The Dallas Wings Are the WNBA’s Most Talented 1–9 Team? Probably

Self-Inflicted. Self-Defeated. Self-Tanking? Wings Get Defeated by Undefeated Lynx.

If turnovers were tax write-offs, the Dallas Wings would be undefeated and probably eligible for a small business grant.

But this isn’t fantasy accounting — instead, it’s another tough reality check in Arlington.

The Wings didn’t just lose to the undefeated Minnesota Lynx on Sunday. They handed them the receipt, the pen, and a gift bag on the way out.

The 81–65 final score doesn’t fully capture it. This game wasn’t a blowout from the jump. It was more like watching someone try to win a drag race with the emergency brake halfway on — flashes of speed, followed by a screech and a stall.

Dallas is now 1–9. But here’s the twisted part: they don’t look hopeless. They look chaotically dangerous, like a team that could sneak up and beat a contender or accidentally throw an alley-oop to a ghost. This was another episode in the Wings’ growing anthology of “Hey, We’re Talented But Also Unhinged.”

Let’s set the scene: Napheesa Collier is out here casually stacking double-doubles like she’s padding a LinkedIn resume. Kayla McBride is wetting threes like it’s 2016 Notre Dame again and the gym owes her money. Meanwhile, the Wings? They’re playing whack-a-mole with their own momentum — one good possession, one flying turnover, one missed bunny, rinse, repeat.

“We can compete with anyone when we’re doing what we need to do,” Arike Ogunbowale said postgame, still smoldering from her 26-point night. And she wasn’t lying. The Wings hung tough through three quarters. But “doing what we need to do” apparently includes not throwing skip passes directly into the fourth row or bricking layups like it’s a corporate charity game.

Head coach Chris Koclanes — in year one of his “please don’t judge me for inheriting a haunted house” tour — didn’t sugarcoat it.

 

“Turnovers and missed layups lead to tough situations… they definitely took advantage.”

That’s coach speak for: we gave them the gas. They hit the pedal. We just sat there holding the map upside down.

Koclanes said he’s proud of the effort defensively. And sure, the Wings made Collier work for a few of her buckets. But effort alone isn’t going to fix your team if your help defense is still buffering and your closeouts are delivered via USPS.

 

“We talk about rebounding a lot,” he added. “I like our consistency there.”

He’s not wrong. Maddy Siegrist pulled down 11 boards like she was angry at the rim.

But it’s a little like complimenting a band that keeps blowing gigs on how well they tune their guitars. Rebounds help — until you launch the outlet pass to someone wearing the wrong jersey.

While Arike spent another 40+ minutes being triple-teamed like a pop star in a riot, rookie JJ Quinerly quietly logged another “hey maybe she’s got it” game. She didn’t fill up the box score, but she made reads, handled pressure, and took another baby step toward becoming a Real One™.

 

“I’m definitely feeling more comfortable… figuring out that chemistry with the first group,” she said.
“My defense is a big part of my game. I’m learning I can score too.”

JJ’s game right now is like Ikea furniture: confusing instructions, pieces everywhere, but once it clicks — you’ve got something sturdy that can hold real weight. Even Arike had to give the rookie her flowers.

 

“She had a great game. Two in a row. She’s showing what she can do.”

This is where it gets tough. The Wings aren’t broken. They’re just under construction. And watching them right now is like standing on a freeway overpass, trying to guess whether the car below is accelerating or about to spin out. There are sparks of chemistry. Arike’s cooking. JJ’s ascending. But they’ve also lost five straight, and that ain’t good for morale — or the vibes.

On the other sideline? Cheryl Reeve was cooking up defensive schemes like she was on Chopped. She knew the assignment. Lock down Arike early, set the tone, and don’t let Dallas even pretend they had hope.

 

“We weren’t really happy with her finding her way in the first half… we wanted to put out the fire.”

That’s coach speak for: if Arike gets hot, we’re dead. So we set her ass on ice in the second half.

And then there’s Napheesa Collier. In case it wasn’t already obvious, she’s not just MVP material — she’s the union rep, the franchise rock, and possibly a Jedi Knight. She didn’t just drop 28 and 10. She also hit the mic postgame and casually reminded everyone she’s about that life off the court too.

“We’re working hard on the CBA. We deserve what we earned… We’re prepared for all options.”

Translation: I’ll drop 30 on your head and then call a lockout vote before I hit the showers.

“No one wants a stoppage… but we’re prepared.”

She said it with the poise of someone who’s ready to organize a strike and a fast break. MVP sh*t.

So here we are: the Wings are in the mud, but not buried. The Lynx are undefeated and looking like a certified problem. And Arike is still one of the coldest bucket-getters alive — even if the help isn’t always helping.

Just another Sunday in the W.