The Dallas Wings fought hard for three quarters but couldn’t finish strong, ultimately falling 91–77 to the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena. Paige Bueckers led Dallas with 18 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, while Myisha Hines-Allen delivered another impressive double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, along with seven assists.
The Wings received solid contributions across the board, with Maddy Siegrist adding 13 points and nine rebounds, marking her 11th consecutive game in double figures. Off the bench, Amy Okonkwo chipped in nine points and four rebounds, while Grace Berger posted seven points, six rebounds, and four assists.
However, the Sparks were led by Julie Allemand, who had a historic game, scoring a career-high 21 points on perfect shooting (8-for-8 from the field, 3-for-3 from three, 2-for-2 at the line) along with five steals and four assists. Azurá Stevens contributed a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Dearica Hamby added 15 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Off the bench, Rae Burrell exploded for 13 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, to put the game out of reach.
Early Struggles Put Dallas Wings Behind
The Sparks came out aggressive defensively, trapping Bueckers and forcing turnovers. The Wings committed eight turnovers in the first quarter and shot just 29.4% from the field, missing all five of their three-point attempts. Los Angeles capitalized with a 12–0 run, building a double-digit lead and ending the first quarter up 21–14.
“We played to advantages pretty well tonight,” Bueckers said. “Getting it out of the traps and then playing to a four-on-three or a three-on-two. We got great shots, so it’s a make-or-miss league, and tonight they just didn’t go in.”
Dallas steadied in the second quarter, led by Bueckers’ eight points and five points from Grace Berger. They limited turnovers and chipped away at the deficit, trailing 40–33 at halftime despite Azurá Stevens‘ 11 points and seven rebounds for Los Angeles.
Dallas Makes a Push in the Third
The Wings came out strong in the third quarter with a 15–4 run, tying the game at 46–46. Bueckers helped orchestrate the offense, and Hines-Allen contributed nine points during the frame. At the 4:26 mark, Hines-Allen hit a corner three to give Dallas its first lead since the opening minutes, 55–54.
“We just executed offensively and defensively, got it out of the traps and played to advantages, got lobs, got wide-open threes, got a little bit out in transition,” Bueckers said.
But Los Angeles responded with a 9–2 run, and Julie Allemand nailed a three-pointer just before the buzzer, putting the Sparks back on top 66–64 heading into the final quarter.
Sparks Pull Away in the Fourth
The Wings were held scoreless for the first 4:30 of the fourth quarter as the Sparks went on a 16–0 run. Rae Burrell was on fire, scoring 11 points in the period, while Los Angeles outscored Dallas 25–13 in the final 10 minutes.
“At the start of the fourth, they just made great plays,” Bueckers said. “They got a lot of offensive rebounds off long threes, so rebounds went over our head, and they got multiple opportunities.”
Dallas head coach Latricia Koclanes pointed to Burrell’s energy and the defensive play of Sarah Ashley Barker as key turning points in the game, swinging momentum away from the Wings.
“Rae Burrell is just an extremely aggressive player, plays with so much energy,” Koclanes said. “Barker gave them really good minutes as a defensive presence on Paige. Credit to their bench for showing up and helping them when we threw a little bit of a punch in the third.”
Foundation for the Future
Myisha Hines-Allen’s double-double marked her first back-to-back since 2021, and her performance made her just the 12th player in league history to record at least 15 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, and a block in a single game. Before the game, Koclanes praised Hines-Allen’s leadership, noting how she’s been a calming presence for the team.
“Myisha has been a steady, calming influence for the team and has found her own ways to lead,” Koclanes said.
Bueckers is also chasing rookie milestones, now just 14 points behind A’ja Wilson for third on the rookie scoring list and four assists behind Sue Bird for third in rookie assists.
“Playing alongside a pro like Myisha, just the foundation that we’re building and how to be process-oriented,” Bueckers said.
Despite outrebounding Los Angeles 46–41, Dallas’ 17 turnovers leading to 21 Sparks points ultimately proved too costly.
“Just always together,” Koclanes said. “Continue to learn from every opportunity we get. We go home, get a couple of days to practice before that game, so it’s two more opportunities to learn from this one, prepare, and get better.”
The Wings will return to College Park Center on Thursday to take on Phoenix, with Bueckers’ steady play and Hines-Allen’s leadership serving as the foundation for the team’s future.
