Dallas Wings secure their first home victory of the season.
Dallas Wings rallied in the fourth quarter to take a crucial 80-71 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on Tuesday night. It was the final day of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup where we got two teams for the championship game. Wings halted their seven-game losing skid with a big win at home. It was their first victory in Texas this season after dropping five games.
Arike Ogunbowale and Paige Bueckers combined for 39 points to lead the only second win of the season. The rookie player scored a team-high 20 points and Ogunbowale dropped 19. Kaila Charles added 10 points off the bench, and NaLyssa Smith contributed 10 rebounds. For the Valkyries, Monique Billings scored 18 points, while Kayla Thornton added 17. With this loss, Golden State’s season-best three-game winning streak ended.
In the opening quarter, the Wings outscored the Valkyries 23-16 but Golden State reduced the deficit to three points at halftime. Second half was crucial for both teams and it became a one-point game at the end of third quarter. In previous game, Dallas lost the game after taking a 11-point lead in the final quarter but this time, they didn’t allow the Valkyries to repeat it.
It was a also a reunion of two UConn Huskies players as Bueckers and Golden State’ Kaitlyn Chen hugged each other after the matchup. Chen was the the No. 30 overall pick in the 2025 draft and made her WNBA debut on Tuesday. Coach Geno Auriemma was also sitting courtside to support his former UConn players Bueckers and Chen.
The Wings outplayed the Valkyries 22-14 in the final period to take the first home win of the season. Dallas Wings improved to 2-11 in the season and take the bottom spot in the regular-season standings. It was also their first victory in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup and ended the competition with a 1-5 record, worst among all participating teams.
On the other hand, the Valkyries dropped their first game after three straight victories and missed out an unreal chance to reach the championship game. Golden State now fell to 5-6 in the regular season. The Valkyries will now go on a five-game homestand and face the hot favorite Indiana Fever next. Dallas will take on Connecticut Sun for the second time this season. In previous meeting. the Wings defeated the Sun 109-87.
Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
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