Natasha Howard (No. 6) of the Dallas Wings scored 24 points in a heartbreaking, overtime loss to the Atlanta Dream at Gateway Center Arena at College Park in College Park, Georgia, on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (Photo: Dallas Wings Basketball)
COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — The Dallas Wings may reflect on Friday night’s game against the Atlanta Dream like a movie with an outcome that inevitably will not change even after multiple viewings. After leading the Dream, 56-42, after the first two quarters, Dallas saw a surefire win slip away in the final 25 minutes.
Heading into Friday night’s game, the Wings and Dream pursued a victory that would either catalyze or derail either team’s postseason efforts. For the first 30 minutes, Dallas made a compelling case for their Playoff aspirations.
Early on, Dallas dominated Atlanta with points in the paint and fast break points as their high pace, high charge offense was on full display.
Four of the Wings’ starting five, namely, Natasha Howard, Teaira McCowan, Satou Sabally and Arike Ogunbowale scored plentiful buckets against Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, Naz Hillmon, Tina Charles and Allisha Gray, enjoying a 24-16 advantage after the first frame.
The second quarter was an offensive explosion with a memorable basket for Ogunbowale’s highlight reel. Before the Notre Dame alum’s 24′ trey, Howard, McCowan, Jacy Sheldon, Kalani Brown and Jaelyn Brown made their presence known with Dallas’ high tempo scoring.
Nia Coffey got Atlanta on the board first with Charles, Howard, Hillmon, Gray and Canada keeping the Dream in the battle.
Once the second half ensued, the momentum shifted to the Dream’s side on their home court. Whenever the Wings dropped baskets, namely with Sheldon’s free throws from a Canada foul in the opening 29 seconds, Hillmon responded in kind.
Arike Ogunbowale (No. 24) of the Dallas Wings had another solid 22 point performance against the Atlanta Dream. (Photo: Dallas Wings Basketball)
Ogunbowale, Sabally and McCowan contributed to the Wings’ 19 third quarter points while the Dream tallied 27, namely from Gray, Canada, Howard and Charles trimming Dallas’ lead from 14 to six.
A 10-0 run in 1:48 by the Dream tied things up, 85-85, in the fourth quarter, prompting a Wings timeout with 3:27 remaining. Howard and McCowan put Dallas back in the lead with 1:41 left in the fourth, 89-87, before Charles’ quick, 25-second 4-0 scramble and a Howard free throw put Atlanta in the lead over Dallas, 92-90.
With just over two seconds left in regulation, Howard sank a game-saving jumper to force a five-minute overtime, 92-92, against a red hot Atlanta squad. It was a whole new basketball game for both bubble teams in front of the 3,260 fans in attendance.
As the overtime period ensued, Atlanta quickly tallied a 5-0 run with Hillmon’s layup and Gray’s trademark trey in the opening 21 seconds. Howard and McCowan responded with some needed Wings points to make it a three-point difference with 3:25 left in this extra stanza.
From there, it was all Atlanta as the Dream rallied from a 16-point deficit to defeat the Wings by 11. For Atlanta, it was euphoria as their Playoff destiny was more in their hands than the Wings, a team that has been challenged on numerous occasions from injuries to adversities beyond their control.
Following the heartbreaking loss, Howard reflected on the game and how the Wings’ mindset must be heading into Sunday afternoon’s critical showdown in Chicago.
“We battled tonight. Give credit to Atlanta. They battled us well. We just came up short,” Howard said. “But we’ve got to go back, watch film on the things that we need to do for the Chicago game. And just switch our mindset to Chicago.”
Sheldon agreed with Howard while giving a glimpse into Dallas’ mindset given the short turnover time from Friday night’s loss to their Sunday evening game against the Sky.
Jacy Sheldon (No. 4) of the Dallas Wings reflected on how her teammates can move on from a difficult defeat against the Atlanta Dream on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (Photo: Dallas Wings Basketball)
“We regroup, refocus after this one,” Sheldon observed. “Chicago’s a good team and we’re excited to go there. And I think [we must] shift our focus quick and learn from this. Obviously we’re disappointed but looking forward to playing them.”
In terms of areas of opportunities, Howard reflected on how the Wings must manage the rock more efficiently.
“Rebound and the turnovers because we ended up, in the first half, we have four turnovers. But the end of the game we had 18,” Howard said. “So I think that’s one thing we need to focus on more and also rebounding because in the overtime, they had three possessions without putting a body on somebody.”
As much as it is about reviewing tape and reflecting on what worked and what did not for the Wings, head coach Latricia Trammell knows her team has to take care of themselves and each other to be in the right mindset.
“It’s just hard because you want it so bad for them,” Trammell said. “And it goes back to what they just said. They battled but it’s just having to to finish [which] is the biggest thing, but [we’ve] just got to regroup. Can’t let the lows get too low and the highs get too high. And just get prepared for Chicago and take care of ourselves, mentally and physically.”
That healthy mindset reflected with Howard, a three-time WNBA champion. Basketball is as much as it is about winning as it is learning from a tough defeat.
“Just keep battling if you make the play,” Howard offered. “If we don’t make the play, you’re still battling, still grow as a team and still grow as individuals at the end of the day.”
Fighting back and never giving up were the sentiments echoed by Sheldon in terms of what message she’d send to her team and those supporting this battle tested Wings squad.
“When you’re competitors, you go out there and compete, no matter what,” Sheldon said. “You know you’re playing to win. And I think that no matter, that’ll continue to be our focus moving forward.”
The Rundown
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | OT | Total |
| Dallas Wings | 24 | 32 | 19 | 17 | 4 | 96 |
| Atlanta Dream | 16 | 26 | 27 | 23 | 15 | 107 |
Dallas Wings: By the Numbers
The Dallas Wings must press onward for a season saving victory against the Chicago Sky on Sunday, Sept. 8. (Photo: Dallas Wings Basketball)
| Dallas Wings | ||||||||||||||
| Starters | Minutes | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Natasha Howard (F) | 41 | 11-23 | 0-1 | 2-4 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -18 | 24 |
| Satou Sabally (F) | 41 | 6-11 | 3-5 | 3-4 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | -3 | 18 |
| Teaira McCowan (C) | 36 | 7-10 | 0-0 | 4-5 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | -9 | 18 |
| Arike Ogunbowale (G) | 45 | 7-17 | 3-8 | 5-5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | -11 | 22 |
| Jacy Sheldon (G) | 31 | 2-5 | 1-2 | 4-4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -3 | 9 |
| Bench | Minutes | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Maddy Siegrist (F) | 3 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Kalani Brown (F) | 8 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Jaelyn Brown (G) | 6 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -8 | 3 |
| Sevgi Uzun (G) | 14 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -5 | 0 |
| Lou Lopez Sénéchal (G) | DNP – Coach’s Decision | |||||||||||||
Atlanta Dream: By the Numbers
| Atlanta Dream | ||||||||||||||
| Starters | Minutes | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Naz HIllmon (F) | 36 | 6-7 | 0-0 | 6-10 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 18 |
| Tina Charles (C) | 40 | 9-19 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 20 |
| Allisha Gray (G) | 42 | 6-15 | 2-7 | 5-8 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 19 |
| Jordin Canada (G) | 41 | 5-8 | 0-1 | 5-6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 15 |
| Rhyne Howard (G) | 45 | 12-26 | 6-17 | 3-6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 33 |
| Bench | Minutes | FG | 3PT | FT | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- | PTS |
| Nia Coffey (F) | 2 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4 | 2 |
| Lorela Cubaj (F) | 13 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Maya Caldwell (G) | 3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -4 | 0 |
| Haley Jones (G) | 4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 |
| Laeticia Amihere (F) | DNP – Coach’s Decision | |||||||||||||
Playoff Picture
Friday night’s loss against the Atlanta Dream (12-22) relegated the Dallas Wings from two to three games behind eighth place Chicago Sky (12-22). The Sky hold the tiebreaker over the Dream for the eighth and final Playoffs spot while the 10th place Washington Mystics (11-23) are a game behind the Sky and Dream.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Sparks (7-27) were officially eliminated from Playoffs contention after losing to the Sky on Friday night, 92-78.
Coming Up Next
Dallas takes on the Chicago Sky for a must-win game on Sunday at 5 p.m. CT at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
Coverage of the game can be seen on Bally Sports Southwest Extra and streamed on WNBA League Pass for those outside of the viewing areas for the Dallas Wings. Presently, the Sky lead the season series over the Wings, 2-1, most defeating the Wings, 83-72, recently on Thursday, June 20.
