The Dallas Wings are staring down a win-or-go-home Game 2 tonight against the Golden State Valkyries, trying to avoid a playoff sweep after getting absolutely dismantled 104-80 in Game 1. This isn’t just about a loss, it was a blowout on Sunday at the Chase Center, and now the No. 7 Wings are heading home to College Park Center for an 8 p.m. tipoff knowing their season could be over.
The Defense Was Non-Existent and It Can’t Happen Again
Look, the Wings’ defensive effort in Game 1 was just plain awful, and it dug them into a hole they never climbed out of. Golden State came out running dribble drives, and Dallas couldn’t stop any of it. Valkyries players Cecilia Zandalasini and Tiffany Hayes made big contributions early because of it, and it snowballed from there. You can’t let a team shoot 18-of-36 from behind the arc in a playoff game and expect to win. That’s a 50% clip! Defensive rotations were a mess, and frankly, the Valkyries saw “barbecue chicken” any time they found themselves matched up with Jessica Shepard. This was not playoff-level defense, not by a long shot. If Dallas gives anything close to that effort early in Game 2, this whole thing’s gonna feel like a rewatch, and not in a good way.
A 37-Point Quarter? Seriously?
If the Wings have any fight left, any chance at all tonight, they absolutely cannot repeat what happened in Sunday night’s second quarter. Allowing 37 points in one quarter? That’s just wild. Paige Bueckers herself said it after Game 1, “A 37-point quarter is crazy work.” She hit the nail on the head: they need to get defensive stops, and they need them bad, so they can get some easy transition buckets. Because while the defense was busy giving up nearly 40 points, the offense went completely flat, putting up a pathetic 11 points in that same quarter. Scoring droughts like that are playoff killers. Dallas needs their bench to step up and contribute early, or Game 2 will get away from them faster than you can blink.
Paige Bueckers Can’t Carry This Team Alone
It’s clear as day that the Wings can’t leave Paige Bueckers to do everything by herself, which is exactly what happened in Game 1. The Valkyries are too tough defensively. They stuck single coverage on her for most of the first half, then switched to doubling her for the rest of the game. Even with that, Bueckers was seemingly unbothered by DPOY candidate Gabby Will. But even the best players can’t beat a whole team by themselves in the playoffs. Dallas is shorthanded, they know it, and their bench needs to wake up.
This is it. Game 2, Wednesday night, at home. It’s elimination time. The No. 7 Wings are backed into a corner by a tougher team with a deeper bench. Dallas has to find that fight, go out there with their heads held high, and prove that they absolutely belong in these playoffs. Anything less, and it’s a sweep.
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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