JJ Quinerly said it was "good vibes all around" after she stepped up in the absence of number one draft pick Paige Bueckers on Saturday.

The Dallas Wings were victorious without Bueckers in their lineup for the first time this season, as a knee issue caused her to miss a 79-71 home win over the Washington Mystics.

Bueckers had registered 27 points, six assists, two steals and two blocks in a loss to the Indiana Fever just one day earlier, but in her absence, Quinerly had a career-high 15 points on her first WNBA start.

Dallas have now won four of their last six games after beginning the season with one victory in 12. 

They are still bottom of the Western Conference but are only two games behind the Los Angeles Sparks. 

At 5-11, they have better records than the Chicago Sky (4-11) and Connecticut Sun (2-14) from the Eastern Conference.

Speaking to reporters at the post-match press conference, Quinerly was asked if she had received any feedback from Bueckers following the game.

"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 said.

Asked when she knew she was enjoying a breakout performance, the rookie replied: "Right from the tip-off. This game is so fun for me, every moment I have out there on the court."

 

 

 

 

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The Wings were comfortable after taking a 28-9 first-quarter lead, and Quinerly wants more of the same when they return to action against the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday.

"I think we need to come out punching, just like we did tonight," she said. "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.

"That was a big part of us winning tonight, and then we've just got to carry that on into all the other games coming up."