Introduction to the Dallas Wings
The Dallas Wings have played in two close games this week, and on Friday found themselves on the wrong side of a nailbiter. The Wings lost their 25th game of the season as the Los Angeles Sparks (16-17) claimed a 97-96 victory and an 0-2 series lead at College Park Center. LA won despite a 29-point performance from rookie phenom Paige Bueckers and a ferocious comeback that saw the team, which trailed by 12 entering the fourth, come within one with 15.1 seconds to go on the game clock. Bueckers’ three-point try as time expired fell short.
The Game Against the Sparks
“We just took pride on the defensive end. We made things difficult for them,” Bueckers said on the late fourth quarter run. “We were playing really connected and it was really our defense that changed the momentum.” Her 29 points on 12-of-21 shooting was a game high and forward Maddy Siegrist scored 15 points. Dallas (9-25) shot 50.7 % from the floor in the team’s second consecutive game without veteran star Arike Ogunbowale, who has been out with a right knee injury. But the Sparks outrebounded the Wings 39-28 and forced 15 Dallas turnovers. LA went to the free-throw line 25 times.
Analysis of the Game
“That was a difference in the game. It was the battle of the boards and them putting them to the free-throw line 25 times,” Wings coach Chris Koclanes said. “It’s a game of possessions and you want those possessions back, so just goes to show we still have areas to grow.” When Dallas last played Los Angeles in June, Bueckers was under concussion protocol and sat out the 14-point loss that featured four Wings team members who are no longer with the organization. Since then, Dallas has added size and young talent to the roster, which has shown flashes of potential but has not mastered putting a full 40 minutes together.
Performance of Key Players
Bueckers showed out in her first game against the Sparks, claiming the franchise rookie season record for assists with 143 and achieving 500 career points, but Dallas could not keep up with LA in the early part of the second half and could not contain guard Kelsey Plum, who finished with a team-high 28 points on 9-of-17 shooting. “She’s a tough player to contain. We’ll get two more cracks at her here in the next week,” Koclanes said. The Wings trailed the Sparks 53-50 at halftime, but Los Angeles started the third quarter on a 13-4 run. Bueckers, who also had four rebounds and five assists, ended the run at the 5:51 mark of the third, but the Wings entered the fourth down 12. Los Angeles outscored Dallas 27-18 in the third before the Wings began their fourth quarter comeback.
Recent Games
Defense has been a point of emphasis for the team, which on Tuesday edged the Indiana Fever 81-80 on the road. While the Wings matched their win total from the 2024 season with the victory, they almost surrendered the game as the Fever went on a 19-3 run to close it. They held on Tuesday, but defensive lapses against the Sparks on Friday got in the way of the Wings achieving two close wins in a row.
The Wings led by 17 points with 6:38 to go in the game, but still had to survive a late run from Indiana.
Challenges for the Team
“We’ve got to find ways to continue to take care of the ball and put ourselves in a position to not have to fight and claw back,” Koclanes said. “We’ve got to continue to put 40 minutes together.”
Dallas’ nightmare 2025 season continued as the Wings squandered an 11-point halftime lead vs. Washington.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Dallas Wings have shown flashes of potential, but their inability to put a full 40 minutes together has hindered their success. With a young and talented roster, the team has the potential to turn their season around, but it will require a focus on defense and taking care of the ball. The Wings will look to bounce back from their tough loss to the Sparks and make a push for the playoffs in the coming weeks. Find more Wings coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
FAQs
Q: What was the final score of the game between the Dallas Wings and the Los Angeles Sparks?
A: The Los Angeles Sparks won the game 97-96.
Q: Who was the leading scorer for the Dallas Wings in the game?
A: Paige Bueckers was the leading scorer for the Dallas Wings with 29 points.
Q: What is the current record for the Dallas Wings?
A: The Dallas Wings currently have a record of 9-25.
Q: Who is the veteran star that has been out with a right knee injury?
A: Arike Ogunbowale is the veteran star that has been out with a right knee injury.
Q: What is the franchise rookie season record for assists that Paige Bueckers claimed?
A: Paige Bueckers claimed the franchise rookie season record for assists with 143.
