Wings Dig Deep to Defeat Mystics Despite Short Roster

On the second night of a back-to-back, down to just eight active players and missing No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers, the Dallas Wings turned in one of their grittiest performances of the season.

Led by rookies JJ Quinerly and Aziaha James, and fueled by big-time efforts from Myisha Hines-Allen, Haley Jones, and Arike Ogunbowale, the Wings powered past the Washington Mystics 79–71 Saturday night at College Park Center.

It was Dallas’ fourth win in six games—clear proof that this squad has found its identity, regardless of who suits up.

With Bueckers sidelined due to a right knee issue, Quinerly got her first WNBA start and immediately made her mark. She knocked down a pull-up jumper to open the scoring, igniting a 28–9 first-quarter surge where Dallas dominated both ends of the floor. Quinerly racked up eight points and four assists in the opening frame, matching her career-high in dimes in just ten minutes.

Haley Jones stepped up in the second quarter with one of her most complete games of the year, finishing with eight points, seven rebounds, and two assists—along with a team-best +23 plus-minus.

Dallas kept applying pressure. Hines-Allen provided instant energy off the bench, scoring seven points in three minutes. A banked-in three from James stretched the lead to 35–11. Even as Washington made a late push to end the half, cutting the deficit to 45–31, the Wings kept control.

The Mystics made things interesting in the third, opening with a 12–2 run that sliced Dallas’ 24-point lead down to two. But the Wings responded. Ogunbowale buried a tough jumper, Hines-Allen converted a steal into an and-one, and James knocked down back-to-back threes to swing momentum back Dallas’ way.

Washington had one last push, but key plays from Ogunbowale, Jones, and Smith helped seal the game. Dallas hit their free throws late and closed the door.

The Wings shot 46.8% from the field, 36.4% from deep, and 94.4% from the line. They owned the boards (41–26), outscored the Mystics in the paint (42–28), and got 36 points off the bench. Despite 22 turnovers, they forced 13 and turned those into 16 points.

Every available player contributed:

• Quinerly and James led with 15 points apiece.

• Hines-Allen stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, six boards, five assists, three steals, and a block in just 22 minutes.

• Ogunbowale added 14 points.

• Jones delivered one of her most impactful outings of the year.

The Wings are back in action Wednesday, July 3, hosting the Phoenix Mercury. Bueckers’ status remains day-to-day, but her leadership continues to echo in the locker room—even in street clothes.