Over the last two games — an 83–72 loss at Chicago and an 84–79 defeat in Seattle — Dallas has been forced to adjust. Shot creation has suffered, half-court execution has been inconsistent and fourth-quarter defense has struggled to hold up under pressure. The Wings led entering the fourth quarter in both games but were outscored by a combined margin of 17 in the final periods, highlighting the team’s difficulty in finishing games without a true point guard.
“It’s tough not having a point guard,” Arike Ogunbowale said. “But at the end of the day, we’ve got to figure it out. Me and DiJonai [Carrington] are just trying to pick up the slack, figure out who’s taking the ball down and make it work.”
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Stats tell the story of the struggles
The lack of Bueckers and Harris has had a stark impact on the Dallas Wings’ efficiency. Dallas had ranked in the top five in offensive rating before Bueckers’ absence. Since losing her, the team has ranked ninth, posting 97.0 points per 100 possessions. The Wings are shooting 37.3% from the field and 25.7% from the perimeter over the last two games while committing 28 turnovers to just 33 assists.
The team has also averaged just 17.5 3-point attempts during that span, and they are relying heavily on drawing contact, leading the league with 25.5 free throw attempts per game. It hasn’t been enough to offset the dip in perimeter shot volume or efficiency.
Dallas’ scoring output has dipped from 85.3 points per game to 80.0, falling from third in the WNBA to eighth within those spans. Meanwhile, the defense has remained a work in progress. The Wings have allowed 88.5 points per game over the last two games — a marginal improvement over their previous 89.1 mark — but the inability to string together stops in crunch time has cost them.
“We play really good in spurts, but in the fourth quarter, we kind of let our foot off the gas a little bit,” Ogunbowale said. “Sometimes it’s just focus at the end, staying locked in, doing what we did to get the lead.”
In both recent losses, the fourth quarter has been where things unraveled. The Wings have allowed a staggering 132.6 points per 100 possessions in fourth quarters across those games, struggling to string together stops when it matters most. Offensively, the team has sputtered during those same stretches, shooting just 37.5% from the field in final periods — a stark drop from their first-half efficiency.
“We’re right there,” Ogunbowale said. “It’s not like we’re just getting blown out. It’s just little things we need to fix — taking good shots, getting back on defense, playing smart. We’ve had the lead in both games. Now it’s about closing.”
Carrington emphasized the need to execute more precisely in key moments, especially when the game tightens late. She pointed to shot selection and transition defense as critical areas that have contributed to the Wings’ recent struggles to close out games.
“We just gotta figure out how to finish games,” Carrington said. “How to lock in and get stops in the fourth quarter and convert on the other end. A lot of our missed layups or whatever led to them getting out in transition. I think our half-court defense was pretty good. So yeah, just take good shots and get back.”
Forward Myisha Hines-Allen emphasized the need for late-game defensive focus, pointing to a pattern of the team falling just short when it matters most. She described how the Wings often compete hard for most of the game but struggle to maintain defensive intensity and discipline during the final stretch, particularly in close games where one or two stops can swing the result.
“That starts with defense,” Hines-Allen said. “We can score the ball, but we’re not getting enough stops, especially in crunch time. That four-minute mark — we have to learn to get stops.”
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Chris Koclanes preaches “offense by committee”
Head coach Chris Koclanes didn’t downplay the difficulty of operating without a true point guard on the floor. It’s a rare situation this early in a season that has tested the team’s structure and execution in recent games.
“Yeah, and not just Paige — we we’re also without Ty [Harris], so no true point guard on the floor,” Koclanes said. “JJ [Quinerly] off the bench is really our only true point guard, and she hasn’t played that position since high school. So there’s really no active point guard right now.”
Koclanes praised several players for stepping up and taking on new responsibilities amid the backcourt injuries, highlighting Carrington, Ogunbowale and Hines-Allen for helping stabilize the offense through versatility and effort.
“I thought we did a good job — credit to DiJonai for really stepping up and initiating the offense, and Arike did that in stretches, too,” Koclanes said. “I think Myisha can do more to bring the ball up and get us into actions. It’s really a group effort right now — offense by committee. We’ll move people around to help them get free, find space and get to spots where they can be successful.”
The Wings have had to reconfigure their offensive structure on the fly. That’s left Ogunbowale in a more fluid role — sometimes initiating the offense, sometimes playing off the ball and frequently adapting possession to possession. While she remains the team’s primary scoring threat, the absence of a traditional floor general has required added flexibility and patience.
“I think just continuing to connect with her and help her, whether that’s off the ball or on the ball,” Koclanes said. “It’s tough when you’re playing without a couple of point guards. [DiJonai] has stepped in and filled that role for us, but it makes it even harder when those generals aren’t on the floor. So we’re continuing to find her shots, her spots, her comfort — whether that’s as the primary in the tunnel, on the wing or moving her. We’re exploring that, and she’ll keep getting more comfortable.”
Through the ups and downs, Ogunbowale has remained positive throughout the process. With many games left, one of the team’s prominent leaders emphasized that there was no time to panic. She remains encouraged that the progress she felt was being made regarding her chemistry with Bueckers will resume after she returns to the lineup.
“Like Coach said, we’re still figuring it out,” Ogunbowale said. “It’s still early. Obviously, we’ve been without a true point guard the last two games, so hopefully when we get Paige back, we can build a little bit of rhythm. But yeah, we’re still figuring it out.”
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DiJonai Carrington adjusts to lead ball handler role
Carrington has taken on a larger role as a facilitator while still looking to stay aggressive as a scorer, adjusting to the added responsibility of initiating offense without a traditional point guard available.
“You just have to put people in the right position to be successful,” Carrington said. “Call things, have a feel for how the defense is guarding us and decide what’s actually going to work. One thing I usually do is get out in transition, but now it’s more about coming back to the ball and making sure we have someone to outlet to.”
Carrington had 22 points, eight rebounds and four assists in Seattle after posting 16 points and six assists in Chicago. She shot 5-of-15 against the Sky but bounced back with increased efficiency in the second outing.
“We just gotta figure out how to finish games,” Carrington said. “How to lock in and get stops in the fourth quarter and convert on the other end. A lot of our missed layups or whatever led to them getting out in transition. I think our half-court defense was pretty good. So yeah, just take good shots and get back.”
Carrington believes the team’s chemistry is trending in the right direction, even amid the early-season adversity and lineup adjustments. She noted that the group is beginning to gel more on both ends of the floor, citing improved communication, a reduction in unforced turnovers and a shared understanding of roles despite the absence of key facilitators.
“I think each game, we’re getting more comfortable. You can see it in the reduction of unforced turnovers,” Carrington explained. “We had 20 offensive boards. A lot of our shots were going in and out, but we crashed hard. And they’re a great offensive rebounding team, but we held them to three O-boards. That’s something we’ve been trying to emphasize.”
Carrington also pointed to execution in late-game situations as an area the team must improve to close out games, noting that missed opportunities and lapses in focus have turned winnable situations into frustrating losses. She emphasized the importance of staying composed, making smart decisions and finding ways to execute under pressure, regardless of who is on the floor.
“We just have to finish. We’re pros — no excuses. If we make half of those shots, it’s a different outcome. So we’ve got to focus on finishing and pretend like the refs aren’t even there. Like we’re playing pickup in the driveway. No one’s calling anything. We need a new level of toughness down the stretch.”
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JJ Quinerly embracing new role
As Koclanes noted, Quinerly has been thrust into backup point guard responsibilities despite being more naturally suited to playing off the ball. With both Bueckers and Harris sidelined, Quinerly’s development has accelerated out of necessity.
“I’d say just trying to figure out how to get everybody the ball, knowing the plays and knowing where everyone needs to be,” Quinerly said. “I’ve played the two for a long time, so I’ve had that scorer’s mentality. Now I’ve had to shift my mindset a little bit. I’m still that defender, and I can still score, but now I’m learning to figure out where everybody’s supposed to be and how to facilitate to get them where they need to go.”
Her ability to pick up responsibilities quickly has stood out to the coaching staff. Quinerly has shown signs of progress in limited minutes, staying composed under pressure and bringing her trademark defensive intensity to the floor.
“Yeah, I’d say the vets have helped a lot,” Quinerly added. “And of course, watching film has helped, too. But honestly, just playing and actually doing it is what’s helping most. I’m a visual learner, so going out there and getting those reps has definitely helped.”
Though she’s still finding her rhythm at the position, Quinerly’s willingness to adapt has been a steadying force for the second unit. Her transition from scorer to facilitator is ongoing — but encouraging — amid Dallas’ need for ball-handling depth.
Myisha Hines-Allen brings physicality and perspective
Hines-Allen delivered a bounce-back game after a challenging game in Chicago (one point, four turnovers) with 16 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and two steals in Seattle.
“It’s important for everyone to step up, especially right now — we’re missing two of our point guards,” Hines-Allen said. “We are leaning on [Ogunbowale] and [Carrington] to lead us. What [Carrington] does defensively — she’s the head of the snake.”
She emphasized the team’s need to stay grounded and approach each day with a focused mindset, especially as the group navigates early-season adversity and the continued absence of primary ball handlers, such as Bueckers and Harris.
“Just showing up to work with the right mindset,” Hines-Allen said. “These close games help build that. Once we weather this storm — no pun intended — it’s going to help us get where we need to be.”
Maddy Siegrist and Luisa Geiselsöder also shine
Maddy Siegrist has helped anchor the frontcourt, scoring 11 points in each of the last two games and grabbing 11 offensive rebounds. Her ability to move off the ball and hunt mismatches has given Dallas extra possessions and rim pressure.
“When I’m at the four, I try to set a lot of pick-and-rolls, pick-and-pops, and just make the defense have to make a lot of decisions,” Siegrist said. “No matter how many shots I get, I try to focus on creating extra possessions, offensive rebounds and running in transition.
“When I’m taking the ball out for them in the frontcourt, I try to help them get into things quickly,” she added. “We all have to do our part to make it easier on them.”
Luisa Geiselsöder added eight points, six rebounds and two blocks in Seattle while continuing to grow into her rotation role. Defensively, she showcased her versatility by playing higher up in ball screen coverage, frequently hedging and recovering to disrupt the Storm’s pick-and-roll actions. Rather than sitting in a drop, as the team often has Teaira McCowan do, Geiselsöder used her mobility to step out, contain ball handlers and rotate back into position, a key adjustment that helped Dallas generate stops earlier in the game.
“It takes chemistry, and I feel like that’s getting better every game,” Geiselsöder said. “We can switch, hedge, trap — we have a lot of tools. I think it’s going to make us even more dangerous.”
Geiselsöder has also been active as a weak-side help defender, contesting shots at the rim and rotating into gaps to prevent favorable finishes on various plays. Her ability to contribute across multiple coverages has made her an increasingly intriguing piece.
What comes next for the Wings?
The Wings departed Seattle with a few positive takeaways, including setting a season-high in rebounds (48) and tying a franchise record with 86 shot attempts in regulation against Seattle. They dominated second-chance points (18–2) and held the Storm to just three offensive rebounds. But execution delays down the stretch continue to cost them.
“I think they just came out in the second half with a different energy about them, and they were extremely efficient,” Koclanes said. “But I liked our defense to end the first half and early in the second. I thought we did a lot of good things — our connectedness was there. We disrupted Skylar and Nneka a little bit. You saw some good discipline and disruption defensively.”
The clear next step for the Wings will be finding a winning formula in high-pressure moments. Dallas is 0–5 in games defined as “clutch” — within five points in the final five minutes — the most such losses of any WNBA team this season. No team has been less efficient offensively during those stretches (76.2 offensive rating), and the Wings’ defense has remained below average in closing time.
While Koclanes praised the rebounding effort and shot volume, the more pressing issue may be establishing a consistent rhythm for Ogunbowale. The Wings haven’t consistently gotten her to her spots, particularly late in games. After the first quarter in Seattle, Dallas shifted to having her initiate more of the offense, but traditional high pick-and-roll sets were rarely used. Instead, they leaned on delay actions and handoffs, keeping Ogunbowale off the ball — a tactic that can backfire when defenses have time to load up, deny clean catches or blitz her in less favorable positions on the floor.
Against Chicago, with Bueckers active, Ogunbowale erupted for 37 points by taking advantage of transition, spot-ups and handoffs where she could stay in motion. She capitalized on Bueckers’ gravity, often finding space through flare screens or quick handoffs against drop coverage. The result was simpler reads and cleaner looks — the kind that diminish when defenses don’t have to account for a dynamic ball-handler beside her. When Ogunbowale gets going, a lot opens up for the rest of the offense, making it a priority to strike the proper balance.
The Wings return home to face the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday at 9:30 p.m. EDT, looking to snap their three-game skid and regain rhythm amid ongoing backcourt injuries. With a practice scheduled for Thursday, Dallas hopes to see positive developments.
Until Bueckers and Harris return, the Wings will need to continue leaning on versatility, developing chemistry and unshaken toughness — qualities that remain tested, but not broken.
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