The Dallas Wings are sitting tied for fourth in the WNBA Standings, but don’t let that fool you, because things are about to get real nasty for them. They’re staring down a brutal seven-game stretch where their opponents have a combined 129-77 record, and it all kicks off with a rematch against the Washington Mystics this Wednesday. This isn’t just any game, either. It’s a chance for payback after the Mystics absolutely bludgeoned them inside just last Friday.
Inside Game Nightmare Looms Large
If that last game against the Mystics was any indication, the Wings have a serious problem they need to solve, and fast. They fell 81-75 on Friday at CareFirst Arena, and the reason was crystal clear: Washington’s post duo of Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin. Those two went off, with Iriafen dropping 22 points and grabbing nine boards, and Austin putting up a monster 28 points and 10 rebounds. Dallas just had no answer. It’s not like this is new, either; the Wings have struggled all season long against the league’s big bruisers. Their frontcourt is definitely better than last year, but that improvement is all about skill, not the sheer size you need to go toe-to-toe with players like Iriafen and Austin. They bounced back with a blowout win against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday, sure, but that doesn’t erase the looming challenge. With only 14 regular-season games left, securing the best possible playoff positioning means they need to find a way to handle this kind of physical play.
Ogunbowale’s Spark Can’t Carry Everything
While the interior defense is a mess, Arike Ogunbowale has been an absolute bright spot, turning back the clock in some ways over her last eight games. She’s been incredibly efficient, scoring 15 or more points in all eight of those matchups, shooting a combined 59-of-112, which is a scorching 52.7% from the field. She’s basically changed her game! But even her heroics might not be enough if the rest of the offense can’t get it together. In their last three games, the Wings are averaging just 82 points, and their three-point shooting is straight-up glacial, hitting only 16-of-63, a brutal 25.4%. Their overall shooting is decent at 45.7%, but they aren’t getting to the free-throw line with any consistency. When you combine that cold streak from deep with the lack of free throws, it’s not the explosive team their fans have loved this season. Dallas needs to hit 90 or more points to have a shot at living with Washington’s paint advantage. If they’re not running and cashing in from three, they’re just handing all the power to Washington’s brute force down low.
Momentum is Not on Dallas’s Side
The Wings are coming into Wednesday’s game well-rested, but the Mystics have been at home since Friday’s win, chilling and waiting. Dallas is barely treading water at 3-3 in their last six games, while Washington is red hot, winning four in a row and six of their last eight. The stakes are huge for Dallas to grab another win and steady the ship before this brutal stretch completely sinks their hopes of securing a good playoff spot. Can they find an answer for the Mystics’ power inside, or will Ogunbowale’s incredible run be wasted? We’ll find out Wednesday when they face the Mystics again.
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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