Dallas Wings Lose Late to Los Angeles Sparks, 81-72

Arike Ogunbowale (No. 24) of the Dallas Wings scored 22 points against the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday, June 7, 2024, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Dallas Wings Basketball)

LOS ANGELES — Arike Ogunbowale and Maddy Siegrist combined to score 43 of the Dallas Wings‘ 72 points on Friday night against the Los Angeles Sparks. However, their efforts were not enough, falling to Sparks in a 81-72 loss.

In the third WNBA Commissioner’s Cup game of the 2024 season for the Wings, the league’s fifth highest scoring team kept in the fight against the Sparks. Monique Billings started things off with a driving layup just 32 seconds into the game before Siegrist went on a scoring frenzy.

Siegrist tallied off nine of her 20 points in the first quarter, showcasing her adept midrange to three point skills to keep the Wings within three of the Sparks at the end of the first quarter. Meanwhile, Ogunbowale contributed six of her 22 points in the final 4:10 of the first quarter with her potent jumpshots.

Then, in the second quarter, it was nearly all Wings against the Sparks. The tandem of Ogunbowale and Siegrist tallied a combined 14 of the Wings’ 24 points, leading to a 44-38 lead over the Sparks going into halftime.

Along the way, Billings, Teaira McCowan and Sevgi Uzun tallied points inside the perimeter against the young, defensive minded Sparks. Namely, Dearica Hamby, Lexie Brown and rookie Cameron Brink led the way for the Sparks’ offense, responding in kind to the Wings’ frantic, fast start.

Once the second half kicked off, the Wings stuck to their modus operandi with Siegrist and Ogunbowale still continuing their hot start. As for the Sparks, Hamby went on a tear, scoring 10 of her 22 points in the third quarter.

Likewise, rookie Rickea Jackson went on the attack with six of her eight points rounded up in the third quarter, closing the gap on the Wings’ lead from six to two points.

As the fourth quarter was underway, the momentum shifted in the Sparks’ direction. In contrast to a torrid first half and respectable third quarter, the Wings missed 10 shots while the Sparks’ bench contributed in the late going.

Jackson, Hamby, Brown, Brink, Layshia Clarendon and Aari McDonald led the Sparks to a dominant fourth quarter for the Sparks, outscoring the Wings, 20-9. Compared to the starting five for the Wings, who averaged 35 minutes on the court, the Sparks’ starting five were on the court for an average of 23.2 minutes.

Arike Ogunbowale (No. 24) of the Dallas Wings led the way for her team in points scored against the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday, June 7, 2024, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Dallas Wings Basketball)

In a gallant effort, the Wings’ quick, fast out of the gates start was not enough to stave off a calculating Sparks. Now, the Wings look to snap their four-game losing streak going into Sunday afternoon’s game against Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury (3 p.m. CT on Bally Sports Southwest and WNBA League Pass),

Following the game, Siegrist, who tallied 21 points, six rebounds and an assist, reflected on being on the attack for all 40 minutes of the game.

“Just continuing to be aggressive and trust the work you put in, trust the plays that we’re running,” Siegrist said. “It’s always nice to play well, but it doesn’t feel good when when you lose games.”

Wings head coach Latricia Trammell knows her team cannot dwell too long about their late loss against the Sparks with a quick turnaround to play the Mercury on Sunday afternoon back home at College Park Center.

“We’ve got to handle better when other teams go on runs,” Trammel offered. “We’re shorthanded, but it’s that adversity that hits because you want to win so bad. And we just got to have a short term memory, stay up and finish the game. Strong first half. Decent third. But the fourth, we kind of tried to win it all in one possession.”

Despite Ogunbowale having another 20 or more points scoring night against the Sparks, she summarized the Wings’ overall performance knowing she and her teammates must capitalize on a game like Friday night’s matchup.

“Well, I wouldn’t say I had a great game,” Ogunbowale said. “Both sides, defense was solid. I’ve been trying to focus on that offense. Wasn’t what it should be. And I have to do better next game, but with a quarter of to the season in, this one’s a tough one to drop.

“We were up majority of the game, and then we just kind of broke apart, but we just got to watch film, get better and focus on Phoenix for Sunday.”

Still, Ogunbowale, as Trammell offered, knows it is about keeping even keel and playing together as a team to turn things around.

“We’ve gotta have short term memory, especially with this schedule, because you can’t really sulk too much,” she said. “But I mean, I’m ready for the load. My teammates helped me.

“Maddy, she was the leading scorer. She did a lot for us. T’s (Teaira McCowan) always there, Mo’s (Monique Billings) always there. So it depends on the night. It might be somebody else, but as a whole, we just have to play as a unit and we’ll get more wins.”

The Rundown

Monique Billings (No. 25) and Sevgi Uzun (No. 1) fight for the ball against Cameron Brink (No. 22) of the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday, June 7, 2024, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Dallas Wings Basketball)

Dallas Wings: By the Numbers

Los Angeles Sparks: By the Numbers