The Dallas Wings got the win Saturday night. But the immediate concern after that 93-92 nail-biter against the Chicago Sky was the health of forward Alanna Smith, who left the game early with a facial injury.
Smith made it just five minutes into the first quarter before the injury happened. Reporter Myah Taylor confirmed Smith would not return to the contest. The team hasn’t released further details on the severity of the issue or whether she’ll need additional evaluation.
This is a tough break for a player who’s carved out a reputation as one of the league’s better defensive forwards. Smith won Defensive Player of the Year in 2025 during her time with the Minnesota Lynx. She signed with Dallas this past offseason as part of the Wings’ push to tighten up on defense and fight for a playoff spot. So far that plan has worked. Dallas sits at 10-6, good for fourth in the Western Conference.
But Smith’s minutes had already been trending down before Saturday. The injury just complicates things further for a team that relies on her length and instincts on that end of the floor.
How the Wings Held On Without Smith
Even without Smith on the floor for most of the night, Dallas managed to scrape by. Four Wings finished in double figures. Jessica Shepard led everyone with 21 points and eight rebounds. Paige Bueckers stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, two steals and a block. Azzi Fudd added 13 points and five boards. Arike Ogunbowale chipped in 12 points and three rebounds.
It wasn’t pretty. Bueckers shot 1-of-5 from three-point range and the team as a whole let Chicago hang around until the final possession. But a win is a win, especially on the road.
The Wings now sit above the Portland Fire and the Los Angeles Sparks in the standings, trailing only the Golden State Valkyries and the Las Vegas Aces out West.
What’s Next for Dallas
They’ll be back on the floor Sunday June 22 against the Seattle Storm. Tip-off is set for 10 p.m. ET. Smith’s status for that one is obviously up in the air. The Wings will likely offer a more detailed update once the medical staff gets a look at her overnight.
For now, Dallas has to feel good about the win. But the real story is whether they’ll have one of their key defensive pieces available when the schedule gets heavier.
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