The Dallas Wings produced one of the most remarkable comebacks in franchise history on Saturday night, erasing a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to overcome the Chicago Sky 93-92 at College Park Center. The win improved Dallas to 10-6 and matched the team’s win total from last season.
The Wings entered the fourth quarter trailing 71-57 and fell behind by as many as 15 points in the final period. The rally became the third-largest fourth-quarter comeback in franchise history, according to ESPN Research. Dallas also scored a season-high 36 points in the fourth quarter, the team’s highest-scoring period of the season.
Rookie star Paige Bueckers was central in the comeback, finishing with 19 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. After scoring only seven points in the first half while shooting 2-for-9 from the field, Bueckers took over late. Her fingerprints were all over the comeback, as she accounted for 10 of 11 Wings points before providing the late-game heroics with 30.6 seconds remaining.
With Dallas trailing 92-87, Bueckers curled off a screen and knocked down a three-pointer while being fouled by Natasha Cloud. She converted the free throw to complete a four-point play, cutting Chicago’s lead to just one point at 92-91.
Following an over-and-back turnover forced by Li Yueru on the ensuing inbound play, Yueru drew a foul with 12.5 seconds left and calmly made both free throws, giving the Wings their first lead of the game at 93-92. Dallas never trailed again.
After the game, Bueckers stressed the team’s belief throughout the rally.
“We always felt like we were in it, and we were scrapping and fighting,” she said. “We were just trying to attack that way and just chip away, not hit any home runs, but one possession at a time, dig in defensively, get what we want and execute offensively and just keep huddling — keep having that constant communication of what we want and just to stick with it until the final buzzer.”
Jessica Shepard was equally important in the win, scoring 21 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Seventeen of her points came in the second half as the Wings repeatedly attacked mismatches involving Kamilla Cardoso. Azzi Fudd contributed 13 points, while Arike Ogunbowale scored 12.
The Sky, who dropped to 4-11 and suffered its fifth consecutive loss, was led by Cardoso’s 26 points and nine rebounds. Sydney Taylor added 18 points before fouling out, Skylar Diggins scored 14, and Cloud finished with 10 points.
Even after controlling much of the game and building leads of 28-16 after the first quarter and 43-38 at halftime, Chicago could not withstand Dallas’ historic fourth-quarter comeback led by Bueckers’ late-game brilliance.
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