The Dallas Wings ended their 11-game losing streak by defeating the Minnesota Lynx 94-88 on Thursday. The Lynx, just coming off their Commissioner’s Cup victory against the New York Liberty, were riding a seven-game win streak. The key to the’ win, according to Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale, was their defense and maintaining momentum during tough times.
“It really started on our defense, picking up the intensity and not folding when the times got tough,” Ogunbowale said, per Tori Garcia of The Dallas Morning News. “We finished the first half out strong … and then just kept the momentum from there.”
With 1:34 left on the clock before halftime, the Lynx called a timeout following a 9-0 run by the Wings. Post-timeout, the Wings extended their run to 13-0 and maintained their lead for the remainder of the game.
Entering Thursday’s game, Wings head coach Latricia Trammell knew adjustments were necessary after losing the first two games against the Lynx this season. The Lynx boasted the highest 3-point shooting percentage in the league at 39.8%, while the Wings ranked last at 29.6%.
“They’re really good at shooting the three,” Trammell said before the game. “When you have a team that can score all five positions from the three-point line, it’s always going to cause a little havoc, and that’s why they are doing so well.”
Trammell emphasized the importance of improving their outside shooting to open up their inside game. The Wings responded by shooting 60% (9-15) from beyond the arc, while holding the Lynx to 42.3%. Ogunbowale was particularly effective, sinking five of the team’s nine 3-pointers.
Injuries have affected Dallas Wings
In addition to shooting struggles, the Wings have had several injuries this season, contributing to their 4-13 record prior to Thursday’s game. Satou Sabally, last year’s Most Improved Player, is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Rookie Jaelyn Brown suffered a broken nose, and Maddy Siegrist broke her finger on June 17 against the Lynx.
Despite these setbacks, the Wings signed veteran guard Odyssey Sims to a hardship contract and saw the return of Natasha Howard from a foot injury. Sims scored 18 points, while Howard added six. Ogunbowale led the team with 23 points.
The Lynx started strong, ending the first quarter with a 28-15 lead. While the Lynx shot 45.5% from three-point range early on, the Wings missed their first four attempts. However, Dallas picked up momentum in the second quarter and went into halftime trailing by just two points after a 13-0 run.
The game remained close throughout the third quarter, with the Wings holding a narrow 71-70 lead entering the fourth. In the final minute, the Lynx trailed by three points, but a wide-open three-pointer by rookie guard Jacy Sheldon secured the win for Dallas.
“I don’t think we did anything different,” Ogunbowale said. “I don’t think that we did anything that isn’t Dallas. A lot of the games that we played haven’t shown what our culture is. I think we showed it today.”
Looking ahead, the Wings will travel to Seattle for back-to-back games against the Storm on Saturday and Monday, followed by a home game against the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday.
“(They) need to continue to bank their sleep hours, and just make sure [they] are taking care of themselves mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually,” Trammell said. “This is a tough stretch, but I’m looking forward to the Olympic break to hopefully get more bodies back and the rest that we need.”
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