Arike Ogunbowale (No. 24) of the Dallas Wings played solid basketball against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena. (Photo: Christopher Vargas | The Podium Finish)
LAS VEGAS — The Dallas Wings watched their third-quarter surge evaporate in the final 3:55 as the Las Vegas Aces surged past them, 88–84, Friday night at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Despite a strong offensive showing — 47.1 percent from the field, 40 percent from deep and 90.9 percent at the line — they dropped to 1–11 as late-game miscues, fatigue, and a barrage of free throws doomed them in a contest they led by eight deep into the fourth.
They came out of the locker room with purpose. Trailing 43–40 at halftime, the Wings locked in defensively to open the third, forcing turnovers, punishing Las Vegas on the boards and unleashing an 18–0 run that erased the deficit and pushed them ahead 58–49.
Luisa Geiselsöder, Arike Ogunbowale, Paige Bueckers and DiJonai Carrington fueled that burst in a fast-paced display of their potential. For a moment, it looked like Dallas might finally seize control — and shake off a season full of tight-loss frustration.
“We felt like we were too lax at the point of attack,” Ogunbowale said postgame. “We tried to be better at the point of attack in the initial ball screen so we didn’t have to help too much. And then, we just got steals, got stops and we were scoring. We were attacking. We were the aggressors.”
That assertiveness carried into the fourth. With 3:55 left, Geiselsöder drained a tough bucket — part of a perfect 6-for-6 night — to give Dallas an 82–71 cushion. The arena buzzed with the scent of an upset. Bueckers added a fall-away jumper to stretch the margin to 11. Then everything unraveled.
They missed their next eight field-goal attempts. Las Vegas capitalized in the paint, on the glass, and especially at the foul line. Jackie Young and Jewell Loyd took over — Young with a relentless downhill attack, sinking eight straight free throws during an electrifying 17–2 run that erased Dallas’s lead in under four minutes. Loyd punctuated it with the go-ahead three with 28 seconds left.
The final box showed 15 turnovers and no buckets in the closing stretch. On the other end, Las Vegas pulled down 36 rebounds and outscored the Wings 26–10 at the stripe. Even though Dallas hit 90.9 percent from the line, they weren’t the ones living there late.
Ogunbowale, who finished with 26 points and eight assists, didn’t sugarcoat the moment.
“It’s just… I don’t know… it’s definitely unfortunate,” she said. “I mean, what was it like 26 to something?” she trailed off, referring to the free-throw disparity. “Can’t say all of them were fouls. But definitely unfortunate.”
Luisa Geiselsöder (No. 18) of the Dallas Wings had a strong performance before heading to EuroBasket. (Photo: Christopher Vargas | The Podium Finish)
Geiselsöder was just as direct. “28 to 11 [free throws] was crazy. Yeah. That’s crazy,” she said. “I think we can see how we can play good basketball. But… these are the four minutes where we really have to focus and learn from… that’s what’s going to get us wins in the end.”
Her steady two-way presence was a bright spot all night. She finished with 13 points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals without missing a shot. But her night was also her send-off — she departs Saturday for EuroBasket duty. The locker room felt that absence coming.
“It’s tough to leave the team right now… I hope that’s going to be better in the future,” Geiselsöder said. “But I’m also excited for EuroBasket. That’s my team too. That’s my family since I’m 13 years old,” she added, her voice catching slightly as the team huddled around.
Wings head coach Chris Koclanes didn’t hide his frustration.
“We haven’t had a lead. We haven’t played in a tight game like that with the lead, so we’ll be better for it,” he said.
Koclanes wanted more composure late, but admitted it’s a fine line between managing the clock and staying aggressive.
“You want to slow the game down… but we were in a flow. We were attacking. We were scoring. So that’s the balance,” he said. “We just put them to the free throw line and the clock stops… some of that, that’s on me. I’ll look in the mirror and I’ll be better for our team going forward.”
Ogunbowale led the charge with 26, followed by Bueckers’ 16. Carrington chipped in 15 and eight rebounds, and Myisha Hines-Allen added six points and five boards. But the production dried up when it mattered most.
Paige Bueckers (No. 5) of the Dallas Wings turned in another strong showing against the Las Vegas Aces. (Photo: Christopher Vargas | The Podium Finish)
Bueckers, still regaining form, went 7-for-19 but had key moments on both ends. Hines-Allen was efficient in her touches. Geiselsöder delivered the most complete performance of her season. And Carrington played with the edge Dallas needs more of. Yet when the pressure peaked, the momentum disappeared.
On the other side, Young poured in 28 — including 22 in the second half — and was automatic at the line. Loyd had 21 with the go-ahead dagger. Chelsea Gray added 13 and five assists, while Kiah Stokes held things down inside with seven rebounds and six points. Their closing sequence was methodical, ruthless and physical — the kind of execution Dallas is still chasing.
This one showed the Wings can hang with anyone — even a championship-caliber Aces team missing MVP A’ja Wilson, out with a concussion. Both teams brought firepower. But when things got tight, Las Vegas didn’t blink. The Aces closed the door with free throws, rebounding, and clutch shotmaking. Dallas, again, couldn’t finish.
Now comes a tough stretch at home. More opportunities to grow — or more heartbreak, if the late-game woes don’t resolve. Koclanes called this one a learning moment. The players believe they’re close. But belief has to start turning into wins.
Geiselsöder, reflective in her final postgame for a while, sounded the tone of someone who still sees what’s possible.
“I think our team chemistry is great. Honestly, I have a lot of fun with this team,” she said. “We support each other. We have each other’s back. So it’s a lot of fun. It’s great. I like learning from all of these vets [and] even rookies.
“It’s really fun to be here. It’s fun to be around the girls. So I enjoy it a lot. But especially with the score we have right now, it’s hard to leave here now. I would like to stay and help the team win.”
Next Stop
After traveling from Las Vegas on Saturday, the Dallas Wings head home to Arlington, Texas, before taking on the upstart Golden State Valkyries (4-5) on Tuesday night at College Park Center at 7 p.m. CT.
Dallas Wings: By the Numbers
DiJonai Carrington (No. 21) of the Dallas Wings tallied 15 points against the Las Vegas Aces. (Photo: Christopher Vargas | The Podium Finish)
| Player | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myisha Hines‑Allen | 27 | 2‑3 | 0‑0 | 2‑2 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +5 | 6 |
| Luisa Geiselsöder | 26 | 6‑6 | 1‑1 | 0‑0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | +2 | 13 |
| Arike Ogunbowale | 38 | 9‑17 | 3‑8 | 5‑5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 26 |
| DiJonai Carrington | 35 | 6‑16 | 3‑5 | 0‑0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | –5 | 15 |
| Paige Bueckers | 38 | 7‑19 | 0‑2 | 2‑2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | –6 | 16 |
| NaLyssa Smith | 10 | 2‑3 | 0‑1 | 1‑2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | –6 | 5 |
| Aziaha James | 21 | 1‑5 | 1‑3 | 0‑0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | –11 | 3 |
| JJ Quinerly | 5 | 0‑1 | 0‑0 | 0‑0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 0 |
| Maddy Siegrist | DNP | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kaila Charles | DNP | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Team | 33‑70 | 8‑20 | 10‑11 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 24 | 10 | 2 | 15 | 20 | — | 84 | |
| FG % | 47.1 | 40.0 | 90.9% |
Las Vegas Aces: By the Numbers
Jackie Young (No. 0) of the Las Vegas Aces turned up the wick against the Dallas Wings. (Photo: Christopher Vargas | The Podium Finish)
| Player | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiah Stokes | 33 | 3‑5 | 0‑2 | 0‑0 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | +7 | 6 |
| Elizabeth Kitley | 18 | 1‑4 | 0‑0 | 0‑0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | –13 | 2 |
| Chelsea Gray | 28 | 3‑8 | 0‑3 | 7‑7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | –1 | 13 |
| Jewell Loyd | 28 | 7‑13 | 5‑8 | 2‑2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | –6 | 21 |
| Jackie Young | 33 | 7‑16 | 3‑8 | 11‑11 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1 | +10 | 28 |
| Kierstan Bell | 11 | 1‑4 | 1‑3 | 0‑0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | –8 | 3 |
| Tiffany Mitchell | 13 | 0‑0 | 0‑0 | 4‑6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +4 | 4 |
| Dana Evans | 14 | 2‑6 | 0‑2 | 2‑2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +9 | 6 |
| Aaliyah Nye | 22 | 2‑6 | 1‑3 | 0‑0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | +18 | 5 |
| Joyner Holmes | DNP | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Team | 26‑62 | 10‑29 | 26‑28 | 10 | 26 | 36 | 15 | 10 | 4 | 18 | 12 | — | 88 | |
| FG % | 41.9 | 34.5 | 92.9% |
