'They’re All-Around': Dallas Wings Prepare for Atlanta Dream Test After Statement Win

Atlanta (15–11) arrives on the second night of a back-to-back after falling 77–75 to the Golden State Valkyries on a last-second jumper by Cecilia Zandalasini. Jordin Canada paced the Dream with 21 points and eight assists, while Naz Hillmon added 14 points and eight boards. Allisha Gray scored 12. The Dream attempted 33 three-pointers in the game and relied heavily on their frontcourt rotation of Hillmon, Brionna Jones, and stretch forward Nia Coffey.

“They’re an all-around team,” Aziaha James noted to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “They shoot the three, they’re good drivers, and they play good defense. So for us, it’s about taking what we did last game and bringing it into this one.”

Jones, Yueru, and the Frontcourt Matchups

In their most recent meeting with Atlanta — a 68–55 win on June 24 — Dallas used size and defensive energy to dominate the paint and hold the Dream to a season-low scoring total. Li Yueru posted her first WNBA double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds, while Dallas limited Atlanta to just 23.4% shooting and 10 points in the opening quarter.

“It was a challenge, for sure,” Yueru stated DallasHoopsJournal.com. “They have really good players, and we had to be ready to guard them and not let them get too many open shots.”

Since then, the Wings’ frontcourt has taken on a new shape with the emergence of Haley Jones as a dynamic switch piece and a growing rotation that allows head coach Chris Koclanes to toggle between big and small lineups. When the team starts big, they can deploy Yueru next to Luisa Geiselsöder, or go small with Jones alongside Geiselsöder with Yueru coming off the bench.

“When you have more people getting up the floor quickly, you’re putting pressure on the defense to get to their matchups,” Koclanes described to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Haley’s speed, her ability to roll into space or slip — she creates communication problems for defenses.”

Koclanes pointed to how New York attempted to “hide” guards like Sabrina Ionescu and Marine Johannes on Jones in the Liberty game.

“But we kept bringing her into action,” he added. “We bring people we want to attack into the action.”

Yueru, who scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds in 17 minutes on Monday, has continued to grow into a dual-threat role.

“We’ve asked her to space the floor a lot — whether that’s in corners, trailing, or in the 45s,” Koclanes told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Her ability to space not only helps us knock down shots, but it opens up the paint. She’s learning when to pop out or cut inside, and we’re seeing her make more of those reads.”

Yueru said she’s still finding the right balance between playing inside and spacing the floor, but her comfort level continues to grow.

“I still love playing in the post — that’s where I feel I’m best,” Yueru detailed to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “But I’m learning how to do both — pop outside or post up — depending on the timing.”

Geiselsöder said the simplified offense has helped the team better understand one another’s tendencies.

“It’s helping us figure out how we all move and how to play off each other,” Geiselsöder told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “We’re getting to know each other better. The balance is important—knowing when to read off each other and when to run a set.”

Jones, who made her first start next to Geiselsöder in the frontcourt, echoed that impact.

“I think it opened up a lot of stuff—right from the start of the game,” Jones told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Both of us were moving the ball well and facilitating. She stretched the floor and was hitting her shots tonight, which was great. I think we can both create mismatches and bring different looks from the four and five positions.”

A Defensive Identity Emerging

Monday’s win over New York wasn’t just an offensive breakout — it was a statement of how connected the Wings can be when they’re locked in defensively.

The Wings held the Liberty to 43.8% shooting overall and just 26.9% from three, including a disruptive performance against Ionescu. While she finished with 17 points, she needed 13 shots to get there, went just 1-of-5 from beyond the arc, and committed five turnovers. Dallas consistently chased her off the line, crowded passing lanes, and stayed connected through screens.

“I think it’s a mindset and a desire,” Koclanes told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “You’ve got to give multiple efforts. As good as the two players in the action are, it’s the three off the ball who have more space to cover. Our effort against New York was on a different level.”

That disruption translated to transition opportunities, which have become a central piece of the Wings’ identity.

“If you can defend and get stops, you can run,” Koclanes told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “And I really want us to play at a high tempo. That starts with being connected on defense, contesting, rebounding, and keeping it simple to establish space.”

Aziaha James said her personal focus has shifted post-All-Star break to match that team-wide energy.

“Just getting stronger and focusing more on the defensive side,” James said. “Offense is always going to come, but for me it’s about taking pride in guarding my man and making sure nobody’s blowing by me.”

Geiselsöder emphasized that the team is trying to take defensive accountability more personally.

“Too many opponents have scored in double figures,” Geiselsöder told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Someone’s always having a franchise night against us, and that should annoy us — it does — but we need to show that on the court. Everyone has ups and downs during a game, and we need to help each other stay focused.”

Chemistry, Confidence, and Composure

The connection between Ogunbowale and rookie point guard Paige Bueckers continues to blossom. On Monday, both scored 20 points while combining for 18 assists and just two turnovers. Bueckers shot 7-of-12 from the field and added six rebounds and three steals.

“In us simplifying the offense, we kind of know where each other’s going to be now,” Ogunbowale said. “We’re building that chemistry — day by day, with all 11 players — and I think it’s showing on the court.”

Bueckers added, “It’s difficult, having people in and out of the lineup. But it’s nice now to get some consistency. With repetition, chemistry builds.”

Geiselsöder also played a key role in the win, scoring 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including two threes. Every one of her makes came off an assist.

“Confidence, definitely,” Geiselsöder told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “And teamwork — just the way we moved the ball. I got open looks because of that. Every one of my shots came off an assist, so it’s just nice to see how well we’re playing team basketball.”

She also credited her growing two-woman game with Ogunbowale.

“Arike draws so much attention, and we can definitely take advantage of that,” Geiselsöder told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “It’s fun to play with her. I really look forward to running pick-and-roll with her — it’s been fun.”

DiJonai Carrington led the team with nine rebounds in just 17 minutes off the bench. Li Yueru added eight points, and Myisha Hines-Allen chipped in eight more. The Wings finished with 27 assists — their second-highest mark of the season — and committed just 10 turnovers. They shot 46.2% from the floor, 92.9% from the line, and had five players score in double figures.

Jones has also developed a strong rhythm with both Ogunbowale and Bueckers.

“Arike was just making the right reads,” Jones told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “That first half she had was insane. When they sent two at her, she read the defense perfectly. I think that’s something she can do all the time.”

On Bueckers: “Her IQ is crazy. She makes the right read every play. I can just get in that little window and make decisions as a post player. We’re building that chemistry and I think it’s only going to grow from here.”

Solving the Zone

For all the progress, zone defense remains a work in progress. New York’s shift to zone in the fourth quarter slowed Dallas down and nearly sparked a comeback.

“We didn’t move,” Geiselsöder admitted to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “We just passed the ball around the three-point line. We need to be patient, not settle for threes, and move — cut, set screens, do something before we catch the ball.”

Jones agreed: “Their switch to a zone really messed us up. We shouldn’t have let it affect our flow as much as it did.”

Koclanes acknowledged the impact of New York’s defensive shift, pointing to how the Wings struggled to adjust their rhythm and decision-making in the second half.

“The zone added a layer — shot clock, rhythm, second-guessing. It took us out of rhythm,” Koclanes told DallasHoopsJournal.com.

Yueru also pointed to zone execution as a key area of improvement, saying the team didn’t shy away from addressing it directly.

“We had some problems against zone defense,” Yueru emphasized DallasHoopsJournal.com. “We talked about it and tried to figure things out. I think we’re getting better.”

Staying Grounded Through the Grind

While the Wings’ performance against New York was impressive, they are still navigating one of their most grueling stretches of the season: four games in six days. Atlanta will test their legs, discipline, and composure.

“We beat Seattle, then lost to Valkyrie and the Aces,” Ogunbowale said. “So it’s game to game. This was a great win, but Wednesday’s a whole new challenge. They play differently. We have to lock in.”

Koclanes said the team’s strength lies in its adaptability — and its depth.

“We’ve done it a variety of ways with different combinations,” he told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Our identity is our competitive depth. Everyone can contribute on any night.”

After battling through injuries, rotations, and inconsistency earlier in the year, the Wings are finally showing signs of what they can be when the ball moves and the effort holds. With Atlanta up next and Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever looming Friday, the margin for error remains thin — but the belief continues to grow.

There’s no shortcut to becoming a winning team, but Dallas is finally laying down the foundation, one possession at a time.