'We Had to Be Ready': Dallas Wings Overcome Injuries and Back-to-Back Test to Beat Washington Mystics

On the second night of a back-to-back, down to just eight available players and without No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers, the Dallas Wings delivered one of their grittiest performances of the season.

With rookies JJ Quinerly and Aziaha James leading the charge, and vital contributions from Myisha Hines-Allen, Haley Jones, and Arike Ogunbowale, the Wings earned a 79–71 victory over the Washington Mystics on Saturday night at College Park Center. It marked Dallas’ fourth win in their last six games and a statement that this group, regardless of who suits up, has found its identity.

“We knew coming in, playing back in front of our home crowd again, we had to be ready and put on a show for them,” said Hines-Allen. “We wanted them to want to come back for more, and I feel like they will after seeing how we played—hard, aggressive, both sides of the ball.”

JJ Quinerly Starts Fast, Dallas Wings Dominate Early

With Bueckers ruled out pregame due to a right knee issue, Quinerly was given the nod for her first WNBA start—and the rookie didn’t hesitate. She opened the game with a pull-up jumper, setting the tone for a 28–9 first-quarter explosion in which Dallas imposed its will in every facet.

“From tip ball, I was locked in,” Quinerly said. “This game is fun to me, so being out there, I just wanted to enjoy every moment. Paige told me before the game, ‘Go out there and do what you gotta do.’ So that’s what I tried to do.”

Quinerly finished the opening period with eight points and four assists, matching her career-high for dimes in just ten minutes. The Wings outshot the Mystics, outpaced them in transition, and held Washington to just three field goals.

Hines-Allen entered off the bench and wasted no time making her presence felt, scoring seven points in just three minutes, highlighted by an and-one through contact against Stefanie Dolson.

“We came out aggressive—super aggressive,” Hines-Allen said. “How we started against Indiana [on Friday] was unacceptable. Tonight, we wanted to set the tone early—just like we did in the Atlanta game. When we play with a defensive mindset first, everything else follows.”

Washington Mystics Adjust Late in the Half

The second quarter saw Haley Jones step forward with what head coach Chris Koclanes called one of her most impactful games of the year. Jones tallied eight points, seven rebounds, and two assists while finishing with a team-best +23 plus-minus.

“We don’t win that game without Haley,” Hines-Allen said. “We don’t even practice zone, but she came in talking, organizing, making passes—just doing all the little things. Her footwork was amazing. She got their bigs in the air. She was finding shooters. Those skip passes matter.”

Dallas extended its lead to 35–11 on a banked-in three from James. They continued to punish Washington in transition and on the offensive glass. When the Mystics switched to a zone of their own, Dallas adjusted by playing through isolation mismatches and moving the ball side-to-side.

“We’ve struggled with foul trouble,” Koclanes explained. “So we had to protect the paint and our bodies. That zone helped save legs and confuse some of their rhythm. Haley and Myisha in the back of that zone were excellent.”

Despite the early cushion, Washington began to show signs of life late in the half. Sug Sutton hit a pair of jumpers, and Sonia Citron started to impose her will with hard drives and trips to the free-throw line. The Mystics closed on a 16–6 run to cut the Wings’ lead to 45–31 at halftime.

“They started figuring things out,” Quinerly said. “But we stayed with it. We knew it was about how we would respond.”

Sonia Citron Fuels Washington Mystics Comeback

The third quarter opened with a 12–2 Washington run. Citron hit a midrange jumper and a three. Shakira Austin scored inside, and Washington forced multiple turnovers. Within three minutes, Dallas’ 24-point lead had been whittled down to two.

“They punched us—just like Indiana did last night,” Koclanes said. “But we didn’t collapse. We responded. That’s what good teams do.”

Ogunbowale halted the bleeding with a tough pull-up jumper. Hines-Allen intercepted a post entry and finished through contact on the break for an and-one. Then James hit a deep corner three and followed it with a step-back triple after a stalled play, restoring Dallas’ double-digit lead.

“My coaches and my sisters kept confidence in me,” James said. “They told me to stay positive and just let it go. That’s what I did tonight.”

“You give Aziaha the opportunity, and she’s going to step up,” Hines-Allen added. “We’ve seen spurts of it, but tonight she showed exactly why we drafted her.”

Dallas ended the quarter up 62–56, having absorbed Washington’s best shot and maintained their edge.

Closing Out the Win in the Fourth

Early in the fourth, Dallas surged again. NaLyssa Smith used her physicality to muscle in a bucket. Li Yueru grabbed an offensive board and knocked down a midrange jumper. Jones found a cutting Charles for a layup, and the Wings led 69–54 with 5:24 remaining.

“We just tried to pick our spots,” Ogunbowale said. “It’s a long season. You’re tired, but you have to push through. That’s what we did tonight.”

Washington again made it interesting. Citron, Austin, and Sutton led an 11–2 run that cut the deficit to six with 1:20 remaining. But Dallas didn’t flinch. Ogunbowale slowed the tempo, drawing attention to set up key baskets. Smith converted an and-one. Jones hit a key skip pass to reverse the floor, and the Wings iced the game at the free-throw line.

“We were telling each other all night—Indiana came back from 20 yesterday,” Ogunbowale said. “So we couldn’t get complacent. We had to finish.”

“We’ve got to win in all sorts of different ways,” Koclanes said. “Tonight we had to muck it up. It wasn’t pretty, but we trusted our depth, stayed aggressive, and found a way. That’s what this league demands.”

A Team Win Built on Fight

Dallas finished the game shooting 46.8% from the field, 36.4% from three, and 94.4% from the free-throw line. They dominated the glass with 41 rebounds to Washington’s 26 and outscored them 42–28 in the paint and 36–5 off the bench. The Wings had 18 assists and seven steals, and overcame 22 turnovers by forcing 13 of their own and converting them into 16 points.

Every available player contributed. Quinerly and James led the team in scoring with 15 each. Hines-Allen filled the stat sheet with 13 points, six rebounds, five assists, three steals, and a block in just 22 minutes. Ogunbowale added 14 points, while Jones turned in arguably her most complete game of the season.

“We found our fight,” Quinerly said. “We stayed together. We were relentless. We didn’t let anything stop us—and we’re just getting started.”

The Wings return to action Wednesday, July 3, when they host the Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center. Bueckers’ status remains day-to-day, but her voice echoed through the locker room even in her absence.

“She told me to just go out there and do my thing,” Quinerly said again with a grin. “So I did.”