ARLINGTON, TEXAS — The Dallas Wings struggled to keep pace with the Los Angeles Sparks Friday night, falling 93-79 at College Park Center. It marked the eighth loss of the season for Dallas, who now sits at 1-8, still searching for consistency amid early roster setbacks.
Los Angeles used a dominant third quarter to create separation after a competitive first half, capitalizing on 15 Dallas turnovers that turned into 21 points. The Sparks’ experience showed down the stretch, while the Wings — still without Paige Bueckers and Ty Harris — leaned heavily on youth and effort.
DiJonai Carrington once again led the charge offensively for Dallas, posting 16 points in her fifth straight game in double figures. Rookie Luisa Geiselsöder delivered her best performance since joining the league, recording her first WNBA double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. First-year guard JJ Quinerly also showed promise, finishing with career-highs of 14 points and four assists.
Despite trailing by just five at the break, Dallas couldn’t withstand a third-quarter burst from Los Angeles, who opened the second half on a 6-0 run and later put together an 11-0 spurt to seize full control. The Sparks shot a blistering 55.6 percent from the field overall, including 61.5 percent in the third alone.
Dallas showed flashes late, trimming a 24-point deficit down to 14 in the final minutes thanks to Quinerly’s late scoring and Geiselsöder’s continued activity in the paint. But the gap proved too wide to close.
The Wings finished the night shooting 42.5 percent from the field and a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line. They handed out 24 assists on 31 field goals and won the rebounding battle 35-30, showing positives in ball movement and hustle despite the loss. Kaila Charles added 10 points and six rebounds off the bench — her third game in double figures this season.
Azurá Stevens led the Sparks with 21 points, while Dearica Hamby chipped in 20, helping L.A. climb to 3-6 on the season.
Dallas now looks to regroup and break out of its early-season slump as they prepare for a critical stretch of games.
