“We’re Right There”: Dallas Wings Fall Short vs. Chicago Sky Despite NaLyssa Smith’s Season High, Sellout Crowd
The crowd inside College Park Center hasn’t given up on the Dallas Wings. Saturday night marked a third consecutive sellout, but the result was all too familiar: a tight game, another fourth-quarter letdown, and a 94–83 loss to the Chicago Sky.
Despite five players scoring in double figures and a standout performance from NaLyssa Smith, who tallied 20 points and matched her career high with three blocks, the Wings fell to 1–6 on the season. Once again, they entered the fourth quarter within striking distance but couldn’t close.
The setback overshadowed DiJonai Carrington’s season-high-tying 16 points and team-leading six assists. Arike Ogunbowale added 15 points, including nine in the final period, while Maddy Siegrist and Kaila Charles chipped in with 11 points apiece.
Dallas outscored Chicago in the paint (42–38), on second-chance opportunities (16–13), and in fast break scoring (19–10), but 14 turnovers turned into 19 points for the Sky. The Wings now turn their attention to a Tuesday rematch with the Seattle Storm, still seeking answers in late-game execution.
Dallas Wings Show Early Fight Despite Injuries
With Paige Bueckers in concussion protocol and Tyasha Harris ruled out with a knee injury, the Wings were forced to reconfigure their rotation. Chris Koclanes stressed pregame that the focus would shift toward internal response and lineup flexibility.
“It doesn’t feel great,” Koclanes said before the game. “But we get to see them again very quickly — now we get to watch and adjust. It’s about how we respond.”
Maddy Siegrist returned to the starting lineup for the first time since the 2024 season finale, joining Ogunbowale, Carrington, Smith, and Myisha Hines-Allen. The unit responded well in the opening quarter, trading baskets with the Sky and shooting 53.3% from the floor to keep pace.
Carrington found Smith for an early three to spark a 6–0 Dallas run. Ariel Atkins responded with nine first-quarter points for Chicago, but the Wings trailed by just one heading into the second.
The Sky opened the next frame with a 10–0 run before Kaila Charles buried a timely three to stop the bleeding. Her bucket ignited a 13–5 Dallas response, capped by Smith tying the game at 38–38 from the line.
“I think it was just about being aggressive and just getting back to playing how I know how to play,” Smith said. “I drew a lot of fouls. I shot 10 free throws, so I feel like that tells the story on its own.”
At the break, Dallas had logged eight blocks and forced seven turnovers while holding Chicago to under 39% shooting. Still, they entered halftime trailing 46–43.
Chicago Sky Pull Away as Dallas Wings Falter Late
The Sky created separation with a 14–6 third-quarter run fueled by Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese. Dallas shot just 25% in the period, with Siegrist and Ogunbowale combining for 13 of the team’s 16 points.
With both of their primary ballhandlers out, the Wings relied more on rookies JJ Quinerly and Aziaha James for backcourt support. Quinerly made her presence felt with an assist, block, and steal in just two minutes, while James hit a midrange jumper to trim the deficit.
Their emergence didn’t go unnoticed by teammates.
“JJ — you can always count on her. Her defense is crazy. It’s really good,” Luisa Geiselsöder told DallasHoopsJournal.com after shootaround. “She’s just another threat. So we have two threats from the guard position that are coming out, and they’re excited and motivated every game.”
Dallas kept battling in the fourth behind Ogunbowale and Smith. Ogunbowale scored nine in the final quarter, including a pair of tough drives. Smith added seven, and Charles knocked down a three and converted three of four free throws off the bench.
But Chicago closed with an 11–3 run over the final two minutes to seal it.
“We’ve been in some close ones,” Koclanes said. “We’ve got to go back and watch, talk about game management, and just understand this is a possession game. The margin between winning and losing is so small in this league.”
DiJonai Carrington and NaLyssa Smith Set Defensive Tone in Paige Bueckers’ Absence
Carrington embraced expanded responsibilities on both ends, with Bueckers and Harris sidelined, stepping in as a ball handler while anchoring the perimeter defensively.
“I have to set the tone on the defensive side of the ball,” Carrington said. “That starts with applying pressure early… but I also need to be more disciplined to put us in better positions behind the ball and avoid so much rotation.”
“We have to be better at 50/50 balls. We have to be better at just getting to the long rebounds because that’s when we can really run,” she added.
Smith emphasized the need for accountability and team-wide buy-in.
“At the end of the day, it’s our job. This is what we love to do,” Smith said. “Nobody wants to lose. We’re trying every night to win. We’re going to put it together.”
Koclanes agreed, stressing that unity is key during this stretch of growing pains.
“We’re just preaching that we stick together,” he said. “Keep learning, keep building, and keep trusting each other.”
Dallas Wings Offensive Balance Still Developing
Dallas generated a season-high 33 free-throw attempts and outscored the Sky in several key categories, but the team’s perimeter rhythm remains inconsistent. The Wings shot just 4-of-15 from beyond the arc and missed a handful of potential kick-outs and one-more passes.
“We want to shoot threes,” Koclanes said. “It’s just finding that balance. We were aggressive to the rim, got to the line 30 times. I liked our paint aggression, but now we’ve got to start seeing the kicks and one-mores.”
With lineups still in flux, Dallas is continuing to experiment.
“We’re going to explore all sorts of different combinations and lineups until we settle into what works,” Koclanes said. “That might look different from night to night.”
Teaira McCowan, who played limited minutes in this one, said the team is learning to adapt through Ogunbowale.
“When Paige is out, it’s just about moving with purpose and letting Arike do what she does,” McCowan told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “She’s going to draw attention, so we’ve got to stay ready. Be active, crash, space — it all matters more.”
Looking Ahead
Despite another tough loss, the Wings held advantages in second-chance points (16–13), fast-break scoring (19–10), and matched their season high in blocks (10). Five players finished in double figures, and the team shot 75.8% on a season-high 33 free-throw attempts.
Still, the turnovers and late-game execution woes proved costly.
Dallas heads to Seattle next, where it will face the Storm on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. CT in a nationally televised game on ESPN.
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