Heading into tipoff Monday night, Seattle Storm head coach Sonia Raman knew exactly who the problem was.

“That trio, they’re just really great scorers, right? They’re professional scorers,” Raman said of Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale and Azzi Fudd.

By the time the final buzzer sounded, the Dallas Wings had demonstrated they can win games even when those scorers aren’t running the show.

Dallas opened Commissioner’s Cup play with a 79-56 win over Seattle at College Park Center on Monday, doing so with stellar defense, rebounding and bench production that led to the fifth-largest home win in franchise history.

The Wings improved to 6-3 on the season despite making just 29-of-81 shots from the field. Dallas struggled to find its footing on offense all night — unable to replicate the efficient shooting that powered much of its recent stretch — but that wound up becoming far less important than the team’s ability to stop Seattle from capitalizing.

Dallas held Seattle scoreless for over four minutes to begin both the first and third quarters, and never allowed the Storm to score 20 points in any quarter.

Seattle came into the game hoping to stifle Dallas offense. Doing so, Raman thought, would start with physicality.

“Our challenge is for us to be physical, make sure that they see bodies,” Raman said pregame. “We have players in gaps and then just elite communication.”

Seattle lived up to that challenge for stretches. Dallas struggled to make shots it typically makes and finished the game shooting just 35.8 percent from the floor.

What Seattle couldn’t overcome was Dallas’ defensive tenacity.

“I thought we kept them in front of us,” Wings head coach Jose Fernandez said. “We made them take contested shots.”

That allowed Fernandez to trust the defense, knowing Seattle would have a difficult time converting.

The result was one of Dallas’ best defensive showings of the season. Seattle finished with just 56 points on the game as Dallas controlled the rebounding battle, took away driving lanes and successfully forced tough jump shots.

Maddy Siegrist said Dallas knew early this would not be one of those nights.

“I think some days you just don’t shoot the ball well,” Siegrist said. “I think it was one of those days for us. But being able to defend and hold a team in this league to 56 points, I think that’s something we should hang our hats on.”

Dallas compensated for poor shooting by grabbing 18 offensive rebounds, creating extra possessions and wearing down Seattle’s defense.

“We’re always trying to crash the boards and get extra possessions,” Siegrist said. “I thought we did a good job of that tonight with 18 offensive rebounds.”

Fernandez attributed those rebounds to effort.

“Good position, wanting to go get second opportunities for your team,” Fernandez said.

Dallas also got a major spark from the bench, particularly rookie guard Aziaha James.

James finished with 18 points and attacked the basket throughout the game, doing plenty of damage around the rim and helping Dallas build leads in the second half.

“My three has been off lately, so attacking downhill will always be my strong suit,” James said. “So just keep going, trying to get to the goal.”

Fernandez noted how that aggressiveness is a testament to how far James has come since the start of the season.

“She attacked the rim and she got to her spots,” Fernandez said. “We’ve had conversations with Aziaha about rebounding opportunities, extra passes and not settling for stuff. I thought she came in, she was aggressive and did a good job.”

Her impact stretched beyond scoring, as Fernandez noted James’ improvement defensively as well.

“Everyone has seen her improvement on the defensive end,” Fernandez said. “She’s been disruptive all year with ball pressure and guarding bigger guards and getting over screens.”

Going to the rim helped James score, but she said the second unit’s focus is simple.

“When we get in the game, we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do and help the starting five keep carrying that energy,” James said.

Seattle entered the game still searching for an identity. Its young roster has already formed one, Storm guard Zia Cooke said pregame.

“No matter win, lose or draw, we’re going to stick together, and that’s something that’s never going to change,” Cooke said.

Raman agreed.

“There’s a selflessness with this group,” Raman said. “They’re very quick to celebrate each other. They feed off each other’s energy.”

The Storm showed moments of that cohesion Monday night, but Dallas refused to let Seattle build any extended runs.

For Dallas, Monday was further evidence that this team can win in a variety of ways.

“To play like we did and to win against a good team, we found a way because it wasn’t our best offensive basketball,” Fernandez said.

On a night when shots weren’t falling, the Wings leaned on defense, rebounding and effort.

It was more than enough.