Determined Dallas Wings Fall to Scrappy Chicago Sky, 94-83

DiJonai Carrington (No. 21) of the Dallas Wings battles for a bucket against Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky at College Park Center. (Photo: Rachel Schuoler | The Podium Finish)

ARLINGTON, Texas — Another tough night at College Park Center left the Dallas Wings searching for answers. Playing their second game in three nights against the Chicago Sky, the Wings dropped to 1-6 on the young season after falling 94-83 Saturday night.

Despite valiant efforts from NaLyssa Smith and DiJonai Carrington, the result mirrored Thursday’s loss: moments of promise, but not enough consistency to close the deal.

Chicago’s Ariel Atkins was a force all evening. The veteran guard torched Dallas with 26 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-8 from long range. Add in four steals, and she was everywhere—disrupting passing lanes, creating offense out of nothing, and essentially dictating the game’s pace.

The Sky (2-4) were sharp and balanced on both ends, a contrast to the Wings’ fragmented performance. Four Chicago starters scored in double figures. Courtney Vandersloot poured in 15 points to go with seven assists.

Angel Reese, showing off her versatility, added 14 points and pulled down nine boards. Kamilla Cardoso made her presence felt around the rim, cleaning up on second-chance opportunities and altering shots with her length.

For Dallas, there were sparks—but never a sustained blaze. Smith set the tone in the second quarter with an emphatic block on Reese, the kind of play that ripples through a team. Moments later, she bullied her way to the rim against Cardoso, absorbing contact and converting a tough finish.

That sequence fired up the Wings and fueled an 11-2 run that briefly gave them a 36-35 lead, one of the few stretches where momentum clearly shifted their way.

Smith ended the night with a team-high 20 points, five rebounds, and three blocks—a stat line that spoke to her assertiveness on both ends. She played with an urgency that has become her hallmark, especially on nights when her team needs an emotional anchor.

“At the end of the day, it’s our job. This is what we love to do,” Smith said after the game. “So we just gotta go out every single night and just put our heart on the line. Nobody wants to go out there and lose every night. So we’re trying every night to win. We’re gonna put it together. But, it’s our job to do it. Play hard. Come out and win.”

Carrington, meanwhile, continued to be a bright spot. Her energy was relentless from tipoff to the final buzzer. She finished with 16 points, six assists, and three steals, consistently finding ways to create opportunities in transition and set the defensive tone.

DiJonai Carrington (No. 21) of the Dallas Wings fought tenaciously for points in the paint against the Chicago Sky. (Photo: Rachel Schuoler | The Podium Finish)

“We’re not gonna roll over and just give teams a game like y’all said,” Carrington said. “I think all of our games have been—I think this is the biggest deficit we’ve lost by 11. So we’re right there. I don’t think that any of us expected to walk in and just automatically have it as a team.

“We got two people, three people who’ve ever played together before. So, I think it’s just gonna come as we continue to grow and mesh on the court and figure each other out. But that’s why I think that our defense has to be better because we’re able to generate more possessions and more shots on goal.”

The Wings’ offensive rhythm, however, was inconsistent. A seven-minute drought that spanned the late first and early second quarters proved costly. During that span, the Wings shot just 3-of-14 while the Sky rattled off a 21-7 run. Missed layups, rushed threes, and turnovers let Chicago slowly tighten their grip on the game.

Without Paige Bueckers, who remained in concussion protocol, the backcourt load fell heavily on Arike Ogunbowale. And while Ogunbowale carried Dallas many nights before, this was not one of them.

Ogunbowale finished with 15 points on 5-of-16 shooting, including just 1-of-5 from deep. She had only six points at the break and didn’t score in the second half until under eight minutes remained.

When Ogunbowale is not rolling, the Wings have to get creative—quick ball movement, decisive drives, and finding mismatches. That creativity came in flashes, but never felt sustainable over a quarter, much less a full game.

Head coach Chris Koclanes acknowledged the need for cohesion, but emphasized keeping the group united through the rocky start.

NaLyssa Smith (No. 1) of the Dallas Wings brought her A-game against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky. (Photo: Rachel Schuoler | The Podium Finish)

“Just preaching that we stick together,” Koclanes said. “We stick together and stay together and keep learning and keep building and keep trusting each other.”

Following a roller coast week, it underscored where the Wings stand: a team still figuring out how to gel. Chemistry takes time, especially with several new players in key roles, and time is not a luxury in a WNBA season.

But the effort has not been lacking—even when execution wavers, the hustle and competitiveness are present. The season is young, but the margin for error in the WNBA is razor-thin. Every possession, every box out, every late-clock decision matters.

If the Wings are going to right the ship, it will take a collective buy-in—and as Saturday showed, players like Smith and Carrington are already leading that charge. Now, it is about pulling the rest of the roster into rhythm.

Next Stop

Dallas heads to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday night, the Wings’ first WNBA Commissioner’s Cup game of 2025. Bueckers is expected to remain out, but the hope is that her return is not far off.

In the meantime, the Wings are staying locked in—because even with the setbacks, this group still believes they can turn the corner.

Chicago Sky: By the Numbers

Dallas Wings: By the Numbers

Luisa Geiselsoder (No. 10) of the Dallas Wings logged some game time experience against the Chicago Sky. (Photo: Rachel Schuoler | The Podium Finish)