Arike Ogunbowale’s 37 Not Enough as Dallas Wings Fall to Chicago Sky in Back-and-Forth Finish

Arike Ogunbowale scored a season-high 37 points and tied the WNBA’s highest single-game scoring total of the year, but the Dallas Wings came up short on the road, falling 97–92 to the Chicago Sky on Thursday night at Wintrust Arena.
The Wings (1–5) saw a third-quarter comeback evaporate in a frenetic fourth quarter marked by nine lead changes. Chicago (1–4) earned its first win of the season behind strong showings from rookie center Kamilla Cardoso and veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot, who helped the Sky pull away in the closing minutes.
“We just struggled to get a stop down the stretch,” said Wings head coach Chris Koclanes. “They kept running that pick and roll — Vandersloot in that pick-and-roll was drawing two and finding space to deliver it. They stepped up and made plays. It was back and forth. People were throwing punches. We just couldn’t get a stop down the stretch.”
Ogunbowale’s 37 points were accompanied by seven assists and five rebounds, continuing her hot start to the season. She hit a season-best six 3-pointers, tying Kelsey Plum for 18th on the WNBA’s all-time 3-point list (512). It also marked the 23rd 30-point game of her career, tying Tina Charles for eighth in league history.
Bueckers added 15 points, eight assists, five rebounds, three steals, and a career-high three blocks. She reached 40 career assists faster than any WNBA player in over a decade. DiJonai Carrington chipped in 15 points and four rebounds.
Chicago Sky Stars Power First Win of Season
Courtney Vandersloot made franchise history, becoming the Sky’s all-time leading scorer with 3,728 points, passing Allie Quigley, and also claimed the team’s all-time record for most field goals made (1,390). She posted 13 points, nine assists, and five steals in the win.
“It means a lot because it reflects my time spent here,” Vandersloot said. “It took me a thousand years to do it, but it speaks to my commitment to the Sky—and their commitment to me. They let me grow and develop, even through tough seasons.”
Kamilla Cardoso led the Sky with a season-high 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting, along with eight rebounds and several key buckets in the first quarter that set the tone. Ariel Atkins contributed 17 points and six rebounds, and Rebecca Allen added 13 points off the bench, tying her season high with three made threes.
“I think today I played with confidence and finally saw the work I put in during the offseason translate into the game,” Cardoso said. “My teammates did a great job finding me whenever I was open and giving me the best looks.”
Angel Reese added a clutch fourth-quarter stretch to help secure the win. She finished with six points, a game-high nine rebounds, five assists, and key defensive stops that helped Chicago close the game.
“We were hungry for a win,” Cardoso said. “We finally came together and played like the Chicago Sky.”
Chicago Sky Strike First, Dallas Wings Respond
Dallas opened with its sixth consecutive starting lineup of Ogunbowale, Bueckers, Carrington, Myisha Hines-Allen, and NaLyssa Smith. After an early layup from Hines-Allen, Cardoso controlled the opening frame with 12 points, sparking a 14-3 run to put Chicago up 29–19 after one.
Carrington led Dallas in the first quarter with seven points on 3-of-4 shooting, while Ogunbowale dished out three assists to keep the Wings within striking distance.
Chicago’s run extended into the second quarter, ballooning to 23–7 before Ogunbowale drained her first three of the night. That bucket triggered an 8-0 Dallas run, with Bueckers again finding Ogunbowale beyond the arc.
Ogunbowale scored 10 in the second and had a team-high 15 at the break, while bench contributions from Teaira McCowan, Kaila Charles, and Maddy Siegrist helped Dallas outscore Chicago’s reserves for the quarter. Still, the Sky maintained a 49–43 lead at halftime, paced by Ariel Atkins and Kia Nurse behind Cardoso’s dominant interior play.
“We did a lot of good things,” Koclanes said. “I thought we did enough to win that game. So, it doesn’t feel great, but there are still lots of positive moments we can build up.”
Third Quarter Surge Shifts Momentum
Dallas erupted for its best quarter of the night after halftime. Ogunbowale scored 14 points in the third, helping erase an eight-point deficit with a 16–6 run. Bueckers gave Dallas its first lead since early in the first quarter with a driving layup, and Ogunbowale followed with a 3-pointer to push the Wings ahead.
The Wings shot 61.9% from the field in the third and outrebounded the Sky 14–7, with Hines-Allen and Ogunbowale combining for seven boards. McCowan added two putbacks, while Hines-Allen and Siegrist created extra possessions. Dallas took a 73–68 lead into the fourth quarter after outscoring Chicago 30–19.
“We saw good rhythm and chemistry, especially with that starting guard group,” Koclanes said. “The ball moved, lots of assists again tonight. Credit to our post players too — allowing the guards to get downhill, screen, roll, and put pressure on the rim.”
Ogunbowale and Bueckers accounted for or assisted on 23 of the Wings’ 30 points in the quarter.
“It looked like our chemistry took a little step,” Ogunbowale said. “But it’s still not where we want it to be. We definitely have to rebound better, especially in that first quarter. That kind of set the tone, and they were feeling good. We had to claw back.”
Final Frame Falters
The game turned chaotic in the final ten minutes. Rebecca Allen opened the fourth with a 3-pointer to cut Dallas’ lead to two, and neither team led by more than five for the remainder of the quarter. Bueckers hit a deep three to make it 80–79, and Ogunbowale added eight more points to push Dallas back in front.
But in the final minute, Vandersloot found Atkins for a floater to put the Sky ahead 94–89—a Dallas turnover out of a timeout led to two Sky free throws, sealing the game.
“We talked about not focusing on winning the game, but instead on making winning plays,” Vandersloot said. “Everyone made a winning play at some point in the fourth. That’s what we need every night.”
Despite shooting 51.4% from the field and 90.9% from the line — both season highs — the Wings were undone by a season-high 16 turnovers and late-game defensive lapses. The Sky shot 46.8% from the field, 41.7% from deep, and outrebounded Dallas 34–30. Dallas did match the WNBA’s single-game block high for the season with 10.
“We just struggled to get stops,” Koclanes said. “But I’m encouraged by our play tonight on that side of the ball.”
Inside the Dallas Wings’ Matchups and Growth
McCowan, who grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, made a significant impact off the bench in 21 minutes. Koclanes praised her performance and emphasized that matchups and game flow determine her usage.
“The way we start is just the beginning of our substitution pattern,” he said. “T [McCowan] was very impactful off the bench and continues to be. We’re continuing to test combinations — that might look different based on us, or based on the opponent. Everyone has to stay ready.”
McCowan battled Sky rookie Kamilla Cardoso in the post all night — one of the rare games where she wasn’t the largest presence in the paint.
“I mean, honestly, I do [enjoy those matchups],” McCowan said. “It’s just a little back and forth — we get down there and see who can bang out the best. That’s boss basketball, right? I like the low-post presence game.”
The Wings have emphasized building chemistry across the roster, particularly in the backcourt. Bueckers and Ogunbowale combined for 52 points and 15 assists — signs of a promising synergy developing.
“Just conversation,” Ogunbowale said when asked about her connection with Bueckers. “Conversations with coach, conversations with each other. It’s still early, and definitely frustrating, but it’s growing day by day. Our potential is great, but we need everybody, starting five and the bench. We’re building chemistry all throughout, one through 12.”
Along with Tyasha Harris (knee) being downgraded from questionable to out before tipoff as a game-time decision, the Wings deployed JJ Quinerly instead of Aziaha James in the rotation.
Looking Ahead
Despite the loss, the Wings will have a quick chance to regroup. Dallas returns to College Park Center on Saturday for a rematch with the Sky. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. CT, airing locally on KFAA and streaming nationally on WNBA League Pass.
“It doesn’t feel great,” Koclanes said. “But we get to see them again very quickly — now we get to watch and adjust. It’s about how we respond.”
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