1st WNBA game in Austin sells out Moody Center, Wings thump defending champs Aces

TL;DR

The Dallas Wings defeated the Las Vegas Aces 101-84 in a sold-out preseason game at Moody Center in Austin, marking the WNBA's first game in the city. Aziaha James led the Wings with 18 points as they showcased strong performance against the defending champions.

Key points

Dallas Wings defeated Las Vegas Aces 101-84
First WNBA game held in Austin
10,179 fans attended the sold-out event
Aziaha James scored 18 points for the Wings
Wings' season opener is May 9 against Indiana Fever

Mentioned in this story

Austin

Dallas WingsLas Vegas AcesWNBA

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Dallas upended defending WNBA champion Las Vegas 101-84 in a preseason game at a sold-out Moody Center on Sunday in Austin, the first time the league has held a game in the Texas capital. The Wings jumped out to a 35-20 lead after the first quarter, and they outrebounded the Aces 35-25. Aziaha James led Dallas with 18 points on 6-for-13 shooting, while reigning WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson was 5-for-9 from the field with 19 points for the Aces. WNBA’s Dallas Wings name Jose Fernandez as new coach

Dallas Wings forward Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, center, is pressured by Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray, left, and forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (32) as she looks to shoot during the second half of a WNBA preseason basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Dallas Wings forward Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, center, is pressured by Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray, left, and forward (32) as she looks to shoot during the second half of a WNBA preseason basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Five Dallas players scored in double figures, including rookie Azzi Fudd with 12 points on 4-for-10 shooting. It was the former UConn star’s first time playing in Austin, and even running on the Longhorn logo clad in burnt orange, she said she enjoyed the experience in front of 10,179 fans. “I thought the arena was amazing and the crowd was great,” she said. “There was a lot of energy, and the fans made it a fun environment to be in.” chipped in six points and five rebounds, and she said selling out an arena away from home in the preseason was “awesome.” “It just shows the growth of the W(NBA) and the excitement around the Wings this year,” she said. The Wings play their home games in Arlington at the 7,000-seat College Park Center, home of the UT Arlington Mavericks. The average attendance for WNBA regular season games last season was 11,148 fans per game, a record for the league, so packing in more than 10,000 fans for a preseason game is definitely a victory for the league. It could also be one for Longhorns legend Kevin Durant, . “We’ve always had major support here in Austin for women’s basketball,” he told reporters in 2025. “This city is prime for basketball, but especially women’s basketball at the highest level. I don’t think we’ll stop trying to bring that here to Austin.” Moody Center can accommodate up to 15,000 fans when the upper-level seats are utilized, like they are for the I-35 Series games with the San Antonio Spurs. scored 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting, and had 14 points for the Wings. scored 16 points and Chelsea Gray had 10 for the Aces. Dallas takes on and the in the season opener May 9 in Indianapolis. The Wings’ home opener is May 12 against . *Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.*

Q&A

What was the score of the Dallas Wings vs Las Vegas Aces preseason game?

The Dallas Wings won the game 101-84 against the Las Vegas Aces.

Who led the Dallas Wings in scoring during the preseason game?

Aziaha James led the Dallas Wings with 18 points in the game.

How many fans attended the first WNBA game in Austin?

The game was attended by 10,179 fans at the Moody Center in Austin.

When is the Dallas Wings' season opener?

The Dallas Wings' season opener is on May 9 against the Indiana Fever in Indianapolis.