A 100-76 loss is ugly. Getting outscored 46-26 in the paint is even uglier. And when it happens for the second time against the Minnesota Lynx, legitimate championship contenders, who have their system figured out and are playing some of their best basketball, it stings even more.
The Wings had just won four consecutive games for the first time this season. They finally got over that mental hurdle, found some consistency, and started to look like the team many expected them to be. Then Minnesota showed up and reminded them that they still have plenty of work to do.
The Wings shot just 29-of-77 from the field and 8-of-28 from three-point range in the loss, but some of the biggest shots came courtesy of Lynx forward Natasha Howard.
The 34-year-old was busy, productive, and effective throughout the game, finishing with 21 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block to help lead Minnesota to victory. However, her loudest moment came after the game when she took a savage dig at Dallas’ defense.
“It feels good playing a team that doesn’t really protect the paint,” Howard told reporters after the game. “It is, though. I give credit to our guards for giving me those easy looks and stuff. I wouldn’t be able to score the way I am without them. So I give them the credit, not just me.”
The comment even drew a laugh from Olivia Miles, who finished with 24 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the win.
Howard’s assessment wasn’t far off. The Wings went with a guard-heavy lineup, with Jessica Shepard serving as their only viable rim protector. Howard took full advantage, going 7-of-9 in the paint against Dallas.
Paige Bueckers Reacts To Wings’ Blowout Loss
Paige Bueckers said all the right things after the Dallas Wings’ blowout loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday. Bueckers acknowledged that many of the same defensive issues that contributed to the defeat were once again on display throughout the game.
“I think their ball screens, they do a really good job of setting them up,” Bueckers said when asked what went wrong for the Wings during her postgame press conference. “They have threats in the short roll and threats in scoring positions, whether it be Liv [Olivia Miles], Court [Courtney Williams], or KMac [Kayla McBride]. We just have to do a better job of packing the paint, making them spray it out, and forcing them to shoot contested threes.”
The Wings gave Minnesota too much to work with. They took risks that didn’t pay off, turned the ball over in bad spots, and got caught trying to play too fast and loose. The Lynx made them pay for it every single time, capitalizing on multiple mistakes and forcing Dallas into a difficult night. The Wings also surrendered 19 points off turnovers.
“We have to make second efforts, fly around, scramble, and help each other out. We just have to move as one with more connectivity on the defensive end,” Bueckers added.
This loss hurts, but it’s also a reminder of what the Wings still need to fix. Minnesota is one of the league’s most talented teams, and the Lynx exposed weaknesses in Dallas’ defensive structure while capitalizing on nearly every mistake. The good news for the Wings is that they’ll get another opportunity to make adjustments when they meet Minnesota again later this season.
Read More:
Paige Bueckers Revisits Quoting Stephen Curry After Wings’ Blowout Loss vs Lynx
Lynx’s X Sparks Buzz by Showcasing Olivia Miles’ Dominance Over Azzi Fudd in Two Posts
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in the NBA, WNBA, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
