ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Wings came up short in their 2026 home debut Tuesday night, falling 77-72 to the Atlanta Dream in a back-and-forth matchup at College Park Center.
In front of a sold-out crowd, Dallas battled throughout a physical contest that featured eight lead changes and nine ties before Atlanta pulled away late to improve to 2-0 on the season. The Wings slipped to 1-1 after opening the year with a win.
Dallas was also without No. 1 overall WNBA Draft pick Azzi Fudd, who sat out because of a foot injury.
Arike Ogunbowale once again led the Wings offensively, finishing with 20 points while adding four rebounds, one assist and a steal in 35 minutes. The veteran guard has now scored at least 12 points in 10 of her last 11 games dating back to last season and opened 2026 with back-to-back 20-point performances.
Second-year standout Paige Bueckers continued to shine for Dallas, posting 15 points, three assists, two rebounds and a block. Her third assist of the night pushed her past 200 career assists in just 38 games, the fastest mark in Wings franchise history.
Jessica Shepard added 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds while also dishing out three assists for Dallas.
The Wings remained within striking distance throughout the night but struggled to convert key possessions late as Atlanta closed out the final minutes to secure the road victory.
