The Dallas Wings fell for the first time in 2023, after starting the year 2-0, as they lost to the Chicago Sky, 94-88, Sunday evening at Wintrust Arena. The game saw 10 different lead changes and six ties, in a back-and-forth effort that Chicago ultimately pulled away with in the final three minutes.

“We missed 18 layups wide open and this is probably the growth part of a true long road trip that we haven’t experienced,” Wings Head Coach Latricia Trammell said.  “I mean, especially when you’re shorthanded as well. I thought we were a little tired at times even though we rotated pretty well. And then 15 missed block outs and they scored 15 points off of those rebounds. And so that’s another area of growth. But a good positive about it, we did win the third quarter for the first time. So, we’ll take it.”

Arike Ogunbowale recorded her third straight 25-point game, as she led the team with 27 points and became the fourth player in WNBA history to open a WNBA season with three 25-point games, joining Maya Moore (four in 2014), Elena Delle Donne (three in 2015) and Jewell Lloyd (three in 2017). The fifth-year guard from Milwaukee also added five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Satou Sabally embraced her nickname, after a physical game saw her take a shot to the forehead early in the first quarter, saying, “[I’m] a real unicorn now.”

After scoring just two points in the second quarter, Sabally opened up the second half with seven points in the opening minute and a half and scored the first 11 points for the Wings in the third quarter. She concluded the night with 24 points on 9-16 shooting (56.3%) while leading the team with eight rebounds.

“She’s a competitor,” Trammell said. “Just the way that she can score at multiple levels. She can defend at multiple positions. She can rebound, which is taking up a little bit from not having Teaira. Yeah, I’ll say this 1000 times – I’m sure glad she’s on our team.”

Natasha Howard and Crystal Dangerfield recorded double digits on the evening as well with Howard posting 14 points and Dangerfield totaling 11 points. Howard added seven rebounds and two blocked shots, while Dangerfield totaled five assists and four rebounds. Dangerfield, listed at 5’5, has recorded four rebounds in all three games she has played in, in 2023 thus far.

Once again, all five starters made found their way to the free throw line and accounted for all 15 free throws, with three starters combining to shoot 9-9. The Wings currently lead the W in free throw percentage as they are shooting 89.3 percent from the free throw line.

For the second straight game, Dallas recorded 20-plus points in every quarter and outscored their opponent for the first time in the third quarter this season, a feat Head Coach Latricia Trammell highlighted as a positive despite the loss.

Ogunbowale and Sabally both are in the top-10 for points per game in the WNBA, as of the conclusion of the May 28 game. Ogunbowale leads the league in points with an average 26.7, followed by Sabally who ranks fifth with 22.0. Howard is currently seventh in the W in rebounds, averaging 8.7.

A matchup that saw former teammates Ogunbowale and Marina Mabrey embrace before tipoff became an offensive showdown between the two guards. The duo battled all night and concluded with Ogunbowale leading Wings scoring with 27 points and Mabrey leading the Sky with 23 after they both entered the half with 15 points apiece.

The Wings will return home to College Park Center to face the Minnesota Lynx on May 30 for a 7:00 p.m. CT tipoff with coverage on Bally Sports Southwest Extra.