‘We’re Not Going to Stand Down’: Dallas Wings Rally Late but Fall to Las Vegas Aces as A’ja Wilson Dominates

The Dallas Wings clawed their way back from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter on Wednesday night but couldn’t overcome the brilliance of A’ja Wilson, falling 90–86 to the Las Vegas Aces at College Park Center.

The loss sends the Wings (6–17) into the All-Star break on a three-game skid, while the Aces (11–11) evened their record behind a season-best performance from Wilson, who poured in 37 points on 15-of-25 shooting and added 10 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season.

First-Half Fight Before Third-Quarter Collapse

Dallas opened the night with a balanced start, as all five starters scored in the opening quarter. Arike Ogunbowale and Paige Bueckers each had six points, and Luisa Geiselsöder added early interior presence to help the Wings to a 22–22 tie after one. Wilson countered with eight points and four rebounds to lead Las Vegas.

Geiselsöder carried the offense in the second quarter, scoring 14 points in the first half — a career high — on 6-of-8 shooting. Despite her efforts, the Aces maintained control behind 20 first-half points from Wilson. Las Vegas outscored Dallas 25–19 in the second to take a 47–41 lead into halftime.

Things unraveled quickly in the third.

The Aces opened the period on an 18–2 run, including 12 unanswered points, to take a 70–48 lead. Dallas went scoreless for over three minutes during the stretch and managed just 11 points in the frame, their lowest-scoring third quarter of the season.

Las Vegas outscored the Wings 25–11 in the period as Wilson added nine more points and Aaliyah Nye hit a pair of threes. Dallas shot just 20% in the quarter (4-of-20) and turned the ball over six times.

Wings Rally in the Fourth, but Fall Short

Down 72–52 entering the fourth, the Wings mounted a furious comeback. Dallas opened the final quarter on an 11–1 run, forcing a Las Vegas timeout. The Wings hit three straight threes, including a deep ball from Bueckers that trimmed the deficit to 73–61.

Later, a quick sequence that included a Jones layup, Ogunbowale three, and Bueckers’ assist brought Dallas within 86–82. Bueckers then drilled a baseline jumper with 26.5 seconds left to cut it to two.

But Wilson answered with a layup and drew a foul, pushing the lead back to four. Chelsea Gray iced the game at the free-throw line with 8.4 seconds remaining.

Dallas shot 58.3% from the floor in the fourth (14-of-24) and scored 34 points in the final 10 minutes — but the deficit proved too large.

“We Just Showed a Fight”: Paige Bueckers Reflects on Late Push

Despite the loss, Bueckers said she was proud of the team’s fourth-quarter response and the way they stuck together through adversity. She emphasized how the group’s energy and execution improved dramatically late in the game, particularly when it came to sharing the ball and creating quality looks.

“Of course, just the effort — the intensity we played with, the way we pushed the pace, got into the paint and created from there,” Bueckers told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “A lot of cuts, a lot of nail kick threes. We just showed a fight. We were down 20 at the end of the third, so just to not give up and push it — we cut it to, I think, four at one point.”

She finished with 20 points, eight assists, three rebounds and two steals in her ninth career 20-point game. It marked her seventh outing this season with at least 20 points and five assists, further cementing what has been a standout rookie campaign. Bueckers currently leads all first-year players in both scoring and assists and remains the only WNBA rookie averaging more than 5.0 assists per game.

After the game, Bueckers reflected on what went wrong in the third quarter — the decisive stretch where Dallas was outscored 25–11 and saw the deficit swell to 22 points.

“I think they were having their way with us a little bit,” Bueckers said. “Offensively, I don’t think we were taking horrible shots, but it got a little stagnant and predictable. And then defensively, it felt like we were a step late or taking a negative step.”

As the Wings head into the All-Star break, Bueckers will take part in the midseason showcase for the first time. But she also emphasized the importance of using the time to regroup mentally and physically.

“Like Haley said, a complete mental reset,” she said. “Reflecting on the first half of the season, how we can be better individually, how we can be better as a team. But also just try to get away a little bit. I’ll have family and former teammates there that are considered family to me. So just spend some time with them, recover, rest — but all at the same time, get your work in so you’re not coming back out of shape. Just a total reset, and be excited to be back here.”

“We’re Not Going to Stand Down to Anybody”: JJ Quinerly on Team’s Fight

Rookie JJ Quinerly contributed 17 points, five steals, and three assists, continuing her strong recent stretch. She matched the WNBA rookie single-game high for steals this season and helped key the fourth-quarter rally.

“We all came together and we were all out there fighting to the end,” Quinerly told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I think that was a plus for us. But we definitely gotta look at those middle quarters — the second and the third — where we kind of lost our way. So we definitely gotta get that back for the next game.”

Quinerly pointed to the team’s inability to contain Wilson as the turning point in the loss. Despite early defensive efforts, Dallas allowed 25 points in both the second and third quarters while Wilson scored with ease from all areas of the floor. Quinerly acknowledged that the Wings struggled to make the necessary in-game adjustments as the game slipped away.

“I would say just figuring out how to stop what’s going good for them at that moment,” Quinerly explained to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Of course A’ja Wilson had a great night tonight, and we gotta figure out how to stop players who are on fire during the game. So just figuring that out and limiting the slippages we have on defense — that’s really it.”

Quinerly noted the importance of recognizing tempo and adjusting the Wings’ offensive rhythm based on game situations. While the team thrives when playing fast, she emphasized the need to find balance depending on the moment.

“I think our pace — being fast, getting the ball up the court — has worked well for us recently,” Quinerly told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “But there are also times, depending on the time and score, where we need to learn to pull the ball out and get a better shot.”

She praised the team’s continued fight and cohesion, even during losses. The fourth-quarter comeback against Las Vegas was the latest example of the Wings’ resilience.

“I love us staying together in our fight,” Quinerly said. “In all the games, maybe we came up short, but regardless, we fought to the end. Coming back from the break, I think we need to stick with those tendencies and then just have that urgency coming through all the quarters instead of maybe the first and the fourth.”

Quinerly also reflected on her development playing alongside veterans such as Arike Ogunbowale and Paige Bueckers. The learning curve, she said, involves understanding their tendencies and how to best complement their games.

“I would say just learning where they like the ball at,” she said. “And of course, like Arike and Paige are two totally different players, so learning them, their differences — and just figuring out where they like it and trying to get them the ball, honestly.”

She added: “It just shows us that we’re not going to give up. We’re not going to stand down to anybody on the court.”

“I Believe We Can Do Better”: Li Yueru on Defensive Adjustments

Li Yueru finished with eight rebounds and three assists, but the stat line didn’t capture her self-assessment of her defense against Wilson.

“First of all, for me, I should have put more focus on A’ja,” Yueru told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “She’s really a tough player, and I feel I didn’t really focus enough on defense. I gave her too many easy looks — too many left-hand drives. That’s something I need to change and figure out for the next game.”

Despite that, Yueru took away positives from the final stretch, emphasizing the team’s effort to claw back into the game after facing a 22-point deficit in the third quarter. She pointed to the energy and communication the Wings showed late, especially on the defensive end, as a building block for the second half of the season.

“Even though we were down by 20 points, we still tried to play hard and play cleaner,” Yueru explaiend to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I think we’ve improved compared to before, and everybody can see we are trying to get better. It just takes time. For the next game, I believe we can do better — and for me, I will focus more on defense and rebounding.”

She also spoke highly of her connection with Geiselsöder and Haley Jones, noting how their growing chemistry is helping anchor the frontcourt rotation. Yueru described their in-game communication as a key factor in staying organized defensively and creating opportunities on offense.

“Lou and I talk a lot about how we can be better together — how to help each other more,” Yueru told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I’m really glad to play with them and appreciate their energy. I’ll keep working to do more, too. I think we’ll be even better in the future.”

She added that the trio’s shared mindset and willingness to learn from each other have created a supportive environment.

“We know we’re all still growing, but we trust one another,” Yueru told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “That makes it easier to play freely and make reads together.”

“There’s a Lot of Upside to This Group”: Haley Jones on Finding Her Role

Haley Jones provided a major spark off the bench, scoring all 12 of her points in the fourth quarter to help power Dallas’ late comeback effort. Her activity on both ends of the floor — cutting to the basket, finishing through contact, and switching defensively — stood out during a crucial stretch where the Wings cut a 22-point deficit down to two.

After the game, Jones discussed her growing comfort level with the team and how she’s learning to impact the game in different ways.

“I’m really grateful to be here. It’s exciting,” Jones said. “The girls are great, and I’m starting to feel comfortable, finding where I can impact the game for this team. I feel like I can do it in a variety of ways, and tonight I was able to do that and let it come through.”

Jones, who was acquired midseason, said her confidence is building as she continues to adjust to her role.

“I think there’s a lot of upside to this group,” she said. “And I’m excited to see where it continues to go.”

Looking ahead to the All-Star break, Jones emphasized the importance of recovery — both physically and mentally — while maintaining preparation.

“All-Star break is always a nice reset,” Jones said. “I know I’ll be busy — I have something tomorrow morning at Envy, then I’m out of there. I’ll get to spend time with family. I’ll probably still be working out so I don’t come back huffing and puffing on Sunday. Definitely going to do a face mask, hair mask, a little relaxation and reset the mind.”

“Urgency — That’s Our Word for the Second Half”: Coach Koclanes on Defensive Growth

Wings head coach Chris Koclanes acknowledged that the third quarter was the turning point in Dallas’ 97–93 loss to the Aces — a stretch in which Las Vegas outscored the Wings 32–15 and built a 22-point lead.

“We were inefficient,” Koclanes said. “Our starting guard group was not very good — 17-for-whatever-it-was. Not a good percentage.”

While the Wings made a spirited fourth-quarter push behind Haley Jones and Paige Bueckers, the early second-half struggles were too much to overcome. Koclanes said he was encouraged by the team’s pace and unselfishness but stressed the importance of shot selection when facing elite defenses.

“I liked a lot about our pace,” he said. “We just have to continue to feel it out — when we’re taking tough, challenging twos over rim protectors versus continuing to spray the ball and move it to the next action.”

When asked about the defensive game plan against Wilson, who finished with 36 points, Koclanes was candid in his assessment.

“She’s the MVP of this league — the best player in the world,” he said. “We tried different matchups, tried to crowd her, but she had her way with us.”

Koclanes noted that preparing for Wilson is one thing, but execution is another.

“We talked about a lot,” he said. “It’s one thing to talk about, it’s another thing to execute it on the floor.”

With the All-Star break providing a pause in the schedule, Koclanes emphasized the need for defensive discipline, especially when it comes to staying aggressive without sending opponents to the free throw line.

“Our growth opportunity continues to be finding a physicality and being able to dictate and disrupt defensively — without fouling,” he said. “We pick people to the free throw line too much.”

Looking ahead to the second half of the season, Koclanes said the team’s theme will be centered around a single concept.

“Our word for the second half is urgency,” he said. “On both sides of the ball.”

Despite the loss, Dallas posted some notable statistical marks. The Wings shot 40% from the field and 34.5% from three-point range, while setting a franchise record with a 94.1% assist percentage — recording 32 assists on 34 made field goals. Bueckers led the team with eight assists, while Ogunbowale added six. The team also tallied a season-high 14 steals, a reflection of the increased defensive activity that helped fuel their late-game comeback attempt.

The Wings return to action on Tuesday, July 22, when they travel to face the Seattle Storm. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. CT.

Bueckers will represent Dallas at the WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. CT on ABC.

More Dallas Wings News & WNBA Rumors

• “I’ve Been Doing Okay”: Dallas Wings’ DiJonai Carrington Practices Fully for First Time Since Rib Injury
• “We Let Them Get Too Comfortable”: Dallas Wings Fall to Indiana Fever, End Road Trip with 0-3 Record
• “Obviously Not What I Wanted, But I’ll Be Better”: Arike Ogunbowale Details Her Dallas Wings Return Amid Torn Thumb Ligament
• Dallas Wings Move Rematch with Indiana Fever to American Airlines Center After Historic Showing in June