Good Vibes As JJ Quinerly Fills Paige Bueckers' Shoes In Dallas Wings Victory

JJ Quinerly expressed a positive atmosphere after stepping up in the absence of Paige Bueckers. The Dallas Wings secured a 79-71 victory over the Washington Mystics without Bueckers, who missed the game due to a knee issue. This marked their first win without her this season. Bueckers had previously scored 27 points against the Indiana Fever, but Quinerly shone with a career-high 15 points in her first WNBA start.

The Dallas Wings have improved their performance, winning four of their last six games after starting the season with just one win in 12 matches. Despite being at the bottom of the Western Conference, they are only two games behind the Los Angeles Sparks. With a record of 5-11, they have outperformed teams like the Chicago Sky (4-11) and Connecticut Sun (2-14) from the Eastern Conference.

During a post-match press conference, Quinerly was asked about feedback from Bueckers. "She just said I had a good game. They're always hyping me up or hyping us up in general. So it was all good vibes all around," Quinerly shared. When asked about when she realised she was having a standout performance, she replied, "Right from the tip-off. This game is so fun for me, every moment I have out there on the court."

The Wings dominated early with a commanding 28-9 lead in the first quarter. Quinerly hopes to maintain this momentum against the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday. "I think we need to come out punching, just like we did tonight," she stated. "I'm not saying we have to take the lead, but we have to show them we're going to take a stand all game."

Quinerly emphasised that maintaining their aggressive approach is crucial for future success. She noted that taking an early stand was key to their recent win and stressed its importance for upcoming games as well.

The Dallas Wings are looking forward to building on their recent successes as they continue through the season. Their improved form has given them hope of climbing higher in the standings and challenging stronger teams.