ARLINGTON, TX — The Dallas Wings entered Saturday's game looking to pull off an upset at home. Dallas had dropped six consecutive contests heading into Saturday's affair, while their opponent, the Connecticut Sun, held the best record in the WBA. However, the Wings were ultimately defeated by a final score of 85-67.
The Sun jumped out to an early 8-0 lead over the Wings. Connecticut led 27-17 after the first quarter. Dallas maintained their resiliency despite the early deficit. The Wings cut the lead to seven in the second quarter, but entered the half trailing Connecticut by 10 points.
The 10-point deficit was not ideal for the Wings at the half. With that being said, the fact that Dallas only trailed by that amount of points while playing against the best team in the league was encouraging.
However, the Sun began to pull away in the third quarter. Dallas endured trouble taking care of the ball and Connecticut capitalized. As a result, the Sun held a 68-46 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Sun did not look back and went on to win the game.
There were a number of positive takeaways for Dallas, though. Teaira McCowan recorded a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double. Maddy Siegrist also scored 16 points. Meanwhile, rookie Jacy Sheldon, who was selected fifth overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft, set new career-highs in points (7) and assists (4).
“I'm going to be honest with you, it's not something I focus too much on,” Sheldon said of setting multiple new career-highs. “I think our main focus for every single one of us would say winning… We will go back, watch the film, get better from it, and then be ready to go for the next game.”
Jacy Sheldon focused on winning
No one would have blamed Sheldon if she discussed how happy she was to have set new career-highs. But her focus is clearly on winning and Dallas has dropped seven consecutive games. She was not willing to praise her own individual accolades after a loss, something that her teammates will surely appreciate.
Her coach was willing to do so, however.
“We talked about Jacy… Jacy had her career-high points tonight with seven and assists with four,” Wings head coach Latricia Trammell said. “So great growth from this rookie.”
The Wings have struggled in recent action. There is still reason to be confident for the future given the potential of players like Sheldon and Siegrist. Additionally, Arike Ogunbowale is one of the best players in the WNBA and Teaira McCowan has played at a high level in 2024.
“I'm more comfortable playing with these girls, they've been awesome,” Sheldon added later. “They've been really helpful and (I) definitely feel more comfortable.”
Maddy Siegrist emerging as a Wings star
Ogunbowale is the Wings best player right now. Satou Sabally will be in that conversation once she returns from injury. Siegrist is playing at a high level at the moment. It appears that 2024 may be her breakout season.
Trammell mentioned that Siegrist has scored in double-figures in nine consecutive games. Siegrist could be an All-Star candidate soon.
“I think definitely as games have gone on I'm just getting more comfortable and more confident,” Siegrist said. “Realizing that games like today… You're frustrated… But the next play mentality and the law of averages. I talk about that all the time. The goal is you want to shoot 50 percent whether you take one, two, 20 shots, whatever it is. Just kind of knowing that… Knowing that sometimes your team needs you to take more shots.
“I was a little hesitant on the three today. If I could go back I would probably take a couple more. You know, I had nothing to lose. So that's an area of growth and just try to build on that for the next game.”
The Wings will try to snap their current losing streak in a road clash with the Minnesota Lynx on Monday night.
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