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“We’ve Got the Fight”: Dallas Wings’ First Win Streak Ends in Overtime Loss to Washington Mystics

Grant AfsethJune 23, 2025June 28, 2025no comment

Dallas Wings

The Dallas Wings entered Sunday afternoon at CareFirst Arena riding their first winning streak of the season, showing signs of cohesion and competitive edge. But despite rallying from a 16-point deficit and forcing overtime with a clutch 3-pointer, they came up short in a 91-88 loss to the Washington Mystics.

Rookie Sonia Citron delivered the game-winning shot — a corner three with 12.9 seconds remaining in overtime — as the Wings fell to 3-12 on the season. Dallas had won two straight games heading into the day but missed opportunities late and struggled to close.

“We have the fight,” Paige Bueckers said. “We have this never-quit attitude about us. But it’s that way because we started the game slow and weren’t prepared. So making sure we have strong starts — out of quarters, out of halves, at the start of the game — so we can just have that relentless fight, not fighting from behind, but fighting evenly. I think that would be better for us.”

Dallas Digs Early Hole Before Turning Momentum

The Wings opened the game with their third consecutive start of Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, Aziaha James, Myisha Hines-Allen, and NaLyssa Smith. But with DiJonai Carrington sidelined by a rib injury, they quickly fell behind 10-1 and were outscored 27-14 in the first quarter.

“We weren’t ready to play that game, and it showed,” head coach Chris Koclanes said. “We were just sluggish and not playing with the right intensity and effort to be able to respond.”

Washington shot well early behind Sug Sutton and Citron, while Dallas managed only two field goals in the opening period. Nine made free throws helped the Wings avoid a deeper deficit.

Arike Ogunbowale Takes Over in the Second Quarter

Ogunbowale scored seven straight points early in the second quarter to lead a rally, then knocked down two 3-pointers in a span of 90 seconds to cap a 28-9 run. She also assisted Bueckers for an and-one midrange jumper that brought Dallas within one.

“Just playing with speed, getting to our spots, defense,” Ogunbowale said when asked what changed in the second quarter. “I think that’s what really got our offense going. We were getting stops, and then we were, you know, flowing in the offense. But yeah, definitely our defensive intensity.”

She finished the half with 16 points as Dallas outscored Washington 31-13 in the quarter and entered the break ahead 45-40. The Wings shot 60% from the floor, 80% from three, and 90% at the free throw line in the second quarter — their second-highest scoring output in any second quarter this season.

Kaila Charles, JJ Quinerly Help Spark Wings’ Depth

JJ Quinerly added four points off the bench in the final minute of the half, and Kaila Charles provided nine points, several hustle plays, and physical rebounding across 22 minutes.

“Just keeping it simple, you know — taking my open shots, staying aggressive, but also playing within our system,” Charles said of her third straight game scoring nine or more points. “I’m capable of playing in this league. It’s just about being smarter and making the right plays. Last couple games I just had a good, clear mentality of just playing hard, and good things happen when you play hard.”

On her work on the glass: “One of our biggest pillars is rebounding, and if we can get an extra possession, I’m going to try my best. Rebounding is really a part of my game, so I love to crash and just get extra possessions that way. That helps us possibly win.”

Back-and-Forth Fourth Quarter Ends in Bueckers’ Heroics

Dallas maintained a lead into the fourth, but the Mystics surged late. Kiki Iriafen scored to tie the game and later gave Washington an 81-79 lead. After Brittney Sykes hit two free throws, James was sent to the line with 17 seconds left and made 1-of-2 to cut the deficit to two.

“You can see the fight that we have and the team chemistry that we have on the court,” James said. “So, you know, turn the next stage and look forward for the next game and bring that same intensity.”

Citron split a pair of free throws with 15 seconds remaining before Bueckers answered.

“My teammates were setting good screens. They were chasing me on the pin downs, so I just tried to come off those and create offense out of that,” Bueckers said. “And then they’re really aggressive and pushed up on me, so just going right around them. They were trying to stay away from the ball screens because every time it was a double.”

She sank a catch-and-shoot three from the left wing with 11 seconds left to force overtime at 84-all.

Dallas Wings Lead in Overtime, But Can’t Finish

Bueckers made two free throws to give Dallas an 88-84 lead early in the extra frame. But Washington closed on a 7-0 run, capped by Citron’s game-winner off a pass from Shakira Austin.

“Some good execution and then also couple that with some good shot making, and then also maybe not some of the greatest shots down the stretch there in overtime as well,” Koclanes said. “We’ll continue to talk through as a team — time and score, is that the best shot we could have gotten? But I think some of the execution was good.”

He added: “Late, it’s like they’re physical, they disrupted us, they had us on our heels. Their post players were really physical at the point of attack. It was tough to get separation sometimes. Our best offense was just no ball screen and have someone beat someone off the bounce one-on-one and then let the dominoes fall.”

Fouling Again Hurts the Dallas Wings

Washington shot 41 free throws to Dallas’ 32 as the teams combined for 60 personal fouls. Koclanes said the breakdowns are rooted in discipline.

“We have to be ready from the get-go. We weren’t,” he said. “To put a team on the free throw line 41 times — it’s just too much fouling. That continues to be a growth opportunity for ours through this year.”

Bueckers noted the adjustment needed when referees call the game differently.

“This game was officiated differently,” she said. “So being able to adjust to the officials and what that game is calling for. A lot of the games, it lets you play physical. This one was a tighter whistle. So just being smarter, and being more disciplined in the fact that we know how the game is being reffed. Staying straight up and not fouling late, reaching late, just contesting, hands up.”

Charles added, “We need to find the balance of playing physical but not fouling. Some of them were questionable, but some were fouls. We just gotta work on that. I think that’s been our biggest thing, and that’ll be our biggest growth area moving on during the season.”

Team Sees Growth in Close Games

Despite the loss, the Wings saw contributions from up and down the roster. James finished with 11 points, Charles was effective on both ends, and Quinerly provided energy off the bench. Dallas’ bench outscored Washington’s 23-1. The Wings also won the rebounding battle 38-33 and scored 15 second-chance points.

“Just being smarter with what shots we want, what shot clock, not fouling, getting them to the free throw line, boxing out, rebounding — all the essential things in basketball that really come down to deciding games,” Bueckers said. “Making sure we take care of the ball and get the shots we want each possession.”

James reflected on the series of close games. “I think we have the fight. We show that,” she said. “It’s just about playing smarter towards the end and taking the right shots. But like I said earlier, it’s a lot of things — good things to build on — and we’re just gonna watch the film and be better next game.”

Koclanes reinforced that message.

“I truly believe right now how we start the game is just the beginning of the substitution pattern,” he said. “You’ll see different lineups out there. It was that lineup in the second quarter when we were small with Kyla that actually fought us back into it. I keep talking about it — it’s our competitive depth.”

“We’re competing,” Koclanes added. “Now we’ve got to start closing.”

Up Next

Dallas returns to College Park Center on Tuesday to begin a four-game homestand. The Wings will face the Atlanta Dream at 7 p.m. CT. The game will air on KFAA29 and stream on WNBA League Pass.

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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