Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) is congratulated by teammate Paige Bueckers (5) after scoring on a tough reverse layup during the first half against the Toronto Tempo at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) is congratulated by teammate Paige Bueckers (5) after scoring on a tough reverse layup during the first half against the Toronto Tempo at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News

ARLINGTON — The Dallas Wings needed Wednesday night’s 94-88 win over the Toronto Tempo — not just because of what it meant for this season, but the trajectory of the franchise.

Their victory at College Park Center snapped a three-game losing streak that magnified the team’s post All-Star break struggles and also marked the Wings’ 20th win of the season. 

That’s double the amount of wins Dallas managed in 2025, when the team finished 10–34, and the second-most wins the organization has achieved since it relocated to North Texas ahead of the 2016 season. It’s a big achievement for the franchise, which ranks top-eight in the WNBA standings and would make the playoffs if they started today.

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The Wings (20–14) beat the Tempo (10–23) for the second time this season, limiting one of the league’s top three-point shooters in Marina Mabrey to 3 of 9 from behind the arc and forcing 16 turnovers. Veteran forward Alanna Smith posted her second double-double of the season, recording 13 points and 11 rebounds.

“I feel really good. I don’t want to give myself a ceiling,” Smith, who has struggled with injuries in 2026, said postgame. “Hopefully, it’s onwards and upwards for not only myself, but the entire team.”

But the Wings have a lot to work out as they make a playoff push. Two starters — rookie Azzi Fudd and All-Star forward Jessica Shepard — sat out with injuries Wednesday. Fudd, nursing a right knee injury, missed her third consecutive game and Shepard missed her first full game after injuring her right ankle in Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Lynx. 

Second-year guard Aziaha James left Wednesday’s game with injury early in the fourth quarter.

“We were shorthanded today. I was very, very proud with what this group did,” Wings coach Jose Fernandez said postgame. “With Azzi out, with [Shepard] out and Aziaha goes down, for us to close out. Today was about effort, energy, enthusiasm and competitive spirit every possession.”

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Paige Bueckers, averaging 20.1 points and 5.8 assists this season, recorded 22 points, eight assists and three steals against the Tempo and was perfect from the free throw line. But she struggled to find her shot, finishing 7 of 18 from the floor and starting 0 of 7 on the night. In general, Bueckers has not been playing quite like she did prior to the All-Star break.

“Teams and players go through that kind of stuff,” Fernandez said. “I think people are loading boxes and elbows more to her and doubling her … We’re trying to run her on a lot of actions away from the ball.”

Arike Ogunbowale and Odyssey Sims didn’t have much better shooting nights, finishing a combined 7 of 22, though they hit big shots in the first half. With Fudd, a three-point shooting threat, and double double machine Shepard out, the Wings missed key parts of their offense.

But even before their injuries, it was clear Dallas had stalled after the All-Star break  — and more notably, couldn’t hang with the league’s top teams. Before Wednesday, they went 1–5 out of the break, losing to teams that would all qualify for the postseason if it started today.

“Everybody remembers when you go into the break with 18 wins,” Fernandez said. “I kind of wish we would have kept playing — we were playing well. But that’s no excuse.”

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And that gauntlet continues Friday on the road against the Indiana Fever, a playoff team the Wings beat in May. Indiana boasts the league’s top offense, averaging 96.2 points per game and claiming two of the WNBA’s top scorers in Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark.

Dallas played strong defense Wednesday, recording nine steals and five blocks, and hopes that defensive performance carries over.

“I think we’ve shown glimpses of this defense in previous games leading up to this game,” Smith said. “I think we have the capability of being a really good defensive team. It’s just about tying quarters together.”

Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) tosses mini-foam balls into the crowd following their win over the Toronto Tempo at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) tosses mini-foam balls into the crowd following their win over the Toronto Tempo at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd didn’t dress out for the Toronto Tempo game at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd didn’t dress out for the Toronto Tempo game at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsLSU head women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey takes a photo with her former players, Toronto Tempo Aneesah Morrow (24) of LSU and Dallas Wings guard Odyssey Sims (1) of Baylor following their game at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

LSU head women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey takes a photo with her former players, Toronto Tempo Aneesah Morrow (24) of LSU and Dallas Wings guard Odyssey Sims (1) of Baylor following their game at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas Wings forward Alanna Smith (8) is run over by Toronto Tempo forward Laura Juskaite (2) during the second half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Dallas Wings forward Alanna Smith (8) is run over by Toronto Tempo forward Laura Juskaite (2) during the second half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas Wings forward Alysha Clark (7) gives a side eye to official Teresa Stuck after she called a second half foul on the Wings at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026. The Wings were facing the Toronto Tempo.

Dallas Wings forward Alysha Clark (7) gives a side eye to official Teresa Stuck after she called a second half foul on the Wings at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026. The Wings were facing the Toronto Tempo.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas Wings guard Odyssey Sims (1) makes a steal of the ball from Toronto Tempo guard Marina Mabrey (3) during the second half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Dallas Wings guard Odyssey Sims (1) makes a steal of the ball from Toronto Tempo guard Marina Mabrey (3) during the second half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsToronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) lands on Dallas Wings guard Aziaha James (10) after she drove the lane during the second half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026. James had to be helped off to the locker room with an injury.

Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) lands on Dallas Wings guard Aziaha James (10) after she drove the lane during the second half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026. James had to be helped off to the locker room with an injury.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsToronto Tempo Ornella Bankole (33) attempts to swat the ball from Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers’ (5) hands after she made a second half steal at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Toronto Tempo Ornella Bankole (33) attempts to swat the ball from Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers’ (5) hands after she made a second half steal at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsToronto Tempo Ornella Bankole (33) attempts to swat the ball from Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers’ (5) hands after she made a second half steal at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Toronto Tempo Ornella Bankole (33) attempts to swat the ball from Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers’ (5) hands after she made a second half steal at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas Wings forward Alanna Smith (8) blocks Toronto Tempo guard Marina Mabrey’s (3) driving shot in the second half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Dallas Wings forward Alanna Smith (8) blocks Toronto Tempo guard Marina Mabrey’s (3) driving shot in the second half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) is fouled by Toronto Tempo Kiki Rice (1) during a second half layup at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) is fouled by Toronto Tempo Kiki Rice (1) during a second half layup at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsToronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) reacts after she was called for a foul against the Dallas Wings during the second half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) reacts after she was called for a foul against the Dallas Wings during the second half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas Wings guard Odyssey Sims (1) looses control of the ball as he drives to the basket against the Toronto Tempo in the second half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Dallas Wings guard Odyssey Sims (1) looses control of the ball as he drives to the basket against the Toronto Tempo in the second half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas Wings guard Odyssey Sims (1) crashes into the scorer’s table as she chased down a loose ball during the second half Toronto Tempo at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Dallas Wings guard Odyssey Sims (1) crashes into the scorer’s table as she chased down a loose ball during the second half Toronto Tempo at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas Mavericks Masai Ujiri and his family take in the Dallas Wings-Toronto Tempo game from the sideline at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Dallas Mavericks Masai Ujiri and his family take in the Dallas Wings-Toronto Tempo game from the sideline at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd (center) sat out the game against the Toronto Tempo at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd (center) sat out the game against the Toronto Tempo at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsToronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) blocks a shot by Dallas Wings forward Maddy Siegrist (20) during the first half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) blocks a shot by Dallas Wings forward Maddy Siegrist (20) during the first half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas Wings guard Odyssey Sims (1) has her inbounds steal swatted away by Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (left) during the first half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Dallas Wings guard Odyssey Sims (1) has her inbounds steal swatted away by Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (left) during the first half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd (center) sat out the game against the Toronto Tempo at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd (center) sat out the game against the Toronto Tempo at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) reacts after making a reverse layup during the first half against the Toronto Tempo at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) reacts after making a reverse layup during the first half against the Toronto Tempo at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) tosses up and makes a reverse layup against the Toronto Tempo during the first half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) tosses up and makes a reverse layup against the Toronto Tempo during the first half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsLSU head women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey (left) leans in to talk with her daughter Makenzie Fuller and granddaughter Scout Marie Fuller as they watched the Dallas Wings faced the Toronto Tempo at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

LSU head women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey (left) leans in to talk with her daughter Makenzie Fuller and granddaughter Scout Marie Fuller as they watched the Dallas Wings faced the Toronto Tempo at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas Wings head coach Jose Fernandez paces the sideline during the first half of the Toronto Tempo game at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Dallas Wings head coach Jose Fernandez paces the sideline during the first half of the Toronto Tempo game at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas Wings forward Alanna Smith (8) swats a pass away from Toronto Tempo guard Marina Mabrey (3) during the first half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Dallas Wings forward Alanna Smith (8) swats a pass away from Toronto Tempo guard Marina Mabrey (3) during the first half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas Wings forward Alanna Smith (8) comes down with a defensive rebound against Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) during the first half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Dallas Wings forward Alanna Smith (8) comes down with a defensive rebound against Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison (21) during the first half at College Park Center in Arlington, August 11, 2026.

Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News