The Dallas Wings kicked off their 2024 WNBA campaign with a hard-fought 87-79 win over the Chicago Sky on Wednesday night. Fueled by a late surge, the Wings overcame a resilient Sky team to secure their first victory of the season.
Arlington, TX (May 15, 2024) – The Dallas Wings opened the 2024 WNBA regular season with an 87-79 victory over the visiting Chicago Sky Wednesday night at a sold-out College Park Center.
The Wings, making their debut under new head coach Vickie Johnson, got off to a slow start, trailing by 10 points after the first quarter. However, they chipped away at the deficit in the second quarter, outscoring the Sky 23-18 to enter halftime down by just three points.
The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets. The Wings took a brief lead late in the period, but the Sky responded with a 5-0 run to end the quarter with a 62-61 advantage.
The Wings turned up the intensity in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Sky 26-17. Allisha Gray led the charge with 10 points in the period, while Satou Sabally added eight points and seven rebounds.
Gray finished the game with a team-high 22 points, followed by Sabally with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Marina Mabrey added 15 points for the Wings, while Teaira McCowan contributed 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Candace Parker led the Sky with 20 points, while Kahleah Copper added 19 points and nine rebounds. Allie Quigley chipped in with 12 points for Chicago.
The Wings' defense played a key role in the win, holding the Sky to just 38.5% shooting from the field and forcing 15 turnovers. The Wings also dominated the rebounding battle, outrebounding the Sky 46-35.
With the win, the Wings improve to 1-0 on the season, while the Sky fall to 0-1. The Wings will return to action on Friday night when they host the New York Liberty, while the Sky will travel to Minnesota to face the Lynx on Saturday night.
In a post-game press conference, Wings coach Vickie Johnson praised her team's resilience and determination. "We knew it was going to be a tough game, but our players never gave up," she said. "They fought hard all night and deserved the win."
Wings forward Satou Sabally echoed Johnson's sentiments, saying, "We're a young team, but we're learning and growing together. We're going to keep working hard and improve with each game."
The Wings' victory is a positive sign for the team as they look to build on their success from last season, when they advanced to the WNBA semifinals. With a talented roster led by Gray, Sabally, and Mabrey, the Wings have the potential to be a contender in the Western Conference this season.
