Dallas Wings Outscore Chicago Sky in 2026 Home Opener Behind Bueckers and Ogunbowale

The Dallas Wings edged the Chicago Sky 88-81 in the Sky’s 2026 home opener at Wintrust Arena on Wednesday night, May 20, as the Wings leaned on their offensive firepower to overcome Chicago’s interior defense. Arike Ogunbowale led Dallas with 22 points, while Paige Bueckers added 18 points and six assists. On the Sky side, Gabriela Jaquez poured in 21 points and Kamilla Cardoso tallied a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

The absence of Chicago’s star forward Rickea Jackson, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL in a previous game, proved costly for the Sky. Dallas took full advantage, with rookie Azzi Fudd providing a spark off the bench, scoring 14 points in just 19 minutes. The Wings’ offensive depth and quick ball movement overwhelmed Chicago’s perimeter defense, especially in the fourth quarter when Dallas outscored the Sky 24-16.

Jessica Shepard was a dominant force inside, finishing with 16 rebounds and 12 points in a gritty performance. Her work on the glass helped Dallas secure second-chance opportunities, and she went toe-to-toe with Cardoso in a pivotal rebounding battle. Meanwhile, Bueckers continued her stellar start to the season, averaging 18.5 points per game and leading the Wings in offensive rating.

Oddsmakers had the Wings as narrow favorites at -2.5, and the prediction came true as Dallas pulled away late. The Sky entered the game with a 3-1 record but struggled to adjust to the loss of their leading scorer. Jaquez, who dropped a career-high 20 points in her last game, showed promise but couldn’t single-handedly carry the team.

With the win, Dallas improved to 3-2 on the season, while Chicago fell to 3-2. The Sky will look to rebound quickly when they host the Seattle Storm on Saturday, May 23. For the Wings, they’ll aim to build on this momentum as they head to Phoenix to face the Mercury on Sunday.