Paige Bueckers (No. 5) of the Dallas Wings tallied 17 points in a tough loss to the Washington Mystics at College Park Center on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Wings again showed flashes of the team they want to be, storming out to a double-digit lead in the first half before the Washington Mystics’ experience and efficiency flipped the game in a decisive 91-78 loss Sunday afternoon at College Park Center.
Dallas, now winless in its last five games, delivered an inspired opening quarter. Playing with tempo and confidence, the Wings used quick ball movement and sharp outside shooting to seize a 23-18 edge. Luisa Geiselsöder drilled consecutive threes from the left wing, energizing the crowd, while rookie guard Paige Bueckers showcased her midrange touch with a silky pull-up jumper.
Bueckers finished with 17 points, marking her 25th straight game scoring in double figures to open her career—tying Ruthie Bolton for fourth-longest streak in WNBA history. Arike Ogunbowale added early offensive punch, slashing to the basket and earning trips to the line.
The second quarter brought Dallas’s best basketball of the day. Their 13-0 run stretched a slim lead into a commanding 41-30 advantage by halftime. Ogunbowale, who tallied 12 points in the first half, found her rhythm in transition, while Haley Jones chipped in 11 points with aggressive drives and well-timed cuts. Defensively, Dallas clogged passing lanes, closing out hard on Washington’s perimeter threats and forcing contested looks inside.
Head coach Chris Koclanes praised the group’s mindset during that stretch.
“Never too high. Never too low,” Koclanes said. “They need an anchor as the season is just up and down and tumultuous… to be able to be a steady anchor and try to get our attention on the right things. And I love the people in that locker room.”
The Wings also got a boost from forward Maddy Siegrist, making her third appearance since her return from injury. In just 19 minutes off the bench, Siegrist’s hustle translated into extra possessions, including two offensive boards that led to nine points.
Maddy Siegrist (No. 20) provided some spark for the Dallas Wings with her nine points off the bench against the Washington Mystics. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
“I just wanted to make sure I was better than I was before… more intentional… consistent every single night… if that’s coming off the bench, just being that spark,” Siegrist said.
But the third quarter proved costly. Washington opened the half on a 12-2 burst, fueled by fast-break finishes and pinpoint passing from Sonia Citron, who had a game-high six assists. The Mystics shot 72.2% in the period, outscoring Dallas 33-17, with Kiki Iriafen, Jacy Sheldon, Stefanie Dolson and Emily Engstler exploiting defensive gaps in the paint.
For Dallas, turnovers and rushed shots stalled the offense. Several entry passes were tipped away, and Washington’s disciplined defense forced late-clock heaves. By the time Citron sank a step-back three from 27 feet with 5:34 to play, stretching the Mystics’ lead to 76-66, the momentum had firmly shifted.
Bueckers acknowledged the frustration of letting a strong start slip away.
“We all are frustrated with losing. So to continue to stay together through the tough times… we talked about it enough. I think we just need to put action behind our words.,” she said.
Defensively, Dallas battled on the boards—Myisha Hines-Allen’s 11 rebounds were matched by strong team rebounding from Siegrist and Jones—but the Mystics’ efficiency proved decisive. Washington shot 54.2% from the field and 80.8% from the line, compared to Dallas’s 36.5% and 82.8%. Those margins grew in the second half, where the Mystics outscored the Wings 61-37.
Luisa Geiselsöder (No. 18) scored 10 points, including two triples, against the Washington Mystics. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
Even in defeat, Dallas found bright spots. Siegrist’s 9 points off the bench, including a corner three in the fourth to halt a Mystics run, underscored the depth contributions the coaching staff has been seeking. Jones’s versatility at both guard and forward kept her on the floor in multiple lineup combinations, and Geiselsöder’s early shooting stretch showed she can space the floor effectively.
Koclanes reiterated the importance of process over immediate results.
“When you’re losing games… social media, regular media narratives form,” he said. “So to be able to be a steady anchor… I love the people in that locker room because they already are about the right things.”
With the loss, Dallas drops to 8-24, still seeking the right mix to close out games against top competition. They’ve now lost the season series to Washington, whose win improves them to 14-17 and strengthens their playoff positioning.
For the Wings, the path forward centers on sustaining the energy and execution they displayed in the first half for a full 40 minutes. Bueckers’ poise, Siegrist’s spark, and Ogunbowale’s shot-making remain foundational, but they’ll need more consistent half-court scoring and tighter rotations on defense to turn competitive halves into wins.
“Put action behind our words,” Bueckers said—a phrase that may define Dallas’s closing stretch as they work to translate promise into production.
Next Stop
Dallas wraps up its season series against the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with strong play from Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, on Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Washington Mystics: By the Numbers
Jacy Sheldon (No. 4) returned to College Park Center scoring eight points off the bench for the Washington Mystics. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
| Starters | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiki Iriafen | 23 | 9-14 | 0-1 | 5-6 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | +11 | 23 |
| Stefanie Dolson | 22 | 4-5 | 2-2 | 4-4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | +5 | 14 |
| Sug Sutton | 20 | 0-4 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | +11 | 0 |
| Sonia Citron | 32 | 7-10 | 1-2 | 3-4 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | +17 | 18 |
| Jade Melbourne | 21 | 3-5 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | +12 | 8 |
| Bench | ||||||||||||||
| Alysha Clark | 26 | 3-5 | 1-1 | 2-3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | +7 | 9 |
| Emily Engstler | 25 | 4-9 | 2-2 | 1-2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | +5 | 11 |
| Jacy Sheldon | 22 | 2-6 | 0-3 | 4-5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | –2 | 8 |
| Lucy Olsen | 9 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | –1 | 0 |
| Team Totals | 32-59 | 6-15 | 21-26 | 6 | 28 | 34 | 21 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 28 | — | 91 | |
| 54.2% | 40.0% | 80.8% |
Dallas Wings: By the Numbers
Paige Bueckers scored two triples for the Dallas Wings. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
| Starters | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luisa Geiselsoder | 17 | 2-7 | 2-5 | 4-4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | –8 | 10 |
| Arike Ogunbowale | 32 | 4-10 | 0-3 | 4-4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | –10 | 12 |
| Grace Berger | 19 | 0-5 | 0-1 | 0-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | –14 | 0 |
| Paige Bueckers | 32 | 5-9 | 2-4 | 5-5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | –14 | 17 |
| Haley Jones | 26 | 3-9 | 0-1 | 5-7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | –11 | 11 |
| Bench Totals | ||||||||||||||
| Myisha Hines-Allen | 27 | 2-7 | 1-2 | 3-4 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | –3 | 8 |
| Maddy Siegrist | 19 | 3-8 | 1-2 | 2-2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | +1 | 9 |
| Diamond Miller | 2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 0 |
| Li Yueru | 10 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –4 | 0 |
| Aziaha James | 8 | 1-3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | –3 | 2 |
| JJ Quinerly | 8 | 3-3 | 2-2 | 1-1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Team Totals | 23-63 | 8-23 | 24-29 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 18 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 26 | — | 78 | |
| 36.5% | 34.8% | 82.8% |
