Paige Bueckers (No. 5) scored 11 points for the Dallas Wings against a tenacious Seattle Storm squad. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Wings couldn’t match the Seattle Storm’s physicality and intensity on Friday night, falling 95-60 at College Park Center in Arlington. The loss dropped the Wings’ record further to 9-28 as they approach the final stretch of the season with seven games remaining.
Seattle, led by Skylar Diggins, Ezi Magbegor and Dominique Malonga, set the tone early with aggressive drives and tough post play. Diggins’s driving layup at 7:31 in the first quarter, assisted by Nneka Ogwumike, brought the Storm within two of Dallas. Magbegor answered with a quick layup at 6:54 to tie the game at 5. But Seattle’s depth and veteran savvy proved decisive, as the Wings struggled to keep pace despite early contributions from Maddy Siegrist and Paige Bueckers.
Siegrist scored the Wings’ first points of the night with a two-point jumper at 8:21 in the opening quarter, assisted by Haley Jones, but the Storm steadily chipped away. Ogwumike’s eight-foot jumper at 47.8 seconds put Seattle ahead 25-14 at the end of the first quarter. The Wings battled, but turnovers and missed shots compounded their struggles. Bueckers made a 26-foot three-pointer with 3:21 remaining in the first to give Dallas a spark, but it wasn’t enough to slow Seattle’s momentum.
By halftime, the Storm had expanded their lead to 48-34. Seattle’s dominant rebounding and fast-break opportunities allowed them to consistently stay ahead. Brittney Sykes made a pair of free throws at 46.3 seconds in the second quarter, and Siegrist followed with a four-foot basket at 6:48, briefly cutting the deficit. However, Seattle’s offensive efficiency, including Malonga’s layups and three-pointers, proved too much for the Wings’ young core.
“I thought we did early,” Dallas head coach Chris Koclanes said after the game. “We tried to establish a physicality, but there was a quick whistle early, and we were fouling. It’s a balance. Finding the discipline to play tough without fouling is what veterans do, and we’re learning. That was a good takeaway from this game.”
Seattle’s second-half performance extended the margin even further. Erica Wheeler’s three-pointers and Tiffany Mitchell’s driving layups kept the Storm comfortably ahead. Siegrist attempted to spark the Wings with multiple offensive rebounds and tip-ins, including a layup at 7:17 in the second quarter and a two-point basket at 6:40. Bueckers also contributed from deep, hitting a three-pointer and pull-up jumper, but the Wings couldn’t string stops together.
Siegrist, in her third WNBA season, has embraced a leadership role, using her voice to guide the younger players.
Maddy Siegrist (No. 20) led the Dallas Wings with 12 points in a tough 95-60 loss to the Seattle Storm at College Park Center. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
“I think for me, just trying to keep everyone together,” Siegrist said. “We still have seven games left. You wanna go out and compete. You wanna be the best version of yourself as a team every single night. This is probably the most vocal I’ve been. Just trying to use my voice in spots where it helps.”
Seattle’s veteran presence, coupled with their ability to draw fouls and convert key free throws, kept the Wings at a distance. By the end of the third quarter, Seattle led 67-45, thanks to a series of baskets from Diggins-Smith, Wheeler and Malonga.
The Wings’ young roster showed flashes of promise, but the gap in physicality and experience was evident. Luisa Geiselsöder, Myisha Hines-Allen, Diamond Miller, and Aziaha James rotated into the game to give starters rest and opportunities to find rhythm while Siegrist continued to fight for rebounds and putbacks. Before resting in the final frame, Bueckers continued her double-digit point scoring streak, extending it to 30 games.
Seattle’s approach emphasized discipline and smart aggressiveness. Ogwumike and Magbegor combined for multiple offensive rebounds and scored in the paint, while Diggins orchestrated fast-break opportunities. Malonga’s defensive timing and shot-blocking stifled the Wings’ attempts to drive inside.
The final quarter saw Dallas trying to mount a comeback, with James banking on a three-pointer at 9:01. Haley Jones also contributed with 10 defensive boards, and Amy Okonkwo added with eight points. Despite these efforts, Seattle’s lead never dipped below double digits.
Maddy Siegrist (No. 20) of the DAllas Wings tries to disrupt the offensive approach of Gabby Williams (No. 5) of the Seattle Storm. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
Throughout the game, Siegrist remained a consistent presence, finishing with five rebounds and 12 points. Coach Koclanes stressed that lessons from the physicality displayed by Seattle are key for the Wings moving forward.
“There’s a way to do it. You see it with the veterans of this league that can really get into you without fouling. We’re learning,” Koclanes said.
The Wings’ focus now turns to the final seven games of the season, where building consistency, maintaining composure under physical pressure, and converting key opportunities will be essential. Siegrist’s vocal leadership and Bueckers’ perimeter shooting remain central to Dallas’ efforts to close out the year strongly.
For the Storm, the win highlighted their continued depth and ability to dominate against younger teams. With veterans like Diggins and Ogwumike leading the charge, Seattle’s combination of size, experience, and shooting accuracy proved decisive against the Wings’ developing roster.
As the Wings regroup, Siegrist’s approach to leadership is likely to continue shaping the team’s mentality.
“Just trying to keep everyone together,” she said. “You wanna be the best version of yourself as a team every single night. I’ve had a lot of different roles on teams, and this is probably the most vocal I’ve been. Using my voice in spots where it helps is important.”
The final score reflected the disparity in physicality and experience: Seattle 95, Dallas 60. The Wings will hope to carry the lessons learned into the final seven games, emphasizing disciplined defense, smarter shot selection, and cohesive team play as they aim to finish the season on a stronger note.
Next Stop
Dallas continues their three-game home stand, hosting the Golden State Valkyries (18-17 as of press time) for a Sunday matinee at 3 p.m. CT.
Seattle Storm: By the Numbers
Dominique Malonga (No. 14) of the Seattle Storm tallied 22 points off the bench with an efficient 10 of 12 performance against the Dallas Wings. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
| Player | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nneka Ogwumike | 22 | 2-4 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +19 | 4 |
| Gabby Williams | 21 | 3-7 | 1-2 | 2-3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +13 | 9 |
| Ezi Magbegor | 21 | 3-4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | +15 | 6 |
| Skylar Diggins | 19 | 2-7 | 0-3 | 2-3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | +14 | 6 |
| Brittney Sykes | 22 | 1-6 | 0-1 | 6-9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +21 | 8 |
| Bench | ||||||||||||||
| Mackenzie Holmes | 5 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +7 | 2 |
| Dominique Malonga | 30 | 10-12 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | +28 | 22 |
| Erica Wheeler | 20 | 6-8 | 4-6 | 1-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +15 | 17 |
| Tiffany Mitchell | 21 | 5-7 | 0-1 | 1-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +21 | 11 |
| Lexie Brown | 12 | 2-4 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +14 | 5 |
| Totals | 36-64 | 8-21 | 15-23 | 2 | 28 | 30 | 25 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 95 | ||
| Team % | 56.3% | 38.1% | 65.2% |
Dallas Wings: By the Numbers
Aziaha James (No. 10) scored seven points off the bench for the Dallas Wings. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
| Player | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maddy Siegrist | 29 | 6-12 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -19 | 12 |
| Luisa Geiselsoder | 24 | 1-5 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -9 | 3 |
| Grace Berger | 31 | 1-6 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | -29 | 4 |
| Paige Bueckers | 22 | 2-7 | 1-2 | 6-7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -17 | 11 |
| Haley Jones | 24 | 1-7 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | -23 | 2 |
| Bench | ||||||||||||||
| Myisha Hines-Allen | 17 | 1-5 | 0-0 | 3-4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | -20 | 5 |
| Amy Okonkwo | 9 | 3-5 | 0-2 | 2-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -10 | 8 |
| Diamond Miller | 23 | 2-7 | 1-4 | 3-4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -24 | 8 |
| Aziaha James | 21 | 3-13 | 1-6 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -24 | 7 |
| Totals | 20-67 | 4-23 | 16-19 | 8 | 28 | 36 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 20 | 60 | ||
| Team % | 29.9% | 17.4% | 84.2% |
