Wings’ win vs. Mercury marks end of an era at College Park Center

ARLINGTON — The Dallas Wings have two more regular season games remaining and a playoff run ahead, but Saturday afternoon at College Park Center marked the end of an era.

As the Wings beat the Phoenix Mercury 87-82, they played their 181st and final regular-season home game at the venue located on UT-Arlington’s campus. The franchise, which has partnered with College Park Center since relocating to North Texas ahead of the 2016 WNBA season, will play all 2027 home games at American Airlines Center.

The announcement early last month of the finalized deal with AAC was the latest development in what has been a long effort by the Wings to move downtown from College Park Center, where the team has also practiced since 2016.

“To have the City of Arlington backing us – they were our sixth man,” star guard Paige Bueckers said postgame. “They won us plenty of games just being there and being loud and having our back.”

Tributes to Arlington and College Park Center filled the afternoon. The Wings (26–16) also took care of business, improving to 2–0 in their series against the Mercury, who they will play again Monday in Phoenix. Dallas previously beat the Mercury 85-70 in June.

Dallas won its sixth straight game and improved to 16-6 at home behind a standout performance from Bueckers. The second-year phenom scored a game-high 26 points on 10-of-19 shooting. She was 5-of-9 from the 3-point line and recorded four rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block.

She scored 20 points in the first half, capped by a 3 with a second left on the clock. It was the guard’s 24th 20-point game of the year — fourth most in the WNBA this season.

Wings coach Jose Fernandez said postgame Bueckers is “more than deserving” for MVP and All-WNBA first team consideration.

Bueckers went 3-of-4 from beyond the arc in the second quarter, marking the third time this season she has made three or more 3s in a quarter. It was also a big second quarter for the team, which scored 37 points — the highest-scoring quarter in Wings history.

Dallas, which led Phoenix 56-49 at halftime, did not have as productive a second half, in part due to defensive lapses. Phoenix outscored the Wings 33-31 in the third and fourth quarters and even came within one late in the game. Big shots from Bueckers and veteran guard Arike Ogunbowale held off that rally.

Ogunbowale scored 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting. She also recorded two rebounds, six assists, a steal and a block.

Dallas, which entered Saturday’s contest in eighth place, clinched the WNBA’s final playoff spot late last month, but it still has the opportunity to improve its seeding with two games left in the regular season. The goal is to win out.

“I think they know the importance of these final two games,” Fernandez said.

The fourth-place Atlanta Dream and the fifth-place Indiana Fever are only one game ahead of Dallas. The New York Liberty, which the Wings won their series against, and the Washington Mystics, which won its series against Dallas, are both 25-16 and play their next games on Sunday.

While players are aware their seeding can improve, 26 wins and counting after a 10-34 finish in 2025 might be more top of mind.

“The fans have stuck with us through good seasons, bad seasons – more bad seasons than good seasons,” Ogunbowale said. “Glad that it’s finally turned around and they have something to come and cheer for.”