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Paging Paige: Bueckers arrives but Ezi triumphs
Nneka Ogwumike #3 and Ezi Magbegor #13 of the Seattle Storm. Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Highlights
Nneka Ogwumike's 23-point double-double secures Storm's College Park Center victory
- Paige Bueckers has 19 points, five boards and eight assists in just her second game
- Australian Opals centre Ezi Magbegor rebounded from a tough first game to deliver seven points and eight rebounds
- Seattle start the season 1-1 after losing to Sami Whitcomb's Mercury in their first game
WNBA No1 draft pick Paige Bueckers has arrived — but it wasn't enough as Australian Opals centre Ezi Magbegor's Seattle Storm secured their first 79-71 win of the 2025 season against the Dallas Wings at the College Park Center, in Texas, on Tuesday May 20, 2025.
Bueckers, 23, was taken with the first pick in the 2025 draft by the Wings offered up a glimpse of her future, finishing with 19 points, five rebounds, eight assists, two steals and a block in 37 minutes in just her second WNBA game.
Storm star Nneka Ogwumike's notched a commanding double-double of 23 points and 19 rebounds while Magbegor contributed seven points, eight boards, five assists and a block. She rebounded from a tough shooting night in the first game of the Storm's season in a 81-59 loss to the Phoenix Mercury.
Key Details
- Result: Seattle Storm 79 def. Dallas Wings 71
- When: 19th May 2025
- Where: College Park Center, Dallas
- Standings: Seattle Storm (#5) | Dallas Wings (#11)
By the Numbers
- Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle) starred with 23 points, 19 rebounds, three assists and two steals in 35 minutes.
- Paige Bueckers (Dallas) scored 19 points, and had six rebounds, eight assists, two steals and one block in 37 minutes.
What Happened
The Storm established control early, taking a commanding 56-41 lead at halftime behind Skylar Diggins-Smith's 15 first-half points and Ogwumike's dominant presence on the glass. However, Dallas flipped the script in the third quarter, outscoring Seattle 20-10 to cut the deficit to just five points heading into the final frame.
Ogwumike delivered an exceptional performance, recording 23 points on efficient 10-from-21 shooting while pulling down an impressive 19 rebounds. Her presence in the paint was instrumental as she collected 17 defensive boards, limiting Dallas to single-shot possessions.
Australian centre Ezi Magbegor contributed across the stat sheet with seven points, eight rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block.
Seattle's balanced offensive attack proved decisive, with four players scoring in double figures. The Storm shot 41.4 percent from the field compared to Dallas' 37 percent and were particularly effective from beyond the arc, connecting on nine three-pointers at 60 percent efficiency versus Dallas' dismal four-from-19 (21.1 percent) performance from deep.
Despite the loss, Dallas displayed dominance on the boards, out-rebounding Seattle 44-37, including 13 offensive rebounds that led to second-chance opportunities. Teaira McCowan was particularly effective off the Wings' bench, contributing 10 points and nine rebounds in just 15 minutes. Rookie Paige Bueckers led Dallas with 19 points and eight assists but committed three turnovers against the Storm's pressure defense.
