Dallas Wings fall to Indiana Fever, breaking win streak

Dallas Wings (9-23) and Indiana Fever (17-16) entered College Park Center on Sunday looking to extend their three-game win streaks. Unfortunately for Dallas, miscommunication cost them the victory, 100-93.

Head coach Latricia Trammell loves where the team stands mentally and even through tough times, the locker room has been good all season. As the team continues to stay committed and move forward positively, she said it always presents a chance to win.

“We're trying to make the playoffs,” Trammell said. “We're finally, for the most part, 98% healthy, and that hasn't been that way this season so we're focused on us and trying to take one game at a time,” Trammell said.

After a slow start, forward Satou Sabally took off in the second half, finishing with 25 points which kept Dallas locked in and engaged, Trammell said.

“We kept huddling, we kept communicating and talking,” Sabally said. “Kudos to [Indiana], they had a great game, and they matched us really well. But, we stay together. That is our identity, and we'll move forward to the next game.”

Even in defeat, Trammell expressed gratitude for the team’s effort and pointed out the positives. It was the team’s fourth straight game reaching 90 points. The Wings produced a team-high 13 made 3-pointers and committed fewer turnovers than the Fever.

Sunday’s playoff-like atmosphere drowned out the Wings crowd with Fever fans throughout the game. Fans sported Fever guard Caitlin Clark’s jersey across the arena and cheered for every shot she took.

After familiar matchups in college, guard Jacy Sheldon started the game defending against Clark. Clark is a strong player, but Sheldon knows her game better than anyone, Trammell said.

“You just look forward to those matchups when you’re a competitor,” Sheldon said. “She can really pass the crap out of the ball, and that's what makes her so hard to guard, honestly, you got to pick your battles and choose.”

While Dallas remains the No. 11 seed in the standings, the team continues to battle for the eighth spot as playoffs near.

Guard Arike Ogunbowale led all Wings scorers with 34 points, eight rebounds and set a career-high with nine 3-pointers. Five of those shots came in the first quarter where she recorded 15 first points.

“She's probably not even worried about that,” Trammell said. “She did an amazing job, but she's not satisfied. But we're proud of that. That's a big record.”

Ogunbowale had a lot on her shoulders to start the season due to all of the injuries and sitting out one game, Trammell said. Without a victory, Ogunbowale won’t be satiated.

The team announced its eighth regular-season sellout, marking its ninth of 2024 and the second sellout in the last three home games.

The Wings will be in action 7 p.m. Tuesday at College Park Center against the Washington Mystics.

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