The Dallas Wings (23-13) defeated the Portland Fire (15-23), 96-78, in a Tuesday night matchup at College Park Center. The win makes it Dallas’ third straight since returning home after its recent skid in the standings. More importantly, the win marks the Wings’ franchise-high win total since moving the team to Dallas.
The Wings had a strong first quarter, closing the period up 27-21 off ball movement and distribution throughout the Wings’ offense that the Fire could not match. Early contributions from Awak Kuier on both ends of the floor helped build momentum for the Wings, and Maddy Siegriest added a spark off the bench early. Jessica Shepard took advantage of Portland’s lack of paint defense early, using her strength and soft touch to score effortlessly at the basket in the first half, leading the Wings with a 50-37 lead heading into the intermission. Paige Bueckers joined the party in the second half, and the Fire had no answer for the Wings’ offensive firepower. Dallas entered the final quarter of the game with a 71-52 lead and continued to put its foot on the gas. Dallas put the nail in the coffin behind Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale’s fourth-quarter sparks and ultimately closed this one off with a 96-78 win.
Bueckers led the way for the Wings with 22 points, and Jessica Shepard added 21 of her own. Bridget Carleton and Karlie Samuelson added 14 each for the Fire.
Here are three things from the Wings’ win over the Fire.
Punch your ticket
Tonight’s win clinched a playoff berth for the Wings, meaning we will see Wings postseason basketball for the first time since 2023. The Wings’ 23rd win will be cemented into the organization’s history, as it is a franchise-high win total for the season. Dallas has the opportunity to gain ground on the Washington Mystics and New York Liberty in positioning for the sixth and seventh seeds with five games remaining. The Wings have shifted their culture into a winning one through their offseason acquisitions, distinguished coaching, and the brilliance of Paige Bueckers. Though the Wings have ways to go until they can be considered a true contender with the likes of the Lynx and Valkyries, a playoff appearance is a genuine step in the right direction and promising for the fans who have waited tirelessly for basketball to root for.
Awak Kuier’s significance
Awak Kuier was awesome on both ends of the floor tonight, finishing with a double-double with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. She continued to show her defensive prowess, finishing with 3 steals and 5 blocks, allowing Dallas to get tough stops and run in transition. All of our hearts stopped temporarily heading into halftime as she tweaked her ankle while boxing out for a rebound, but she came into the second half and played with the same intensity she maintained in the first. Her confidence level feels higher, likely because she is finally getting the run she has deserved all season. Dallas’ lack of overall defense on its roster makes Kuier infinitely more important to the team. Her size and skills allow her to perfectly anticipate when to block shots, making her a major threat for the Wings as they progress into the postseason.
Paige Buckets
Paige Bueckers finished tonight’s matchup with 22 points and 11 assists. She leaned into her playmaking tonight, and as a result, the entire Wings’ starting lineup finished in double figures. Her abilities as a scorer and playmaker allow her to completely take control of the game at times, as we saw in the second half. She is one of the league’s most electric offensive players, and the Wings have been able to completely shut down their opponents in the last two games behind Bueckers’ offensive gifts. She is one of the most entertaining players in the league, and the impact that playoff basketball will have on her game to take her to the next level cannot be understated. No matter how the postseason pans out for Dallas, we get to see Bueckers in the playoffs, and that is a win to me.
Up next
The Wings host the Connecticut Sun on Sunday (Sun2) at 7:30 p.m. CT on KFAA-TV and WNBA League Pass.
