STWF Sports | PORTLAND, Ore. | June 13, 2026  — The Dallas Wings traded punches with the Portland Fire all night Saturday at Moda Center, but one final free throw proved to be the difference in a tightly contested 84-83 loss in the first meeting between the two teams.

Dallas Wings: A Season to Remember

Portland’s Emily Engstler split a pair at the line with 1.7 seconds remaining, and Arike Ogunbowale’s last-second attempt was off the mark as the Fire escaped with the win. The result dropped Dallas to 8-5 on the season, while Portland improved to 7-8.

The matchup lived up to the late-game drama, featuring nine ties and 14 lead changes. The fourth quarter alone included five ties and four lead changes as both teams continued answering each other possession after possession.

Ogunbowale led Dallas with a game-high 22 points, adding six rebounds and two assists. She scored eight of her points in the fourth quarter, helping the Wings stay within striking distance during the closing stretch. Azzi Fudd added 18 points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks, while Aziaha James delivered one of her most complete outings of the season with 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Jessica Shepard continued her strong production inside, finishing with 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for her WNBA-leading eighth double-double of the season. Shepard also played a major role late, converting a key and-one in the fourth quarter and later finding Fudd on a cutting basket that briefly gave Dallas an 83-81 lead with 18.7 seconds remaining.

The Wings played without Paige Bueckers, who was ruled out before tipoff with a right ankle injury. Her absence pushed Dallas into a new starting lineup of James, Ogunbowale, Fudd, Maddy Siegrist and Shepard — the team’s third different starting group this season.

Dallas struggled to find rhythm early, shooting just 21.1 percent in the first quarter and making only four field goals. Despite the cold start, the Wings stayed close because Portland was not much sharper, shooting 35.3 percent in the opening frame. Fudd carried the early offense with seven first-quarter points, while Shepard controlled the glass with five rebounds.

Portland led 14-13 after one, then created separation in the second quarter behind its perimeter shooting. Bridget Carleton sparked a 10-0 Fire run with back-to-back three-pointers, pushing Portland ahead 26-18 midway through the period. Dallas responded through Ogunbowale and Shepard, but the Fire continued to punish the Wings from deep, making six of nine three-point attempts in the quarter to take a 44-37 halftime lead.

The Wings flipped the energy in the third. James caught fire, scoring 11 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting in the frame. Dallas shot 53.3 percent in the quarter and outscored Portland 24-19, briefly taking its first lead since early in the second on a James jumper with 6.2 seconds left. Carleton, however, beat the buzzer with another three to give Portland a 63-61 lead entering the fourth.

From there, the game turned into a possession-by-possession finish. Ogunbowale opened the fourth aggressively, scoring five quick points as Dallas tied the game at 68. Portland answered with another three, its 13th of the night, and the final five minutes became a tug-of-war.

Dallas appeared to have the late edge after Shepard’s pass to Fudd led to an and-one finish and an 83-81 Wings lead. Cara Leite tied the game for Portland with 11.6 seconds left before James attacked the basket on the ensuing possession. No whistle came despite contact, and Engstler secured the loose ball before being fouled.

Portland’s outside shooting was the story, as the Fire made 14 three-pointers — the most Dallas has allowed this season. Carleton led Portland with 20 points, including six made threes, while Leite added eight assists.

Dallas still won several key statistical categories, outrebounding Portland 41-32, outscoring the Fire 36-28 in the paint and holding a 14-9 edge in second-chance points. But Portland’s 44.1 percent shooting and timely threes were enough to survive.

The Wings now return home for a quick turnaround Monday against the Las Vegas Aces at College Park Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT, with national coverage on USA Network and local coverage on KFAA 29.