Dallas Wings Lock Down Atlanta Dream in 68-55 Victory

Li Yueru (No. 28) recorded her first double-double in her new Dallas Wings’ colors in a win over the Atlanta Dream, 68-55, at College Park Center. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

ARLINGTON, Texas — A gritty 68–55 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night marked another step forward for the Dallas Wings, who leaned on stifling defense, rebounding dominance, and rising team chemistry to earn their second straight home win.

Limiting Atlanta to just 55 points on a frigid 23.4% shooting (15 of 64), Dallas asserted control early and never relinquished it. The Dream managed only 7 of 34 from three-point range (20.6%) and found little rhythm throughout the contest.

Meanwhile, the Wings converted 25 of 66 from the field (37.9%) and delivered in key hustle areas. They won the battle on the boards, 44–37, and cashed in at the line, hitting 16 of 18 free throws (88.9%).

Arike Ogunbowale led the way with 21 points on 6-of-14 shooting, adding nine clutch free throws and relentless defensive energy. Her effort helped hold Atlanta to just one three-pointer in the final quarter, as the Wings locked things down to close it out.

Off the bench, Myisha Hines-Allen contributed 8 points and 4 rebounds in 13 minutes, while Aziaha James added 7 points and 4 boards, helping to stabilize the Wings during a competitive third quarter.

Inside, Li Yueru had her breakthrough moment as she posted her first double-double in the Dallas Wings’ colors with 10 points and 15 rebounds in 34 minutes. Her presence in the paint limited Atlanta’s second-chance scoring and gave Dallas consistent interior toughness.

“We’re finally getting over that hump,” Ogunbowale said. “We still had to give ourselves grace — new team, new coach, all new players — and it didn’t come together right away like one would hope. But we’ve just been sticking with it, trusting each other, trusting our coaches. I’m glad it’s showing on the court.”

Yueru echoed that sentiment in her postgame comments.

“We do same things. I really appreciate everything,” Yueru said. “And like Arike just said, we trust each other and trust Coach. We will do more good things and keep going. We hope we can get more wins.”

Coach Chris Koclanes, who had challenged the team to play with more discipline after Sunday’s loss in Washington, was pleased with the progress.

Arike Ogunbowale (No. 24) of the Dallas Wings had another strong performance in a winning result against the Atlanta Dream. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

“I thought we were better,” Koclanes said. “We weren’t perfect, and we’re never going to be perfect. But when you play with that level of compete and there’s just an extra willingness to give it extra effort and to scramble when it maybe didn’t initially go the way we had planned or scouted … that’s the part. We gave extra efforts and just pursued consistently.”

Dallas opened strong, building a 19–10 advantage after the first quarter. Defense was the catalyst, forcing tough shots and limiting Atlanta to 3-of-11 from deep in the opening frame.

Momentum shifted momentarily in the second quarter, as the Dream strung together four straight three-pointers to pull even. Still, the Wings responded with a 7–0 run to close the half and carried a 31–30 lead into the break.

Reenergized, the home team widened the gap in the third quarter thanks to Ogunbowale’s midrange scoring and Yueru’s second-effort boards. By the end of the frame, Dallas led by double digits.

Then came the knockout punch. The Wings erupted for an 11–0 run to open the fourth quarter, stalling Atlanta’s offense for over six minutes. The Dream missed their first seven shots of the period and managed just one field goal in the opening stretch.

Rookie Paige Bueckers added 12 points on 6-of-15 shooting with 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Kaila Charles chipped in 1 point and a team-high 8 boards, while NaLyssa Smith contributed 4 points and 4 rebounds off the bench.

On the other side, Rhyne Howard led all scorers with 23 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Brionna Jones tallied 12 points and Allisha Gray added 13, but Atlanta’s supporting cast fell short. The Dream shot 7-of-34 from beyond the arc as they struggled to convert open looks.

Scoring by quarters reflected Dallas’s control: the Wings won the first, third, and fourth stanzas, using tight coverage and physicality to wear Atlanta down. While the Dream outscored the Wings in the second, they never mounted a true comeback in the second half.

Team stats told a clear story. Dallas’s rebounding edge, low turnover count (8), and 89% free throw mark gave them the margin needed to control the game’s tempo. Atlanta, by contrast, couldn’t make up for missed shots and sluggish fourth-quarter execution.

Paige Bueckers (No. 5) turned in 12 points for the Dallas Wings on Tuesday night. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

With the support of a sold-out College Park Center, it was lively in spirit — especially as Yueru reeled in boards and Bueckers worked the floor with confidence. Her growing poise has added a different rhythm to Dallas’s offensive attack.

After starting the season 1–11, the Wings have now won three of their last four games. Their turnaround has come with a newfound balance — Ogunbowale remains a catalyst along with determined players like Yueru and Bueckers are carving out bigger impacts.

Koclanes emphasized the importance of “playing through the messiness,” something this team seems to be embracing. With James and Hines-Allen providing dependable minutes, Dallas’s bench depth is showing signs of life — a development that could pay off in tighter, more high-stakes contests.

Confidence is still building, but the results are catching up. The Wings aren’t perfect, but they’re forming an identity centered on effort, defensive grit, and trust — all qualities that shined against Atlanta.

Now 4–12, Dallas continues its pursuit of consistency and relevance in a stacked league. The belief in the locker room is real — and increasingly visible on the floor.

Next Stop

The Wings trade their familiar College Park Center digs for American Airlines Center, where they’ll host the Indiana Fever in a nationally televised matchup Friday night at 6:30 p.m. CT on ION. The highly anticipated showdown pits Bueckers against 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark in their first pro meeting.

Atlanta Dream: By the Numbers

Allisha Gray tallied 13 points for the Atlanta Dream against the Dallas Wings. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

Dallas Wings: By the Numbers

Li Yueru (No. 28) and Arike Ogunbowale (No. 24) catalyzed the Dallas Wings in their third win in the past four games. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)