Arike Ogunbowale and Maddy Siegrist each scored on putbacks down the stretch to help the Dallas Wings notch their fourth straight win, a 104-96 decision over the host Los Angeles Sparks on Friday in a Commissioner’s Cup game.
In what was a back-and-forth affair much of the way, Dallas (7-3, 2-0 Commissioner’s Cup) pulled ahead for good on the strength of a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter. The Wings opened up an eight-point advantage midway through the period before Los Angeles (4-6, 0-2) pulled within two with 2:13 remaining on two free throws from Erica Wheeler.
The Sparks’ defense denied Dallas a clean look at the basket on the ensuing possession, forcing Ogunbowale to toss up a contested reverse layup as the shot clock expired. Her shot was off, but Ogunbowale corralled the miss to score on her second effort, part of her game-high 30-point effort.
Los Angeles was again within one possession in the final minute when Paige Bueckers fired an off-balance jumper that clanged off the rim, but Siegrist (16 points) was there to clean up the miss. The putback gave Dallas a 101-95 lead with 50.4 seconds left, effectively sealing the outcome and in the process spoiling Kelsey Plum’s return to action for the Sparks.
Plum, who missed three games due to a right ankle injury, picked up where she left off on her torrid scoring pace for the season, posting 27 points. She struggled from long distance, however, shooting 1-for-6 from 3-point range.
Ariel Atkins buoyed the Sparks’ 3-point shooting going 4-for-7 from beyond the arc on the way to 16 points. Los Angeles also got 15 points from Dearica Hamby and 13 plus a team-high 10 rebounds from Nneka Ogwumike, but it was not enough.
All five Dallas starters scored in double figures, including Bueckers, who recorded 18 points and 14 assists. Bueckers doled out nine assists in the first half.
Jessica Shepard amassed 22 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for the Wings, and Azzi Fudd added 11 points.
Dallas earned its fourth win in a row and its sixth in seven games. Los Angeles dropped its third consecutive game.
–Field Level Media
