The Dallas Wings threw everything they had at the New York Liberty, but it wasn’t enough. They went to overtime, clawed and fought, then fell 99-98 after Arike Ogunbowale’s last-second runner just wouldn’t drop at College Park Center. It was a brutal end to an intense battle that saw the Wings, playing without their resident supernova, push the Liberty right to the absolute limit.
Ogunbowale’s Heroics Weren’t Quite Enough
Talk about a heartbreaker. Arike Ogunbowale was absolutely on fire, dropping 29 points and dishing out six assists. That’s her fourth consecutive game with at least 17 points, showing just how consistently she’s bringing it. She hit an off-balance three-pointer in the final seconds of overtime, giving the Wings a shot at winning the game. But her final runner, with only three seconds left, just kissed off the rim. “We just tried to get to the basket. We only had three seconds,” Ogunbowale said, clearly frustrated. “Just trying to get something up. Probably could have been a better shot, but what can you do?” Man, you hate to see that kind of effort go unrewarded in the clutch.
Scraping and Clawing All Game Long
Even with the loss, the Wings showed some serious fight. They turned the ball over just seven times all game, which is super clean. Their shooting was solid too, hitting 47.4% from the field and draining 11-of-21 from beyond the arc. The Liberty jumped out to a 15-8 lead early in the first quarter thanks to a Jonquel Jones 3-pointer, but Awak Kuier and Arike Ogunbowale orchestrated a response that kept Dallas in it. New York still ended the first up 25-22. Maddy Siegrist came in and immediately provided a spark for Dallas, hitting a jumper at the end of the first and then a clutch 3-pointer early in the second to tie the game at 27-27. Azzi Fudd even gave the Wings their first lead, 30-27, with her second three of the game, though it was short-lived as Breanna Stewart answered. This team just kept fighting back, even with Paige Bueckers held out due to soreness after a collision on Sunday.
The Wings battled throughout the first half, keeping themselves in striking distance. Despite Kuier missing a crucial free throw late in the second quarter that would’ve completed a three-point play, and then fouling Sabrina Ionescu, they never quit. This team has grit, but they gave Breanna Stewart & Co. too many second-chance opportunities, and that’s what eventually sunk them. They just gotta tighten that up!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mavs Moneyball.
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