Liberty Seek to Halt Wings' 5-Game Run as Dallas Chases Season Sweep

Q: Are rookies Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers about to sweep the defending champions?

Yes — Dallas is on the brink of sweeping the defending champion New York Liberty, but the question is slightly off because Paige Bueckers is not a rookie. The Wings have already beaten the Liberty twice this season, including a win just days ago, so a victory tonight at College Park Center would complete the season sweep. New York is the defending champion after winning the 2025 title, but it enters this game in poor form, having lost seven of its last nine despite the star power of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones. Dallas looks well-positioned to do it. Bueckers, now in her second WNBA season after winning Rookie of the Year in 2025, is averaging about 20.6 points and 6 assists. Rookie Azzi Fudd has become a major factor, giving Dallas another perimeter scorer and recently posting a career-high 24 points against New York. Along with Arike Ogunbowale, they have powered a five-game winning streak and helped make the Wings one of the league’s hottest teams. That said, a sweep is far from certain. The Liberty are still dangerous, Stewart remains one of the league’s most reliable stars at 20.4 points per game, and betting markets slightly favor New York to respond with urgency and avoid a third loss to Dallas. So the short answer is: yes, the Wings are about to try for a sweep of the defending champions, led by rookie Fudd and sophomore Bueckers.

2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 16

Five straight Dallas wins have turned the Wings into one of the WNBA's hottest teams heading into Thursday's matchup with New York.
Dallas enters at 16-8 and already beat the Liberty twice this season, putting the Wings one win from a season sweep.
New York has flashed title-level talent but is just 2-7 in its last nine games outside its Commissioner's Cup triumph.
Breanna Stewart is still producing 20.4 points per game, while Sabrina Ionescu has shown signs of regaining form for a Liberty team seeking momentum.
The game pits a surging Dallas club led by Paige Bueckers and improving No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd against a preseason favorite still trying to stabilize.