'We’ve Got to Figure It Out': Dallas Wings Fall Short Against Seattle Storm in Commissioner’s Cup Opener

Carrington erupted in the second quarter, scoring 12 of her 22 points as Dallas outscored Seattle 18–11 in the period. She added six rebounds by halftime and was active defensively, helping disrupt Seattle’s half-court flow. The Wings dominated the glass early, holding a 30–17 rebounding edge at the break.

“Our defensive intensity in the first half was excellent. We disrupted their rhythm and really rebounded well.” Koclanes said. “That was a big part of us building the lead. We made them uncomfortable, and I thought we were really connected.”

Koclanes had also emphasized discipline and execution as key areas of focus before the game, citing growth opportunities from their earlier matchup with Seattle. He noted that while the teams had changed since that second game of the season, Dallas’ goal was to establish greater consistency on both ends of the floor — something they had been addressing through film sessions, walk-throughs, and intentional adjustments in practice.

“Going back and watching the film [from our last meeting with Seattle], we just want to improve our general discipline and consistency on both sides of the ball,” Koclanes said. “We’ve been talking about it, watching it, trying to find opportunities to practice it… We’ve just got to establish that discipline and consistency.”

Seattle Storm Turn the Tide in the Third

The Storm came out of halftime with renewed energy. A 14–2 run, highlighted by a three-pointer from Nneka Ogwumike and capped by an and-one from Erica Wheeler, erased Dallas’ 11-point advantage. Wheeler’s layup gave Seattle its first lead since the second quarter at 50–49.

Carrington responded in the final seconds of the period, converting a steal into a fast-break layup and drawing a foul. She made the free throw to send Dallas into the fourth quarter with a narrow 55–54 lead.

“I thought we stayed aggressive, and DiJonai gave us a spark when we needed it,” Koclanes said. “She was everywhere — on the glass, in passing lanes, attacking. Just a really complete performance and a big part of why we were in the game down the stretch.”

Carrington finished the third quarter with six points, including a key and-one to close the period, and went on to lead the Wings with a team-high four assists. Her two-way presence continued to anchor Dallas, as she contributed on the glass, in transition, and as a primary creator in the absence of a true point guard.

Defensive Breakdowns Doom Dallas Wings Late

Dallas started the fourth quarter strong with a 12–4 run. Kaila Charles made her first appearance of the season and scored from the free-throw line to put Dallas ahead 61–56 with just under seven minutes remaining.

But the momentum quickly shifted. Seattle responded with a 21–6 run over the next five minutes, fueled by a flagrant foul on Ogunbowale during a Skylar Diggins layup. Diggins made the free throw, and Ezi Magbegor scored on the retained possession to push the Storm ahead 74–63.

Dallas went more than five minutes without a field goal, missing eight consecutive shots during the stretch. The Wings battled back to cut the deficit to five with under 25 seconds remaining, but Seattle iced the game by converting five of their last six free throws.

“Our biggest growth area is getting stops when it matters,” Ogunbowale said. “The best teams close games that way. We’re in every game, but we slip up at the end.”

Ogunbowale, who finished with eight points on 4-of-15 shooting, acknowledged the offensive rhythm hasn’t been easy to establish without Bueckers or Harris on the floor.

“Yeah, it’s tough, you know, not having a point guard. But at the end of the day, we gotta figure it out,” Ogunbowale said. “You know, we can’t sit and wait around. But yeah, we’re just trying to pick up the slack — me and [DiJonai] — trying to see who takes the ball down and figure it out.”

Encouraging Signs from Bench, Rebounding Effort

Luisa Geiselsöder gave Dallas a lift off the bench and continued to grow in her role. She logged two made threes, two steals, a block, and drew praise from teammates and coaches alike.

“She did great,” Ogunbowale said. “She followed the game plan, always asked questions, always tried to be in the right spot. She really helped us tonight.”

Geiselsöder, who has seen her role expand in recent games, emphasized that her growing comfort on the floor stems from increased repetitions and a better understanding of her teammates’ tendencies. She played more minutes against Seattle (22) than she had combined all season (seven), even achieving that mark by halftime.

“I think playing with the team is the biggest part,” Geiselsöder said. “It takes chemistry, and I feel like that’s getting better every game.”

The Wings posted a season-high 48 rebounds — including 20 on the offensive glass — while limiting Seattle to just three offensive boards, their fewest allowed this season. Dallas also outscored the Storm 18–2 in second-chance points and tied a franchise record with 86 field goal attempts in regulation, a reflection of their aggressive rebounding focus and effort to generate extra possessions.

“We got enough shots up on the rim to win that game,” Koclanes said. “Our effort to the glass was fantastic. We talk about crashing consistently on the offensive end as part of our identity, and defensively, gang rebounding. More shots will go in down the line, and we’ll be all right.”

Geiselsöder also pointed to Dallas’ defensive versatility as a strength moving forward. With Teaira McCowan playing just five minutes, the Wings leaned more heavily on Geiselsöder to provide size while still allowing the defense to remain mobile and switchable. The strategy allowed Dallas to stay aggressive in coverages — showing hedges, switching, and rotating fluidly — without sacrificing floor spacing or pace on offense.

“I think this is like some point that we can use as a strength,” Geiselsöder said. “We are really versatile — we can switch, we can hedge, we can trap, we can protect. Like, it’s all of it. We have everything. And I mean, this is something we have to use. Game by game we’ll get better, but honestly, I think compared to the first game that we had, it’s a lot better already. So yeah, I think it’s gonna make us really versatile and even more dangerous.”

Leadership and Accountability Continue to Take Shape

As one of the team’s veteran leaders, Ogunbowale has shouldered increased responsibility — both on and off the court — amid early-season adversity. With the Wings playing without both of their true point guards, she’s taken on more ball-handling duties while also serving as a vocal presence in the locker room. Her message to the team has centered on staying grounded, trusting the process, and not allowing frustration to set in during a difficult stretch.

“Just to give ourselves grace. New system, new team,” Ogunbowale said. “A lot of adversity right now, but it’s a long season. We still have a lot of games — 30-something games. So just keep at it, you know, keep with it. Don’t give up, don’t give in just if things are hard.”

Hines-Allen echoed the importance of mindset and defensive improvement, emphasizing the critical need for the team to grow through close-game situations. A seasoned forward with playoff experience, she has assumed a stabilizing role for the young Dallas group. She believes the foundation starts with consistent effort and execution on the defensive end, especially in late-game moments.

“We have to show up to work with the right mindset,” she said. “We’re seeing that we can score the ball. We’re not getting enough stops, especially in crunch time. That four-minute mark, we have to learn to get stops there.”

What’s Next

The Wings return home to face the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday at College Park Center in their second Commissioner’s Cup matchup. Dallas (1–7) will look to snap its five-game losing streak.

This season, the Wings are competing in the Commissioner’s Cup on behalf of Unity Unlimited, Inc., a nonprofit focused on educational outreach and fostering community harmony. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. CT, with the game airing nationally on ION and streaming via WNBA League Pass.