The Las Vegas Aces secured an 88-84 victory over the Dallas Wings on Friday night, overcoming the Wings despite missing star player A’ja Wilson. Jackie Young led the Aces with 28 points and five rebounds, while Jewell Lloyd contributed 21 points. Dallas, led by rookie Paige Bueckers with 16 points, faced four critical turnovers in the final 3:20 that ultimately cost them the game.

Key Player Performances Highlight the Game

Paige Bueckers finished with 16 points, five assists, and two steals on 7-of-19 shooting, maintaining her solid season averages including 17.6 points and 6.3 assists per game. Arike Ogunbowale paced the Wings with 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting. For the Aces, Jewell Lloyd’s 21 points included crucial three-pointers that helped shift momentum in the second half.

Wings Struggle Amid Extended Losing Streak

The loss deepened the Wings’ struggles in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, marking their fifth defeat in the tournament and extending their overall losing streak to seven games. Now sitting at 1-11 for the season, the Wings remain four games behind in the Western Conference standings. Their lone win came against the Connecticut Sun on May 27, but early season difficulties including an 0-4 start have hampered their progress despite securing the No. 1 overall pick.

Game Development and Shifting Leads

Dallas took an early lead with Bueckers scoring the first basket less than a minute into the game. The Wings briefly held a three-point advantage in the first quarter, but the Aces closed the period strong, leading 24-18. Dallas continued to challenge in the second quarter, narrowing the gap through a 9-4 run, but Las Vegas responded emphatically with an 8-0 run, taking a 49-40 lead into halftime. At that point, Ogunbowale led Dallas with 16 points and Bueckers added six, while Lloyd paced the Aces with 16 points and Young contributed eight.

Wings Take Control in Third Quarter

The Wings evened the score early in the third quarter as Bueckers scored a two-pointer to give Dallas the lead, sparking a scoring surge. Dallas outscored the Aces 30-15 in the quarter and built a 70-64 lead going into the final period. Key contributions included six points from Luisa Geiselsoder and steady play from DiJonai Carrington, helping the Wings gain momentum.

Final Minutes See Aces Capitalize on Wings’ Mistakes

Dallas maintained their lead early in the fourth quarter with points from Bueckers and Geiselsoder, but turnovers in the closing minutes shifted the momentum. A string of four turnovers in the last 3:20 allowed the Aces to close the gap. The Wings’ 11-point lead shrank quickly, forcing a timeout with just over a minute left. Jewell Lloyd’s three-pointer then put Las Vegas ahead, a lead they maintained at the free-throw line to secure the comeback win.

Looking Ahead: Wings Aim to Recover in Upcoming Matchup

The Dallas Wings will seek to rebound from this tough loss when they host the Golden State Valkyries on Tuesday for their first meeting of the season. With their season record sitting at 1-11, Dallas is eager to halt their downward trend. Meanwhile, the Aces improved to 5-4 and will hope to build on their momentum despite missing key players.

“Four turnovers in the final 3:20 proved costly for the Dallas Wings and Paige Bueckers in an 88-84 loss to the Las Vegas Aces — who were without A’ja Wilson — on Friday night.” —Game Summary

“The Wings will look to bounce back against the devastating loss on Tuesday as they host the Golden State Valkyries for their first meeting.” —Postgame Analysis