Dallas Wings’ Rally Falls Short in 85–81 Loss to Lynx

Paige Bueckers (No. 5) of the Dallas Wings earned her first career WNBA double-double in Wednesday night’s game against the Minnesota Lynx. (Photo: Dallas Wings Basketball)

MINNEAPOLIS — The Dallas Wings’ comeback effort came up just short on Wednesday night as they fell to the Minnesota Lynx, 83-80 at Target Center, despite a strong second-half rally and another promising performance from rookie guard Paige Bueckers.

Returning home to a roaring ovation from the Minnesota faithful, Bueckers posted her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 assists, showcasing her developing playmaking instincts while helping the Wings stay competitive in a tightly contested battle.

“You try to put everything into perspective and to see all the little girls and people in the stands and realize that, like, that was you just about, what, ten, fifteen years ago,” Bueckers said when asked by The Podium Finish about what the moment meant to her. “And so you never take it for granted—how blessed we are to be able to play in this league and to play at this level and to be in this organization with this team.

“Just extremely grateful. And you try to reflect that every single time you play with the passion and joy and heart that you play with. So you take it and you carry it with you wherever you go.”

For the Wings (0-3), it was their closest contest yet, a game where they trailed by as many as 11 before cutting the deficit to one possession multiple times late in the fourth quarter. Ultimately, timely shooting by Minnesota dashed Dallas’ hopes of completing the rally.

“I thought in general, our response in totality and our ability to execute a game plan [stood out],” Wings head coach Chris Koclanes said postgame. “I thought we found disruption on [Courtney Williams]. I thought we found disruption on [Napheesa Collier] a bunch. So I think we did a lot of things we set out to do and then still have to clean things up… putting them to the free throw line 27 times is a lot.”

Despite the defeat, the Wings showcased signs of progress, particularly from their starting backcourt. Arike Ogunbowale poured in a team-high 21 points and added five assists, shooting efficiently from the field and drilling a trio of three-pointers. The seventh-year veteran also made history by tying Diana Taurasi for the fastest player to reach 500 career three-pointers.

“She’s a legend,” Ogunbowale said. “So, you know, anytime you can make an imprint in this league—it’s such a hard league, a lot of great players are playing now and have been in the league—it is special. And, you know, I was glad I was able to celebrate a little bit in the locker room with my team.”

While Ogunbowale’s scoring fueled much of Dallas’ offense, she noted how she is still adjusting to a new system under Koclanes, the first-year head coach.

“Yeah, I think just getting comfortable with the offense, with the team, with the coaches,” she said. “I mean, it’s a new everything. So just giving myself grace but trying to be there for my team and them being there for me. So this was a good, better game than last game. Obviously, we wanted the win. We are going to keep getting better. We still got what, 41 games left. But this is a step.”

Ty Harris (No. 52) of the Dallas Wings was a catalyst off the bench against the Minnesota Lynx. (Photo: Dallas Wings Basketball)

Koclanes experimented with the team’s lineups throughout the game, sometimes shifting Bueckers off the ball and allowing Ty Harris to run the point in stretches. The coach cited “balance” as the motive behind the change, looking to find combinations that could generate momentum and consistency.

“When you bring Ty in the game, that naturally allows somebody else to kind of bring us organization,” Koclanes explained. “Facilitating some plays here as well. It’s just, you know, moving everybody around in different spots, different matchups, different actions. And trying to find what is working.”

Despite the loss, Dallas made key adjustments after halftime, ramping up their defensive pressure and disrupting Minnesota’s primary scorers. The Wings’ defensive rotations improved, forcing the Lynx into 17 turnovers and converting them into 21 points.

Offensively, Bueckers’ court vision stood out as she found open shooters and cutters, often drawing attention and dishing to her teammates. Her ability to stay composed amid the homecoming buzz drew praise from her coach and teammates alike.

Myisha Hines-Allen, an erstwhile member of the Lynx, also played a pivotal role in a near rally, scoring 11 points, seven boards and three boards. Ogunbowale sang her praises of her versatile veteran teammate’s solid play.

“She knows how to play the right way,” Ogunbowale said. “She makes the right read, and she’s a dog. We always know she has our back through whatever. Y’all see how she’s built, so nobody really wants to mess with her. But she’s just a fun person to be around.”

In the closing minutes, the Wings cut the Lynx’s lead to 83-81 following a clutch three-pointer from Ogunbowale. However, Minnesota iced the game at the line and denied Dallas a chance at a game-tying shot.

Still, the Wings exited Target Center feeling they had taken a measurable step forward. Koclanes expressed pride in the group’s resilience.

“I’m proud of our effort and our response,” he said. “And then just trying to figure out how I can continue to help this team, help these players and help them to feel more comfortable and continue to move this thing along at an accelerated pace.”

Next Stop

After an off day on Thursday and practice on Friday, the Wings take flight against the Atlanta Dream on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT at Gateway Center.

Dallas Wings: By the Numbers

Paige Bueckers continues to find her stride with the Dallas Wings. (Photo: Dallas Wings Basketball)

Minnesota Lynx: By the Numbers