On Wednesday, the Dallas Wings held a commanding 76-56 lead over the Washington Mystics with just over three minutes left in the third quarter. But in the final 13 minutes, the Mystics stormed back with a 40-16 run and claimed a 96-92 victory. Dallas managed only 12 fourth-quarter points while giving up 24.
The Wings' offense struggled to find consistency. No player attempted more than five shots. The team’s best options, Bueckers and Fudd, were underused in the clutch.
Coach Jose Fernandez faced backlash for his decision to prioritize Alanna Smith and Arike Ogunbowale in the fourth. Smith attempted 33.3% of Dallas’s possessions, and Ogunbowale took 25.0%. Bueckers, who scored efficiently earlier, only saw 20.0% usage in the final period.
Fans took to social media to express their frustration, with one writing, “Send Jose back to college.” The sentiment was widespread among Dallas supporters, who believe the Wings failed to capitalize on their strongest weapons.
Postgame Reactions
Bueckers acknowledged the team defended better in the first half but struggled to maintain that intensity. She noted the Mystics focused on stopping Dallas in transition after halftime. “We got stops and were able to get up,” Bueckers said. “It looked like they put an emphasis in the second half on stopping our transition.”
Fernandez shifted blame to his team’s one-on-one defense, saying, “We really struggled to guard one on one at times in certain places.” He admitted the Mystics took control in critical moments, and the Wings couldn’t respond.
The loss drops Dallas to 19-12, with four losses in their last six games. The team will host the Golden State Valkyries on Friday in a bid to right the ship.