It hasn’t been the ideal start for Arike Ogunbowale and the Dallas Wings. With UConn standout Paige Bueckers joining the squad, expectations were sky-high–especially after missing the playoffs last season for the first time since 2020. But three games in and three losses later, it’s starting to feel a bit too familiar for Wings fans. Still, franchise star and heart of the team Arike isn’t ready to hit the panic button just yet, and she has a lot of reasons for it.
The Wings came into this season looking to bounce back from a rough 9-31 campaign. The front office knew a reset was needed. That’s when Curt Miller was brought in as general manager, followed by Chris Koclanes stepping in as the new head coach. The roster saw big changes too. All-Stars Satou Sabally and Natasha Howard moved on, making Arike Ogunbowale the lone returning starter. Things got exciting when they picked up Paige Bueckers in the draft, but even with her arrival, it’s clear the team still has a long way to go before they can truly compete for a title.
The Wings have dropped their first three games—twice to the Lynx and once to the Storm. But their latest loss felt different. It was a tighter contest, and the team showed real signs of progress. Arike Ogunbowale knows this season is all about rebuilding, and the narrow 4-point defeat only reinforced her belief that they’re heading in the right direction. Good things, she believes, are coming soon.
In the postgame press conference, she said, “I mean, it’s a new— a new everything. So just giving myself grace, but trying to be there for my team and them being there for me. So this was a good, better game than last game. Obviously, we want the win. We’re going to keep getting better. We still got, what, 41 games left? But this is a step.”
Dallas Wings vs Minnesota Lynx Arlington, Texas, United States: Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings in action during the WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the Dallas Wings and the Minnesota Lynx at College Park Center on Thursday August 24, 2023. Photo by Javier Vicencio / Eyepix Group Copyright: xJavierxVicenciox/xEyepixxGroupx JV200813
It was definitely a step in the right direction—for both the Wings and Arike Ogunbowale! In the first two games, the star guard went just 6-of-26 from the field, putting up only 24 points. But last night was a different story. Not only was it Dallas’ closest game so far, but it also reminded everyone what Arike is capable of. She dropped 21 points on 8-of-20 shooting. Still not her best, but a clear jump from the earlier outings. At this rate, it feels like only a matter of time before Ogunbowale and the Wings find their groove and grab their first win of the new W season.
But will that actually happen? Let’s take a closer look at the challenges the Wings are facing right now.
Can Arike Ogunbowale and co rise up?
One of the biggest concerns for the Wings so far has been Arike Ogunbowale’s efficiency. As mentioned earlier, she’s had a slow start to the season. Truth is, Arike has never really been known as an efficient scorer. She’s only shot at least 40 percent from the field in two of her first six seasons in the W. For her career, she’s averaging just 39.3 percent on 17.8 attempts per game. So with their top scorer struggling to hit consistently, it’s no surprise the Wings have opened the season with three straight losses–even though her shooting did improve in Game 3. But unfortunately, that’s just one part of the problem.
Some of Ogunbowale’s early-season struggles likely stem from all the changes around her. She’s adjusting to a new coach, a new system, and a mostly new roster. In fact, only three players from last year’s Wings squad are still here–Arike herself, Maddy Siegrist, and Teaira McCowan. Everyone else is new, including rookies like Paige Bueckers, Aziaha James, and JJ Quinerly who are still adjusting to the pro level. That’s a lot to figure out in just a few games.
It’s going to take a little time for the Wings to build chemistry and get into a groove. But their last game against the Lynx showed real signs of progress. They forced 19 turnovers and clawed back from an 11-point deficit to get within just three. That kind of fight is a good sign and gives fans reason to believe this team can turn things around.
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