The Dallas Wings put up a fight, especially in the second half, but it just wasn’t enough to take down the Seattle Storm, who came out on top with a 79-71 victory on Monday night. I mean, the Wings had their moments, but Seattle’s Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins were on fire, especially in the second half.
Ogwumike was a beast, scoring 23 points and snagging 19 rebounds, while Diggins added 21 points and dished out nine assists. Gabby Williams also contributed significantly, scoring 17 points and playing solid defense. Honestly, they were just too much for Dallas to handle.
On the Wings' side, rookie Paige Bueckers had a solid game, putting up 19 points and eight assists. NaLyssa Smith and Maddy Siegrist each chipped in with 12 points, and Teaira McCowan added 10 off the bench. But it was a tough night for Arike Ogunbowale, who struggled with her shot, finishing just 2 for 14 from the field for a total of eight points.
Three-point shooting was a major issue for Dallas, as they only managed to hit 4 of their 19 attempts. That’s not gonna cut it, especially when you’re trying to keep up with a team like Seattle.
Things started off rocky for the Wings, who found themselves down by 17 points in the first half. They went into halftime trailing 56-41, but they didn’t give up. They rallied back and got within three points at 64-61 late in the third quarter, thanks to a basket from McCowan. But, unfortunately, they couldn’t get any closer.
Seattle was hot from beyond the arc, finishing the first half shooting 9-for-11 from three-point range, which is just insane. Overall, they shot 18-for-36 from the field, while Dallas ended the game at 29 for 70, which is about 41.4%. Not great.
After a close first quarter where Dallas led 26-25, things took a turn when Diggins hit a deep three to break a 30-all tie. That shot sparked a 14-4 run for the Storm, and they never looked back, establishing a double-digit lead at 44-34.
Williams capped off the first half with a three-pointer, pushing the lead to 54-37. The game had its share of excitement, with five ties and four lead changes, but the Wings just couldn’t seal the deal in the fourth quarter.
Despite the loss, Bueckers made history, becoming the second-fastest player in WNBA history to record 20+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 10+ assists in her first two games. She joins the ranks of WNBA legends like Candace Parker and Sabrina Ionescu. That’s pretty impressive!
Looking ahead, the Wings are heading out on the road for their next four games, starting with a matchup against the Minnesota Lynx, who are currently 2-0. This will be a rematch, as the Lynx handed Bueckers a tough debut loss, beating the Wings 99-84. The Wings are definitely looking for their first win of the season, and it’s gonna be interesting to see how they bounce back.
