Chicago pulls away in the fourth quarter to hand Dallas its first loss of the season.

The Chicago Sky defeated the Dallas Wings 94-88 in the fourth quarter of a 2023 WNBA regular season game at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. With a 3-1 record, Chicago moves into a tie for second place with the Connecticut Sun, while Dallas falls to third with a 2-1 record.

Chicago was led offensively by Marina Mabry, with Alena Smith coming up with the game-winning points and rebounds in the closing seconds. Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale continued her streak of 20+ points in three straight games to open the season.

Chicago jumped out to an early lead on baskets by Kalia Cooper and Maybrey, followed by a three-pointer and putback by Smith. After an early miss from leading scorer Ogunbowale, Dallas responded with a backdoor cut from Natasha Howard and a jumper from Satou Sabali.

But Chicago, with Mabry aggressively taking over the offense, held the lead and kept it close. Dallas battled back in the second quarter with a three-pointer from rookie Madison Seagrist and a paint-zone jumper from Howard, but a jumper from Courtney Williams and a basket from Sika Kone, making her WNBA debut, put Chicago back in front.

Three-pointers from Dana Evans and Maybrey followed, but Chicago missed back-to-back easy shots and a steal by Ogunbowale with the score tied at zero. Chicago finished the half up 49-45.

In the third quarter, Dallas went on a Savage run. He scored 11 points in a row on his own, combining three-pointers, drives to the basket and free throws.

But even with Savage’s momentum, Chicago wasn’t done. They responded with baskets from Cooper and Mabry. Ogunbowale hit a 3-pointer to put Dallas ahead, but Mabry and Kone followed with baskets and Evans hit a jumper to retake the lead.

The second half remained close down the stretch.

Back-to-back baskets by Evans, Coppinger and Smith gave Chicago a 79-71 lead, but Dallas responded with a three-pointer by Sigrist, followed by baskets by Howard and Jasmine Dickey and free throws by Ogunbowale.

In the final minutes, Smith was the difference maker.

With 41.2 seconds left in regulation and Chicago leading 87-85, Smith hit a mid-range jumper from the corner. It was the game-winning shot. On the ensuing defense, Smith secured the rebound and Williams made both free throws after a Dallas foul.메이저사이트

After Ogunbowale missed a three-pointer, Smith grabbed the rebound, was fouled on the other end and made both free throws, and that was it.

Chicago, which had been swept by Washington at home after winning two straight on the road, got back into the race for the top spot by handing Dallas its first loss of the season.