STWF Sports | PORTLAND, Ore. | July 22, 2026 — The Dallas Wings will look to close the first portion of their season on a positive note Wednesday night when they visit the Portland Fire at the Moda Center.

The Dallas Wings: A Team to Watch This Season

Tipoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. CT, with the matchup airing nationally on USA Network. Meghan McPeak will handle play-by-play duties alongside analyst Lea B. Olsen. The game will also be available locally on KFAA, featuring Ron Thulin on play-by-play and Fran Harris as analyst.

Dallas enters the final game before the WNBA All-Star break with a 17-9 record and an opportunity to strengthen its position among the league’s top teams. The Wings are coming off a dramatic 99-98 overtime loss to the New York Liberty on Monday night, a result that ended Dallas’ six-game winning streak.

Despite the defeat, the Wings secured the regular-season series against New York by a 2-1 margin, marking Dallas’ first season-series victory over the Liberty since 2022.

Arike Ogunbowale carried the offensive load against New York, scoring a team-high 29 points while adding five rebounds and six assists. Dallas played without leading scorer Paige Bueckers, who was ruled out before tipoff after sustaining soreness from a collision in the Wings’ previous victory over the Los Angeles Sparks.

Without Bueckers, Ogunbowale took on an increased scoring and playmaking role. Her performance helped Dallas remain within striking distance throughout the overtime contest, but the Liberty escaped with a one-point victory behind a strong interior and rebounding effort.

Wednesday’s meeting will provide the Wings with a chance to respond against a Portland team that defeated them earlier in the season.

The Fire earned an 84-83 victory over Dallas on June 13 at the Moda Center in one of the closest games either team has played this year. The matchup featured nine ties and 14 lead changes, including five ties and four changes of possession during a tightly contested fourth quarter.

Portland ultimately secured the win by making a free throw with 1.7 seconds remaining. Ogunbowale led four Dallas players in double figures with 22 points, including eight in the fourth quarter. She also contributed six rebounds and two assists.

The Wings will need another productive outing from Ogunbowale while also receiving consistent support from their frontcourt and secondary scorers. Jessica Shepard has remained a dependable presence as a rebounder and facilitator, while players such as Azzi Fudd, Maddy Siegrist and Awak Kuier have provided Dallas with scoring, perimeter shooting and defensive versatility.

Portland enters the rematch with an 11-15 record after suffering a 101-93 road loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday. The Fire produced several strong individual performances despite allowing Minnesota to reach triple digits.

Bridget Carleton led Portland with 22 points and connected on six of her nine attempts from three-point range. Sarah Ashlee Barker and Carla Leite each scored 21 points, giving the Fire three players with at least 20 in the loss.

Defending Portland’s perimeter shooting will be a significant priority for Dallas. Carleton’s ability to stretch the floor can create driving lanes for the Fire’s guards, while Barker and Leite give Portland multiple offensive options capable of creating shots off the dribble.

The Wings must also avoid the defensive breakdowns and late-game mistakes that allowed Portland to survive the first meeting. Dallas has established itself as one of the league’s most dangerous fourth-quarter teams, but Wednesday’s contest could again be decided by execution in the final possessions.

A victory would send the Wings into the break with 18 wins and provide momentum after Monday’s difficult loss. It would also even the season series against Portland while reinforcing Dallas’ ability to respond quickly following a setback.

With another potentially close game expected at the Moda Center, rebounding, perimeter defense and late-game decision-making could determine whether the Wings enter the All-Star break with a road victory.