Originally from Athlon Sports: “Paige Bueckers’ Teammate Makes WNBA History Amid Disappointing Season”
The Dallas Wings’ struggles continued Friday night with a 93-79 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks, extending their losing streak to four games and dropping their record to 1-8.
Los Angeles took control behind a 21-point performance from Azurá Stevens and a dominant third quarter that stretched a five-point halftime lead to 12 heading into the final period.
Though the Wings fought back early in the second half, turnovers and lapses on defense allowed the Sparks to widen the gap once again.
Arike Ogunbowale, typically the team’s offensive leader, finished with just eight points. Dallas was also without rookie sensation and top draft pick Paige Bueckers.
Still, the night wasn’t without a bright spot for Dallas—Ogunbowale reached a historic milestone, tying Diana Taurasi as the fastest player in WNBA history to notch 4,000+ points, 800+ assists, and 600+ rebounds, accomplishing the feat in only 204 games.
Matching Taurasi’s pace highlights Ogunbowale’s elite status. A college legend at Notre Dame, she famously hit back-to-back game-winners to secure the 2018 NCAA title and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Since being drafted fifth overall by the Wings in 2019, Ogunbowale has become the face of the franchise. She’s a four-time All-Star (2021–2024), two-time All-Star Game MVP (2021, 2024), led the league in scoring in 2020, and was the steals leader in 2024.
Her career averages—20.3 points, 3.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game—underscore her consistent excellence.
