The Wings (9-28) faced the New York Liberty (31-6) again in an attempt to exact revenge for their defeat on Tuesday. But they lost 99-67, their sixth straight game.
Despite the defeat, Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale eclipsed former Detroit Shock player Deanna Nolan to take the record for most points scored by the Wings all time with 3,972 points during Thursday’s game at College Park Center. Between 2001 and 2009, Nolan played 293 games to set the previous record. After being selected by Dallas in the 2019 draft, Ogunbowale completed six seasons and 193 games to reach the milestone.
One of the initial WNBA expansion clubs in 1998, the Dallas Wings (formerly known as the Shock) moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2010 and played there as the Tulsa Shock until 2015. The team’s relocation to the Metroplex and new name, the Dallas Wings, were overwhelmingly approved by the WNBA in that same year.
“It’s really cool just to get that record,” Ogunbowale remarked. “Even though this season has been difficult, I will undoubtedly look back on this and say, ‘I was able to do that with my team.'” Of course, I want to thank my coaches and team.
To reach the milestone, Ogunbowale made two free throws close to the four-minute mark in the fourth quarter.
She claimed that she still enjoys playing in Dallas whether she wins, loses, or draws. A video on the jumbotron that featured Nolan before switching to Ogunbowale was shown shortly after the milestone.
“It was really awesome to see someone who helped players like me and the rest of the league get recognized,” Ogunbowale remarked.
Prior to the game, Latricia Trammell, the head coach, stated that attacking the ball and guarding the three were crucial.
Trammell remarked, “We can’t give them uncontested, open threes.” “We discussed that coming in as one of the keys, three plus passes in the last game, and just keep our relationship positive and fight like we always do.”
After Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu burst for 16 first-quarter points, Dallas trailed 25-15 at the end of the first quarter. The Wings handed up 12 of them on 40% of the game, making it difficult for them to slow down New York from three.
Despite a difficult season, Trammell complimented the supporters for coming out and being upbeat even in the face of defeat.
“This has been difficult, but I want to personally thank our fans for their love and support of the Dallas Wings, the Dallas Wings organization, and especially these players,” Trammell stated. “I would go out there and give them all a hug or a chest bump if I could.”
Moving forward With 11 points apiece, Maddy Siegrist and Ogunbowale lead the Wings in scoring.
Siegrist was the first to congratulate Ogunbowale on reaching her milestone, saying that Ogunbowale has been a fantastic mentor throughout the season.
Siegrist remarked, “Just based on the amount of work she’s put in, it’s obvious that she’s a great player and that she will continue to do great things.”
The Seattle Storm will be the opponent for the Wings’ season finale on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at College Park Center.
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