Sunday night’s WNBA action promises fireworks as the Dallas Wings host the Connecticut Sun for their third and final regular-season clash of 2026. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, and all eyes are on whether Dallas can complete a season sweep and extend their impressive winning streak before the league pauses for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
The Wings enter this matchup riding high on a three-game winning streak, having dispatched the Portland Fire earlier in the week. With a 23-16 record, Dallas currently holds the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference but has already clinched a playoff berth—a remarkable turnaround after missing the postseason for two straight years. In contrast, the Sun are enduring a tough campaign, sitting with just 10 wins and a dismal 3-16 road record. Connecticut’s most recent outing ended in a lopsided 111-91 defeat to the Indiana Fever, underlining their struggles on the road where they’ve been outscored by an average of 18 points per game in their last four away contests.
Oddsmakers have made Dallas a heavy favorite, with the spread hovering between -13.5 and -15.5 points depending on the sportsbook. The Wings have covered the spread in four of their last five meetings against the Sun, including a dominant 20-point win in their previous encounter. For bettors, the over/under is set at 165.5, but both teams have trended toward the under recently, each hitting it in seven of their last ten games. The Sun’s offensive woes are well documented—they average a league-low 79.2 points per game and shoot just 29.2% from beyond the arc, ranking last in the WNBA. Their 51.3% true shooting percentage is also a league-worst, and they’ve dropped six of their last eight games, three by double digits.
Dallas, meanwhile, boasts the sixth-best offensive rating in the league at 112.1 and is particularly dangerous from mid-range, converting 42.9% of those attempts (third best). Their defense at home has been stifling, ranking second in the league with a 101.1 defensive rating. The Wings have also outscored opponents by 15.3 points per game during their current home stand, and their 13-6 home record reflects their comfort in Arlington.
Rebounding could play a pivotal role in this contest. Awak Kuier has emerged as a force on the boards for the Wings, averaging 8.5 rebounds over her last four games and securing at least seven in each. During the current home stand, Kuier has been even more impressive, pulling down nine rebounds per game across 32 minutes. With Connecticut’s Olivia Nelson-Ododa listed as questionable and Brittney Griner ruled out, Kuier should face little resistance on the glass. The Sun have the 10th-ranked rebound percentage over the last ten games (48.6%) and surrender the third-most rebounds per game (36.1), setting up a favorable matchup for Dallas’ frontcourt.
Jessica Shepard, another key piece for Dallas, ranks second in the league in rebounds per game with 11.1, trailing only Atlanta’s Angel Reese. Shepard has grabbed at least 11 boards in three of her last seven outings and dominates the defensive glass, collecting 25.7% of available defensive rebounds—good for the 99th percentile. With the Wings averaging 34.1 rebounds per game (fifth in the league) compared to the Sun’s 32.6 (11th), Dallas holds a clear edge in the paint.
The Wings’ offensive engine is none other than Paige Bueckers, who’s been on a tear as of late. The former UConn star is averaging 23.1 points over her last seven games, shooting a blistering 51.3% from the field and 41.2% from deep. Bueckers has scored at least 22 points in six of those games, and she’s thrived as a primary ball-handler, spending nearly 38% of her time on the ball and racking up 12.6 unassisted points per 100 possessions. Her short mid-range game has been particularly lethal, converting 55.8% of those attempts. Bueckers is also a threat from beyond the arc, especially at home where she shoots 45% and averages two made threes per game. In the last matchup against Connecticut, she hit two triples, and with the Sun allowing opponents to shoot 35.7% from three (second-worst in the league), she’s poised for another strong night.
“Bueckers has been on a hot streak for the Wings as of late, and they need it with No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd done for the season,” reported Sports Illustrated Betting. “Over her last seven games, Bueckers is averaging 23.1 points on 17.0 shots per game, shooting 51.3 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from 3.”
Injuries are a significant storyline for both teams. The Sun will be without Brittney Griner (knee) and could also miss Olivia Nelson-Ododa (knee), while the Wings are missing Kitija Laksa (personal reasons) and Azzi Fudd (season-ending injury). These absences have forced both teams to adjust rotations, with Aaliyah Edwards expected to play a larger role for Connecticut. Edwards has been a rare bright spot, scoring at least 13 points in three of her last five games and shooting 57.7% in that span. Her 23.2% usage rate (81st percentile) underscores her importance in the Sun’s offense, especially with Griner sidelined.
Discipline could also tip the scales. The Sun commit a league-high 22.5 personal fouls per game, potentially putting Dallas at the line more frequently. On the flip side, Dallas is one of the league’s most careful teams with the basketball, averaging just 11 turnovers per game (second fewest in the WNBA).
With playoff positioning on the line and a chance to build momentum before the World Cup break, Dallas looks poised to capitalize on Connecticut’s struggles. The Wings have dominated this matchup recently—winning four of the last five meetings and covering the spread in their August 2 showdown. Still, nothing is guaranteed in sports, and Connecticut will be eager to snap their losing streak and salvage some pride in the season series.
Fans can catch the action on KFAA-TV, NBC Sports Boston, and WNBA League Pass. As the Wings seek to close out August with a statement win and the Sun look to play spoiler, all the ingredients are in place for a compelling night of basketball in Arlington. The stage is set, the stakes are high, and the WNBA’s stars are ready to shine.