'That Was Our Game': Dallas Wings Collapse Late in Loss to Las Vegas Aces After Double-Digit Lead

After the game, Ogunbowale credited the team’s aggressiveness and mindset in that stretch.

“We were attacking, we were scoring, and we were the aggressors,” Ogunbowale said. “They couldn’t guard us in the third quarter and then, you know, early in the fourth. And we just had to continue on what was working.”

Koclanes echoed that sentiment, praising the team’s defensive identity.

“We challenged them to be better — one-on-one, better communicators, more active,” Koclanes said. “And then you saw it: deflection, deflection, steal, shot-clock violation, turnover. Like, it was just a different level.”

Collapse in the Final Four Minutes

With 3:55 remaining, Dallas led 82–71 following a layup from Geiselsöder off a Hines-Allen feed. From there, the game unraveled. Las Vegas scored 17 of the final 19 points, going 14-of-14 from the line during that stretch. Jackie Young finished the game 11-of-11 from the stripe — equaling Dallas’ team total in attempts. Jewell Loyd‘s three-pointer with under 30 seconds to play was the Aces’ lone field goal over the final five minutes.

Ogunbowale detailed what went wrong.

“We were getting stops,” she said. “But then they were getting offensive rebounds, second chances, and getting to the line. That last one definitely killed us. We were getting the first stop and then, you know, they were making something happen after they got those offensive rebounds.”

She added: “We let them get too many offensive rebounds and they were capitalizing off that — whether it was a score or a free throw. Most of it was free throws. And then that last one, definitely. I think we kind of, you know, held back a little bit. We were up and then we kind of started holding the ball a little bit and we just had to stay aggressive.”

The Wings finished the game shooting 47.1% from the field and 40% from three-point range. They held statistical advantages in assists (24), turnovers (12 vs. 18), and points off turnovers (23). But the 26–10 free-throw disparity proved insurmountable.

“I can’t say all of them were fouls,” Ogunbowale said. “That’s crazy. That’s definitely unfortunate.”

Chris Koclanes Evaluates Missed Challenge and Late-Game Decisions

The Wings still had a challenge available before the final three minutes — and didn’t use it on a pair of contested plays. Koclanes admitted the decision may have been costly.

“We had a challenge,” he said. “I probably should have used one of them there before three minutes. ‘Cause [we] also had another timeout that you lose anyway. So, and again, just continuing to evaluate our usage of challenges and how we can be better going forward.”

He also addressed the offensive stagnation late.

“No, it was us. That was self-inflicted,” Koclanes said. “Just trying to manage the clock and get it down and then still get to the action we wanted. But, you know, we’ll figure out some better ways to do it and find some balance. It’s just — yeah, the more you move it, the more opportunities there are for turnovers and deflections. And so you want to just put the ball in your best player’s hands and get into actions that are simple. But they, you know, they disrupted us and took that one from us.”

Luisa Geiselsöder: “That Was Our Game”

Geiselsöder finished with a career-high 13 points on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting night. The second-year center was candid postgame about the loss.

“I think we can see how we can play — how good we can play, what good basketball, what good of a team we are,” she said. “But I think we can also see where we have to learn from a lot, especially these last four minutes. Like, that’s not possible — that we have [a lead of] 13 and then we’re losing the game. In the end, that was our game. Like, we have to take that home.”

She added that the team must keep leaning into what’s working offensively: “These are the four minutes where we really have to focus and learn from, because I think that’s what’s gonna get us wins in the end — on those crunch time moments. And then also just like keep flowing in that offense and using what works.”

Luisa Geiselsöder’s Departure for EuroBasket Looms

Geiselsöder will temporarily leave the team this weekend for national team obligations with the German squad at EuroBasket. Her departure comes at a difficult time for the struggling Wings.

“I think our team chemistry is great,” Geiselsöder said. “Honestly, I have a lot of fun with this team. We support each other. We have each other’s back. So it is a lot of fun. It’s great learning from all of these vets — even rookies. It’s just, it’s really fun to be here. It’s fun to be around the girls.”

Still, the timing of her absence is weighing on her.

“I mean, it’s tough to leave the team right now, I’m not gonna lie,” Geiselsöder said. “It’s hard. If you have two places and you can’t combine it… I hope that’s gonna be better in the future — that there’s gonna be a balance between FIBA and WNBA and all that. So we don’t miss that amount of games. I’m also excited for EuroBasket. I mean, that’s my team too. That’s my family since I’m 13 years old. So it’s something special for sure. But, especially with the score we have right now, it’s hard to leave here. I know — I would like to stay and help the team win.”

Arike Ogunbowale: “We’ve Been in Every Game”

Ogunbowale, who scored 26 points and dished out eight assists, acknowledged the team’s late-game struggles and the burden players share in those moments.

“I think it was just kind of a disconnect — just all over. I can’t really, you know, blame it on something,” Ogunbowale said. “Definitely players, we need to be held accountable.”

She also pointed to a growing understanding among teammates and signs of long-term improvement.

“I think we’re kind of finding, you know, where each other likes the ball and kind of gaining that chemistry offensively,” Ogunbowale said. “And we’re kind of, you know, getting better on a string on defense.”

But it always comes back to the closing stretch.

“I think our biggest improvement is just finishing games,” Ogunbowale said. “We’ve been really pretty much in every game and then we kind of break apart once, you know, the last four minutes. So if we can, you know, be able to handle that — from the players to the coaches, truly — like if we’re all on the same page and we’re able to handle that…”

She paused, then concluded: “Mostly all games are gonna come down to the last four minutes, and we’ve been pretty far off at that so far.”

What’s Next

The Wings (1–11) return to College Park Center on Tuesday to host the Golden State Valkyries. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and will air locally on KFAA29.