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ARLINGTON, TX — The Dallas Wings earned an 87-79 victory over the Chicago Sky on Wednesday night in their WNBA regular season opener. Arike Ogunbowale led the way with 25 points, seven assists, and three steals in the win. Ogunbowale was especially impressive in the clutch moments of the game, as she hit a number of important shots to seal the victory. Ogunbowale asked about her clutch prowess after the game and she revealed the powerful message teammate Maddy Siegrist gave to her that sparked the impressive performance.
“Honestly, this time, I was dead. I think we had like five minutes left, it was a timeout,” Ogunbowale told reporters. “And I was dead. Honestly, Maddy came to me and she was just like, ‘the Lord renews your strength.' And I just got a burst. It was crazy. So I appreciate her, she's always talking to me. As a second year, that's big of her to come to me and talk to me, and you know, support me. It takes a whole team. Definitely takes a lot of strength from God but also as a team we kept it together. I love those types of moments also. I was prepared for it.”
Arike Ogunbowale was inspired by a powerful message from her teammate Maddy Siegrist during the Wings’ win over the Sky.#VoltUp #WNBA pic.twitter.com/2DbhnrP0Ez
— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) May 16, 2024
The Wings clearly have quality team chemistry. Team chemistry can be a concern for many teams in all sports to begin a season. Dallas, however, features a group of players that simply want to support one another and win games.
And that is exactly what occurred on Wednesday night.
Arike Ogunbowale on verge of incredible season
With Satou Sabally injured, the Wings need Ogunbowale to play at a high level throughout the 2024 campaign. She unquestionably answered the call against the Sky.
Ogunbowale is already a three-time All-Star. She has finished 10th or better in MVP voting on four separate occasions. At 27 years old, Ogunbowale has an opportunity to take another step forward in 2024.
It would not be surprising to see Ogunbowale make a serious case for the WNBA MVP Award this season. Of course, Ogunbowale's primary goal is to win games.
The Wings have a number of new players on the team. Their performances will be crucial without question moving forward. Forward Natasha Howard addressed Dallas' new pieces after the game.
“They are good,” Howard said. “They are coming off the bench, helping us out… That's a really good boost for us to get a little break for them to come in.”
“Even though they're rookies, they have experience,” Ogunbowale added. “I love that.”
This Wings team expects to compete in 2024. Dallas is led by a number of key veterans and the aforementioned new and younger players will give the roster a boost as Howard said.
Of course, teams such as the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces are still the favorites in the WNBA. But anything can happen in the world of sports.
The Wings talent, team chemistry, and overall belief will go a long way moving forward. Dallas will look to add another victory on Saturday in a rematch with the Sky.
