Dream Rally Late to Spoil Wings’ Home Opener, 77-72

ARLINGTON, Texas — A packed College Park Center welcomed the Dallas Wings home Tuesday night, eager to celebrate a new era of basketball and a team that entered the evening unbeaten through its first three games of the season.

Instead, the Atlanta Dream played spoiler.

Despite a spirited effort in front of a sellout crowd, the Wings saw their three-game winning streak come to an end with a 77-72 loss to Atlanta in their home opener.

The atmosphere was electric from the opening tip. Fans remained on their feet through the first several possessions as Dallas debuted its revamped roster and coaching staff on its home floor. Even without No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd in the lineup, the energy inside the arena never wavered as the Wings looked to continue their early-season momentum.

Dallas and Atlanta traded blows throughout a tightly contested first half. The Wings carried a 21-19 advantage into the second quarter after Odyssey Sims converted a driving layup in the closing seconds of the opening period.

The home team found a rhythm offensively in the second quarter, stretching its lead to seven points behind a pair of timely three-pointers. Dallas maintained control for much of the half and took a 41-38 lead into the locker room.

Paige Bueckers paced the Wings with eight first-half points, while Sims and Arike Ogunbowale each added seven.

Atlanta began to shift the momentum after halftime.

A three-pointer from Allisha Gray gave the Dream their first lead since the opening quarter and sparked a back-and-forth battle that featured multiple lead changes. Neither team was able to create much separation until the final minutes.

Gray proved to be the difference-maker down the stretch. The Atlanta guard scored a game-high 26 points and knocked down two critical three-pointers early in the fourth quarter to help the Dream regain the lead for good.

Ogunbowale did her best to keep Dallas within striking distance, finishing with a team-high 20 points. Bueckers added 15 points, while Alanna Smith chipped in 12 as the Wings placed three players in double figures.

Atlanta gradually extended its lead in the closing minutes, building its largest advantage of the night while controlling possessions and forcing Dallas to play catch-up. Bueckers provided one final highlight with a pull-up three-pointer in the closing seconds, but the comeback bid ultimately fell short.

The loss drops Dallas from the ranks of the unbeaten after an impressive start that included victories over Indiana and the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces.

The Wings will look to bounce back quickly as they remain at home to host the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday night at College Park Center.