Dallas Wings Stave Off Surging New York Liberty, 92-82

Arike Ogunbowale (No. 24) of the Dallas Wings would not be denied one of her most stellar performances this season against Sabrina Ionescu (No. 20) and the New York Liberty at College Park Center. (Photo: Rachel Schuoler | The Podium Finish)

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Wings continued the second half of the WNBA season with energy, urgency and the right combination of offensive flow and timely defense. Despite letting a 30-point first-half lead slip to single digits late, Dallas held firm and came away with a 92-82 victory over the New York Liberty on Monday evening at College Park Center.

Led by Arike Ogunbowale’s double-double and a strong all-around performance by Paige Bueckers, the Wings (8-19) beat the Liberty (17-8) for the first time since July 19, 2023, taking a 1-0 advantage of the defending WNBA champions in this year’s series with all-time series record of 42-41.

Ogunbowale poured in 20 points while dishing a career-high 14 assists against just one turnover. Bueckers added 20 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals in a game where Dallas led from wire to wire.

Dallas jumped out early with high-octane transition offense and sharp execution in the halfcourt. Bueckers scored the first basket of the game just 30 seconds in, setting the tone for a Wings team that built a 16-2 lead inside the game’s opening four minutes.

A 30-point cushion midway through the second quarter shrank to just six in the final minutes of regulation. Yet each time New York made a push, Dallas responded. Contributions from Luisa Geiselsöder, Myisha Hines-Allen and Haley Jones kept the Wings’ offense moving and the Liberty at bay.

Geiselsöder finished with 14 points and three rebounds on 6-of-9 shooting, showing confidence in the paint. Jones, making her first start of the season, added eight points, three rebounds, and two assists in 26 minutes.

Hines-Allen delivered four points and four rebounds off the bench, while Li Yueru added eight points and three boards in just 17 minutes.

After the game, Bueckers deflected praise for her own performance, instead spotlighting her veteran teammate.

Arike Ogunbowale (No. 24) tied a Dallas Wings franchise record of 14 assists in a single game. (Photo: Rachel Schuoler | The Podium Finish)

“For me, it wasn’t really about my performance, but Arike’s,” Bueckers said. “It’s a ‘What have you done for me lately?’ league. I think everybody should be writing a story about her tonight. To have an efficient 20 points, to have 14 assists, and one turnover. And just playing within the offense, playing within the flow, playing on both sides of the ball.”

Ogunbowale didn’t just contribute as a scorer, but elevated the entire offense with her vision and ability to control the tempo. Dallas assisted on 27 of its 36 field goals and turned the ball over only 10 times.

The Liberty, who entered the game ranked second in the WNBA standings, found themselves out of rhythm early and spent the rest of the night trying to claw back.

New York cut the deficit to six with under two minutes remaining following a layup by Jonquel Jones, but failed to get any closer. Sabrina Ionescu tallied 17 points, while Jones added 18 points and seven rebounds.

Ionescu helped trim the Wings’ advantage in the second half, but Dallas weathered the storm. Bueckers and DiJonai Carrington‘s late free throws secured the win for Dallas in the closing moments.

Wings head coach Chris Koclanes praised his team’s resilience and the adjustments that helped them withstand New York’s push.

“Proud that we were able to pull that out again,” Koclanes said. “It’s never easy to play with a lead. And with a young group, we have to learn how to do that and also learn how to play down the stretch. I didn’t love some of the shots we took down the stretch or just understanding time and score clock management. But those are all things you take from this game — and thankfully you take it with a W.”

Paige Bueckers (No. 5) also had 20 points for the Dallas Wings in a 92-82 win over the New York Liberty. (Photo: Rachel Schuoler | The Podium Finish)

Koclanes’ decision to insert Jones into the starting lineup and shift Bueckers to the primary ballhandler role early paid dividends. The Wings dictated pace, found rhythm, and forced the Liberty into rushed possessions in the first half.

Dallas shot 46.2% from the field and 92.9% from the free throw line. The Wings outrebounded the Liberty 39-33 and finished with more steals (8-6) and fewer turnovers (10-12).

Stephanie Talbot came off the bench to score 10 points and grab six rebounds for New York, while Marine Johannès contributed nine points in over 18 minutes of play.

The Wings led 28-17 after the first quarter and extended that lead to 52-26 midway through the second behind Ogunbowale’s playmaking and second-chance points from Jones and Geiselsöder. By halftime, Dallas held a 57-36 advantage.

New York emerged from the locker room with more composure and urgency. A 10-0 run led by Ionescu and Cloud cut the Wings’ lead to 15 entering the fourth. But timely shot-making from James and steady control from Bueckers down the stretch helped seal the deal.

With a short turnaround before starting the second half of their home stand, the Wings continue to thrive with a rookie singing her praises for the star veteran guard.

“For a performance like this tonight, the story should be about Arike,” Bueckers reiterated. “It’s not going to be beautiful every night, but we’re learning how to win together.”

Nest Stop

Dallas snapped a two-game losing streak as they prepare to host the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. CT.

New York Liberty: By the Numbers

Sabrina Ionescu (No. 20) tallied 17 points for the New York Liberty against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center. (Photo: Rachel Schuoler | The Podium Finish)

Dallas Wings: By the Numbers

Arike Ogunbowale had a double-double for the Dallas Wings against the New York Liberty. (Photo: Rachel Schuoler | The Podium Finish)