Arlington, TX (July 30, 2025) – In a nail-biting contest at College Park Center, the Dallas Wings (8-20) were edged out 88-85 by the Atlanta Dream (16-11) on Wednesday night. The game featured 22 lead changes and 14 ties, with both teams exchanging blows throughout the final moments. Paige Bueckers shined once again, leading the Wings with 21 points and seven assists, surpassing 400 career points and becoming the fastest player to reach 400 points and 100 assists in over two decades. Her performance continues to solidify her place as a rising star in the WNBA.

Arike Ogunbowale also contributed 12 points, two assists, and a steal, reaching a career milestone by eclipsing 1,500 made field goals. Despite these individual achievements, the Wings came up just short in a dramatic finish.

Game Leaders:

• Points:

  • Atlanta: Hillmon (21)

  • Dallas: Bueckers (21)

• Rebounds:

  • Atlanta: Paopao (8)

  • Dallas: Geiselsöder, Hines-Allen (4)

• Assists:

  • Atlanta: Gray (7)

  • Dallas: Bueckers (7)

First Quarter: Back-and-Forth Battle

The game started with high energy as both teams quickly found their rhythm on offense. Dallas’ starting lineup, including JJ Quinerly, Bueckers, Ogunbowale, Haley Jones, and Luisa Geiselsöder, combined for 11 points early, but the Dream answered back with a 9-1 run. The quarter featured eight lead changes and five ties, as both teams shot over 50% from the field. All five Wings starters contributed points in the first, but Atlanta closed the quarter strong, fueled by three 3-pointers from Allisha Gray, and ended with a 26-21 lead.

Second Quarter: Wings Defense and Bueckers’ Leadership

Frisco’s defense stepped up in the second quarter, holding the Dream scoreless until midway through the period. This allowed the Wings to regain their footing, as Bueckers led the charge, scoring 10 points and dishing out four assists. Dallas tied the game at 40-40 before Atlanta took back a five-point advantage. The Wings shot 50% from the floor in the first half, including an impressive 55% from beyond the arc. Geiselsöder added a pair of 3-pointers to keep the offense flowing. Gray, who had been dynamic in the first quarter, was limited to just one field goal in the second, leaving Dallas in a strong position heading into halftime with a 40-39 deficit.

Third Quarter: Bench Sparks Momentum

The third quarter saw Dallas fight back after an early Atlanta surge. Ogunbowale’s basket gave the Wings a brief 1-point lead, but Bri Jones led a 12-4 Dream run, forcing a timeout from Dallas. However, Myisha Hines-Allen and the Dallas bench provided the answer. Hines-Allen hit a 3-pointer, and the Wings went on a 13-4 run of their own to reclaim the lead. DiJonai Carrington, Li Yueru, and Hines-Allen combined for 13 points, giving the Wings bench a decisive edge over Atlanta’s reserves. Dallas outscored the Dream 24-18 in the third, entering the final frame with a 63-57 lead.

Fourth Quarter: A Dramatic Final Push

The game went down to the wire in the fourth quarter, as Atlanta’s 3-point shooting came alive. The Dream connected on three 3-pointers in the first two minutes to regain an eight-point lead. Bueckers led an 8-0 Wings run, assisting on two baskets and finishing through contact to tie the game at 76-76. Jones’ miraculous 38-foot heave gave Dallas a 77-76 lead, but the drama didn’t stop there. The final minutes were a back-and-forth affair, with nine lead changes and four ties. Tied at 85-85, Atlanta’s Naz Hillmon hit a clutch 3-pointer with just two seconds remaining, giving the Dream a 88-85 lead. The Wings had one final chance, but their last attempt fell short.

Final Thoughts:

Dallas fought valiantly but fell just short of securing the win. Bueckers continued her stellar play, while the Wings’ offense was efficient, shooting 50% from the floor and beyond the arc. However, the late-game 3-point shooting from Hillmon, who finished with 12 points in the fourth quarter, proved to be the difference-maker for Atlanta. Despite the loss, the Wings showed significant improvement, with four starters scoring in double figures and solid contributions from the bench.

Up next, the Wings will host the Indiana Fever at American Airlines Center on Friday for “A Night in Dallas: The Sequel.” Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT, with the game airing nationally on ION.

Game Notes:

• Bueckers surpassed 400 career points and 100 assists, becoming the fastest player to reach these milestones since Cynthia Cooper in 1997.

• Hillmon’s 12-point fourth quarter helped propel Atlanta to victory.

• Four of the Wings starters scored in double digits, with Geiselsöder contributing 13 points and Jones adding 12.