
