ARLINGTON, Texas — Dallas Wings went into tonight’s matchup looking for a historic franchise win against the Connecticut Sun in Game 3 of the WNBA Playoffs. But the shots wouldn't fall in the second half and they lost 73-58, ending their season.
The first half for the Wings started out hot -- backed by the loud and proud crowd in College Park Center in Arlington.
In the first quarter of play, it was a back and forth battle between the two squads. Wings point guard Veronica Burton led with eights points.
Marina Mabrey was also money behind the line.
The Wings were up 19-15 after at the quarter’s end.
But Wings starting forward Isabelle Harrison was taken to the locker room with lower leg injury.
Dallas led most of the 2nd quarter with some impressive ball movement and skill from Mabrey, Burton and Satou Sabally.
The Wings and Sun were tied at the half 34-34.
The team's leading scorer, guard Arike Ogunbowale has been cleared to play coming off the bench, with a minute restriction. She did not play in the first half.
But with about four minutes left in the third quarter, the crowd ignited when Ogunbowale finally took the floor for the first time in the night.
A special quest was also spotted supporting the W tonight, Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant was in the building!
But star power and the upbeat, cheering crowd couldn't help propel the Wings forward tonight.
By the end of the quarter, Connecticut outscored Dallas 23-12. And the Sun went up by 11, at 57-46.
The shots just weren’t falling for Dallas late in the third and entering the fourth quarter of play.
In the first half, they made 14 of 28 field goals, shooting at 50%. They were 4 of 18 late in the second half, shooting at 22%.
And by the end of the game, the Wings shot 6 of 27 FGs (22%) and turned the ball over 11 times.
The Sun won the game and series.
Wings season comes to a disappointing, yet motivating, end.
Mabrey tallied 20 points for her ninth straight game in double-figures and rookie Veronica Burton became the first rookie since the team moved to Dallas to record double-digit points in a playoff game, as she finished with 10.
"At the end of the day we fought, we gave 110% effort and energy," Dallas Wings Head Coach Vickie Johnson said during a postgame interview. "It just didn't go our way."
Coach Johnson said her team is building something special here in DFW, and expressed how proud she was of her players.
In the words of WFAA sports reporter Jonah Javad, the "Wings will be back though. I believe that."