Lynx win season opener against Paige Bueckers, Dallas

ARLINGTON Texas AP Napheesa Collier scored points spoiling the WNBA debut of fellow UConn alum Paige Bueckers and leading the Minnesota Lynx to a - preeminence over the Dallas Wings in the season opener for both teams Friday night Bueckers scored the first points of the season for the Wings and the No overall pick in this year s draft finished with in front of communicated sellout at the -seat arena on the campus of Texas-Arlington Collier started a - run midway through the third quarter with a bucket in close and finished it with a free throw for a - lead for the Lynx who lost to the New York Liberty in the WNBA Finals last year Courtney Williams had points and nine assists and Jessica Shepard had points and eight rebounds for Minnesota All-Star guard Arike Ogunbowale led Dallas with points DiJonai Carrington acquired from the Connecticut Sun in an offseason business as part of a roster overhaul after the Wings missed the playoffs in added points Bueckers opened the scoring when she drove the lane after a nifty crossover move missed the runner grabbed the rebound and hit the putback Her first assist came on a -pointer by Carrington that put Dallas up - in the second half A foul-filled first half included one on Bueckers when she got stuck playing post defense against Collier Before Collier made both free throws after a timeout she and Bueckers had a friendly chat at the line The teams combined for free throws before halftime when the challenge was tied at after Ogunbowale made two free throws with four seconds left and Carrington stole the inbound pass before feeding Maddy Siegrist for a layup with seconds remaining Bueckers missed both of her -point attempts and was of shooting with seven rebounds and two assists Related Articles As WNBA popularity soars athlete salaries remain a big hurdle for the league to address WNBA set to tipoff season with host of teams looking to challenge for title including Clark s Fever WNBA set for new season with Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese leading the way Frederick Can the Lynx be the Spurs If so look out Sky beat Lynx in Minnesota s first exhibition match