DHJ Quick Take: Wings Dissect Sky 99-89 in Chicago Behind Shepard’s History and Bench Surge
- Breaking the Wintrust Arena Drought: The Dallas Wings snapped an explicit six-game skid against Chicago and secured their first road victory in the city since 2022, turning a razor-thin one-point halftime deficit into an authoritative double-digit statement.
- Shepard Stakes Her Claim to WNBA History: Forward Jessica Shepard registered the league’s first triple-double of the 2026 season—and the third in franchise history—posting an ultra-efficient 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting, a career-best 12 assists, and 10 rebounds.
- Li Yueru Flips the Low-Block Script: After Chicago center Kamilla Cardoso (24 points) dominated early interior sequences, head coach Jose Fernandez deployed center Li Yueru. Yueru recorded a massive game-high plus-18 rating in 19 minutes, physically shifting Cardoso off her sweet spots and anchoring an immediate defensive stand.
- Ogunbowale and Bueckers Explode Late: Paige Bueckers paced the scoring with a smooth 24 points on 11-of-19 shooting, while backcourt partner Arike Ogunbowale poured in 11 of her 23 points during a high-octane fourth-quarter execution to permanently slam the door.
CHICAGO — The Dallas Wings snapped a six-game losing streak against the Chicago Sky with a 99-89 road win Wednesday night at Wintrust Arena. Dallas moved to 3-2 on the season with its second consecutive victory and captured its first win in Chicago since the 2022 season.
Jessica Shepard recorded the third triple-double in Wings team history — and the first in the WNBA this season — with 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting, a career-best 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. Paige Bueckers tied for the game high with 24 points on 11-of-19 shooting, Arike Ogunbowale poured in 11 of her season-high 23 points in the fourth quarter, and rookie Azzi Fudd matched her career high with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
Li Yueru delivered the game’s biggest swing factor off the bench, finishing a plus-18 in 19 minutes with 7 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists.
Head coach Jose Fernandez said Yueru was the difference.
“She was a huge impact. Just tremendous,” Fernandez said. “Cardoso was getting everything that she wanted. She was tough to defend. Li changed the game defensively because at least she could push her out and wall up and also provide that resistance inside.”
Ogunbowale said the team responded after a sluggish first half that ended with Dallas trailing 38-37.
“We closed it out really well. We looked like a top team in the league in that last fourth quarter,” Ogunbowale said. “We didn’t have a great first half, but we came out in the second half, made them call the first timeout and just put it down their throats.”
Bueckers credited the second unit for changing the momentum.
“This team has depth. The depth is our superpower, and on any given night, anybody is willing and able to step up,” Bueckers said. “That’s what we need them to do, and that’s what they do on numerous occasions.”
Shepard, when asked about her triple-double, focused on reading the defense.
“I think just taking whatever the defense gave me, whether that was attacking the rim or finding the open player and sometimes helping Paige get off the ball a little and kind of run the offense,” Shepard said.
Kamilla Cardoso finished with a season-high 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Sky (3-2). Natasha Cloud added 21 points and 8 rebounds in her Sky home opener against her former teammate, Skylar Diggins scored 15, and Gabriela Jaquez added 12.
The Wings continue their three-game road trip Friday against the Atlanta Dream at Gateway Center, with tip-off set for 6:30 p.m. CT on ION. Dallas then travels to face the New York Liberty before returning home for a matchup with Las Vegas.
Full interviews below.
Jose Fernandez
Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale & Jessica Shepard
More Wings Coverage on Dallas Hoops Journal
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