Dallas Wings Fall to Chicago Sky, 87-76

Li Yueru (No. 28) of the Dallas Wings posted her second double-double of the 2025 WNBA season in an 87-76 loss to the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena. (Photo: Dallas Wings Basketball)

CHICAGO — The Chicago Sky rode a dominant second half and a season-high 27-point performance from Rebecca Allen to hand a depleted Dallas Wings squad an 87–76 loss Wednesday night at Wintrust Arena.

Allen’s five 3-pointers and three blocks fueled the Sky’s comeback after Dallas led for most of the first half. Angel Reese added her 13th double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Chicago shot nearly 51 percent from the field to complete a 3–0 season sweep of the Wings.

Despite playing without Arike Ogunbowale, Maddy Siegrist, Tyasha Harris and DiJonai Carrington, the Wings fought hard and controlled the early stretches of the game. Paige Bueckers opened the scoring with a baseline drive and reverse layup, and Li Yueru set the tone in the paint, finishing with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting while grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds. Her physical presence and confidence on the block kept Dallas within reach throughout the contest.

Aziaha James and JJ Quinerly split ball-handling duties as Bueckers operated off-ball for most of the night, a rotation pattern that Wings head coach Chris Koclanes said reflects the team’s effort to adapt on the fly with the available players.

“There’s just been lots of inconsistencies with our roster and who’s available,” Koclanes said. “So it’s just been a lot of different, you know, plug and play. Who is it tonight? Who is it tonight? But with all that being said, still just confident in this group and excited for the future and the experiences that they’re all getting and the comfort that they’re growing and the connectivity that they’re growing out there on both sides of the ball.

“I know we haven’t really seen that come to fruition on the defensive end, but each game, we’re going to get better and learn from it and find that level of physicality that we need to be able to dictate and disrupt teams. So, [I’m] encouraged.”

Quinerly led Dallas’s backcourt with 16 points, five assists and three steals, making key plays in transition and holding her own defensively. Bueckers finished with 17 points, hitting 7-of-8 from the free-throw line, and distributed four assists while facing constant pressure from Chicago’s perimeter defenders.

Paige Bueckers (No. 5) tallied 17 points for the Dallas Wings while playing off ball against the Chicago Sky. (Photo: Dallas Wings Basketball)

Dallas trailed Chicago by eight points after battling through a physical second quarter that saw the teams exchange buckets and defensive stops. The Wings kept it close early in the third when Bueckers’ two successful free throws gave them a one point edge before Chicago responded with a momentum-shifting run.

Allen drilled a pair of threes and Rebecca Allen’s midrange shot pushed the lead to eight midway through the quarter. The Sky outscored Dallas 26–25 in the third frame, using a combination of ball movement and rebounding to control the tempo. Elizabeth Williams and Kamilla Cardoso stymied Dallas’ defense, helping Chicago stretch the lead.

In the fourth quarter, the Wings cut the deficit to seven after Yueru banked two triples and Quinerly nailed two free throws. But Reese responded with a layup and one and then sealed the game at the line, giving the Sky their sixth win of the season.

Yueru said despite the loss, the energy inside the locker room remains strong, and the team is focused on progress.

“I feel even we lost, we still have more energy in locker room, and we talk a lot about game,” Yueru said. “And I believe we can do more better next game, and I trust we will improve a lot of things for the next game.”

Quinerly echoed that sentiment, highlighting the team’s resilience and willingness to compete despite ongoing injuries and lineup adjustments.

JJ Quinerly (No. 11) of the Dallas Wings led her teammates with 18 points against the Chicago Sky. (Photo: Dallas Wings Basketball)

“I think being that we’re down a few players and we’ve had people come in and step up, I think that’s big for us,” Quinerly said. “Think moving forward, just us improving on our offense, getting it moving, and, of course, like, on defense, stopping those players that are getting hot.”

James added eight points, four assists and four steals in 37 minutes, helping push tempo and generate pressure on defense. Myisha Hines-Allen contributed six points and four boards off the bench, and Teaira McCowan returned to the rotation with four points and two rebounds in limited minutes.

Dallas shot 36.0 percent from the field and just under 27 percent from beyond the arc, but limited second-chance opportunities and foul trouble proved costly. The Wings were out-rebounded 40–31 and committed 10 turnovers compared to 15 by Chicago, who made the most of its possessions.

Allen’s career night headlined a Chicago team that got contributions across the board. Rachel Banham added 11 points and two assists, while Ariel Atkins had seven points, four assists and three blocks. Cardoso and Williams combined for 17 points, and the Sky’s bench outscored Dallas 41–14.

With multiple starters sidelined and young players stepping into bigger roles, the Wings continue to search for consistency. But the belief within the team is strong, and with players like Bueckers, Quinerly and Yueru embracing increased responsibilities, there are signs of growth even amid the struggles.

“I’m just confident in this group,” Koclanes reiterated. “And excited for the future.”

Next Stop

Chicago improved to 6–13 and will look to carry its momentum into Saturday’s home game against the league-leading Minnesota Lynx. Dallas, now 6–15, concludes its road trip Sunday afternoon in Indianapolis against the Indiana Fever for the first, much anticipated professional matchup between Bueckers and Caitlin Clark.

Dallas Wings: By the Numbers

Li Yueru, Luisa Geiselsöder, JJ Quinerly and Paige Bueckers huddle quickly in a moment during their game against the Chicago Sky. (Photo: Dallas Wings Basketball)

Chicago Sky: By the Numbers