​Rewriting the provided sports recap into a fresh, natural narrative that preserves the essential facts while avoiding direct wording from the original text:
Frisco, Texas (AP) – Paige Bueckers produced a 22-point, 11-assist performance, and Jessica Shepard contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds as the Dallas Wings defeated the Chicago Sky 96-91 on Sunday. The Wings improved to 16-8 with their season-best five-game winning streak, their longest since a five-game run in 2023.
Arike Ogunbowale added 17 points and Azzi Fudd chipped in 16 for Dallas. Li Yueru led Chicago with 10 points and matched a season high with 10 rebounds, helping slow Kamilla Cardoso after a hot start for the Sky. Cardoso finished 6-for-12 from the floor with 12 points and 13 rebounds overall. Early in the game, Cardoso was productive, scoring five boards and six points in the first five minutes before Yueru came off the bench to help clamp down Chicago’s frontcourt.
The pivotal stretch came late as Fudd knocked down a shot from beyond the arc just before the shot clock expired and then blocked a shot on the next possession. Shepard followed with a layup that gave Dallas the lead for good with 3:07 remaining. Ogunbowale added a late layup with 42 seconds left to cap a 15-5 run and push the Wings ahead 94-89.
Sydney Taylor led Chicago with 20 points, while Azura Stevens posted 18 points and a season-high 13 rebounds, and Natasha Cloud contributed 15. Dallas also suffered an injury scare when Alanna Smith exited the game in the first half with a left leg injury and did not return.
Chicago’s Sky also faced lineup challenges as Skylar Diggins-Smith sat out her third straight game with a knee injury. The six-time All-WNBA pick, who signed a two-year deal with the Sky in April, revealed on Instagram on Monday that she had been informed she would come off the bench. Diggins-Smith had started the last 277 regular-season games she played, dating back to 2016 with Dallas, including Tuesday’s 77-66 win at Phoenix, though she wasn’t listed on the injury report until 90 minutes before tipoff.
The Sky will host Seattle on Wednesday, while the Wings welcome New York on Thursday.
AP WNBA: More coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball.