Dallas Wings Seek Defensive Breakthrough, Closing Resolve vs. Los Angeles Sparks Amid Point Guard Void

The Dallas Wings will again take the floor without a traditional point guard Friday night when they host the Los Angeles Sparks in a Commissioner’s Cup matchup at College Park Center. But with offensive adjustments ongoing, much of the spotlight has now shifted toward whether the Wings can take a needed step forward defensively, especially in crunch time.

The Wings (1–7) have dropped three straight games since an impressive May 27 road win over Connecticut and have struggled to close out recent contests. Now, they’ll face a Sparks team also trying to snap a losing streak and climb out of the Western Conference cellar. Los Angeles (2–6) arrives in Dallas after an 85–80 loss to Phoenix despite a vintage 32-point performance from Odyssey Sims and the return of Rickea Jackson, who is expected to play Friday after missing five of the last six games.

For Dallas, the game marks another opportunity to gain footing in 2025 Commissioner’s Cup play while continuing to build cohesion amid lineup challenges.

DiJonai Carrington enters Friday’s matchup coming off her strongest performance of the season — 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and one steal in Seattle — and has averaged 17.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game over the last four contests. Carrington is averaging 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks on the season.

NaLyssa Smith also delivered her top outing of the season in Saturday’s game against the Chicago Sky, posting 20 points, three offensive rebounds, and three blocks — matching her career high — along with season highs in free-throw attempts (10) and field goal attempts (12). Smith is averaging 12.0 points and 6.6 rebounds through eight games.

For the Wings, the bigger concern remains their own continuity and late-game execution, both of which have been tested amid backcourt injuries. Paige Bueckers remains in concussion protocol following her injury last week in Chicago, while Tyasha Harris is sidelined with a left knee injury. Neither participated in full practice on Thursday. Bueckers was seen shooting post-practice after doing light work on the exercise bike, while Harris remained on the training table.

Without either available, the Wings have had to completely restructure their offense — and the impacts have been felt across both ends of the floor.

Defensive Identity a Growing Priority

While much of the attention has focused on Dallas’ offensive challenges without Bueckers and Harris, the team’s defensive evolution has also become a major point of emphasis. The Wings have struggled to generate stops in fourth quarters, giving up a staggering 132.6 points per 100 possessions in the final period over the last two games. Those lapses have been the primary factor in back-to-back losses where Dallas entered the fourth quarter with a lead.

Stats tell the story of the struggles.

Without Bueckers and Harris, Dallas’ efficiency has dipped sharply. The Wings, who ranked in the top five in offensive rating before Bueckers’ absence, have since ranked ninth, posting 97.0 points per 100 possessions. They are shooting just 37.3% from the field and 25.7% from three over the last two games while committing 28 turnovers to just 33 assists.

The team has also averaged only 17.5 three-point attempts during that span, while relying heavily on drawing contact, leading the league with 25.5 free throw attempts per game. But that aggression at the line hasn’t been enough to offset the drop in perimeter volume and efficiency.

Dallas’ scoring output has dropped from 85.3 points per game to 80.0, falling from third in the WNBA to eighth, while the defense remains a work in progress. The Wings have allowed 88.5 points per game over the last two contests, but the inability to string together stops in crunch time has been the costliest issue.

Arike Ogunbowale, who is averaging 16.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 steals through eight games this season after averaging 22.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists a year ago, acknowledged the team’s difficulty sustaining defensive discipline in late-game situations.

“We play really good in spurts, but in the fourth quarter, we kind of let our foot off the gas a little bit,” Ogunbowale said. “Sometimes it’s just focus at the end, staying locked in, doing what we did to get the lead.”

NaLyssa Smith described how the team’s defensive cohesion is beginning to take shape — but still has room to grow.

“Oh, I think just everybody, you know, being on a string and helping each other out, helping the helper,” Smith said. “I think our defense is coming together and, I mean, they’re implementing a lot of different schemes for us, so we’re applying them to the game and hopefully they work.”

“I think it takes a little bit of time,” Smith added. “I mean, I feel like we’re only a couple games in, so we’re still trying to figure everything out. I think it’s just about trusting each other though. Trusting that everybody’s gonna guard their yard and help each other out. So I think it’s all coming together though.”

Aziaha James, who is averaging 3.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in her rookie campaign, said the Wings’ defensive chemistry continues to improve as the group gains more experience playing together, and credited veterans Ogunbowale and Myisha Hines-Allen for setting the tone on that end of the floor.

“Yeah,” James said. “The more we play together, the easier it is to be on the court with each other, to know each other well. So as more games come, we’re gonna get even better. They’re very consistent every game—always there for each and every one of us. Their energy brings the fuel to this team. So with more games to come, it’s gonna get even better.”

Luisa Geiselsöder emphasized that the team’s defensive chemistry continues to build with each game, and said the Wings’ ability to deploy multiple coverages has the potential to make them even more disruptive as the season progresses. Geiselsöder has averaged 6.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks over the last two games.

“It takes chemistry, and I feel like that’s getting better every game,” Geiselsöder said. “We can switch, hedge, trap — we have a lot of tools. I think it’s going to make us even more dangerous.”

Offense by Committee — Adjustments Without Paige Bueckers and Tyasha Harris

With both Bueckers and Harris sidelined, the Wings have been forced to operate without a true point guard — a rare and difficult situation early in the season that has required significant offensive adjustments.

Head coach Chris Koclanes has been transparent about the challenge this creates, particularly in trying to maintain offensive flow and shot quality.

“Yeah, and not just Paige — we were also without Ty [Harris], so no true point guard on the floor,” Koclanes said. “JJ [Quinerly] off the bench is really our only true point guard, and she hasn’t played that position since high school.”

“You just have to put people in the right position to be successful,” Carrington said. “Call things, just have a feel for how they’re guarding stuff. Also, to kind of decide what things will actually work against this team. And then something that I typically do is I get out in transition, so now it’s a little bit more of coming back to the ball and making sure that we have somebody to outlet to.”

Smith said the team understands the difficulty of playing without its primary ball-handlers, but believes that everyone is committed to stepping up and helping the offense run as smoothly as possible.

“I think it changes a little bit just because of the people that we have at point guard aren’t traditional point guards, like you said,” Smith said. “But I think it’s about next man up and just coming in and embracing that role. I think nobody’s really shying away from being the point guard, so I mean, I commend the people that are attempting to fill that role.”

Ogunbowale stressed that the team remains determined to adapt and stay aggressive, even as they continue figuring out new roles on the fly.

“Yeah. I think, like Coach said, you know, we’re still figuring it out — still early,” Ogunbowale said. “Obviously, we’ve been without a true point guard the last two games. So, hopefully, when we get Paige back, we get a little bit of rhythm. But yeah, we’re still figuring it out.”

JJ Quinerly, who is averaging 3.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in limited minutes this season, said she has focused on adjusting her mindset and embracing the learning curve.

“I played the two for a long time,” Quinerly said. “Now I’ve had to shift my mindset. The vets have helped a lot. And then of course watching film, and then just playing it and actually doing it. I’m a visual learner, so just actually going out there and doing it definitely has been helping.”

Carrington praised Quinerly’s defensive intensity and ability to disrupt opponents with her ball pressure, and said the rookie guard is making valuable progress despite being thrust into an unfamiliar role.

“She works really hard on defense,” Carrington said. “She works really hard at the point of attack. She’s one of our best as far as getting through ball screens and picking up the ball full court. So that’s a good change of speed for the opponent to have a different feel on the ball. And then offensively, I think we have to help her out more and be in the right position when she calls something.”

Frontcourt Contributions Fuel Hope

Dallas’ frontcourt depth has quietly become a stabilizing force amid the team’s backcourt injuries and shifting offensive structure. Several key rotation players have taken on expanded responsibilities — both in helping to initiate offense and in providing the defensive presence the Wings need to compete in physical matchups.

Maddy Siegrist, who is averaging 7.9 points and 4.4 rebounds this season, said she is focused on doing the little things to help the team succeed — whether in her role as a stretch four or playing on the wing.

“When I’m at the four, I try to set a lot of pick-and-rolls and pick-and-pops, and just make the defense have to make a lot of decisions,” Siegrist said. “No matter how many shots I get, I try to focus on creating extra possessions, offensive rebounds, and running in transition. When I’m taking the ball out for them in the frontcourt, I try to help them get into things quickly. We all have to do our part to make it easier on them.”

Teaira McCowan, who is averaging 7.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks this season, said her focus remains on doing the job the team needs — and helping her teammates on both ends.

“I just come in and do my job, be a professional,” McCowan said. “I mean, gotta roll with the punches. I try to help my teammates as much as I can — when they’re getting beat or something, doing that too. It definitely makes the offensive team hesitant to come in there. So it’s just like me being there is kind of like, ‘OK, we have to be mindful that she’s in there, don’t wanna get blocked or whatever.’ But that’s kind of the biggest thing.”

Myisha Hines-Allen, who is averaging 9.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, continues to bring physicality and leadership to the frontcourt rotation.

Dallas Wings Are Still Building

Ogunbowale, as the veteran leader of the group, said her message to teammates during this stretch has focused on patience and perseverance amid the early-season challenges.

“Just to give ourselves grace. New system, new team, a lot of adversity right now,” Ogunbowale said. “But it’s a long season — you still have a lot of games, 30-something games. So just keep at it, keep with it. Don’t give up, don’t give in just because things are hard.”

Carrington underscored the importance of mental toughness and execution in critical moments, emphasizing that the Wings must take responsibility for closing out games.

“We just have to finish. We’re pros — no excuses,” Carrington said. “If we make half of those shots, it’s a different outcome. We’ve got to focus on finishing and pretend like the refs aren’t even there — like we’re playing pickup in the driveway.”

McCowan praised the character and chemistry of the group, highlighting how the players have supported one another through an early-season stretch marked by roster changes and adversity.

“Everyone has personality,” McCowan said. “Everyone is just, in their own way, feeding into the group. Like, literally, you can laugh, you can have a serious conversation — whatever you need, this group has it for you.”

Ogunbowale believes the Wings are competitive in every game and stressed that attention to detail and execution in key moments are the final pieces the team needs to turn close losses into wins.

“We’re right there,” Ogunbowale said. “It’s not like we’re getting blown out. It’s just little things we need to fix — taking good shots, getting back on defense, playing smart. We’ve had the lead in both games. Now it’s about closing.”

The Wings will aim to take a step forward and close out a much-needed win when they host the Sparks on Friday night at College Park Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CT on ION and WNBA League Pass.

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