Dallas HC Draw Locker Room Line for Paige Bueckers & Arike Ogunbowale Before Caitlin Clark Game

15 losses. An incomplete locker room. The Dallas Wings were left high and dry after predominant faces in Arike Ogunbowale, DiJonai Carrington, and Maddy Seigrist were benched. Though injuries chipped away at the locker room, it did not stop the rookie phenom. No.1 overall pick, Paige Bueckers took center stage and led the rookie brigade to their first win against the second team in the Western Conference standings.

But this win was transient. Needless to say, the team began their first road trip on a faulty note. After a crushing 102-72 loss against Phoenix Mercury, the second away game against the Chicago Sky landed them with an 11-point deficit. While rookies JJ Quinerly and Aziah James teamed up with Paige Bueckers, the trio fell short of Angel Reese & Co. Just when the Dallas Wings lost their spirit to a two-game losing streak, hope awaited the locker room.

Now, Arike Ogunbowale is set to rejoin the active roster. “Wings general manager Curt Miller said Ogunbowale (thumb) is probable for Sunday’s game against the Fever, Myah Taylor of Dallas News reports,” ESPN announced. The news comes ahead of the final road game against the Indiana Fever. As two powerful backcourt athletes return to the hardwood, can the Wings’ head coach Chris Koclanes use the opportunity to the team’s advantage?

Well, in a recent pre-game conference, HC Koclanes was asked by a reporter on his goals now that the players are back. “How do you want to see their game evolve, but how can they play off each other?” the reporter quizzed. Without a moment’s hesitation, the radiant head coach took a practical approach.

“Yeah, just continue to grow on the floor with each other,” Chris Koclanes said. “Who’s on the ball, who’s off the ball in actions together – just continue to build that confidence and be able to put a ton of pressure on defences because the two of them just have so much gravity and draw so much attention.” Needless to say, Arike and Paige’s electrifying performances attract spectators from all quarters.

The statement comes after the head coach faced scrutiny this season for being unable to use the duo effectively. Emphasizing on growth, HC Koclanes commanded that the duo share a rapport and clarify their positions before diving headfirst into the game. With Ogunbowale’s return, it will be crucial for Bueckers and the captain to sort their priorities and work cohesively to achieve an upper hand.

The two athletes have a formidable on-court presence and are known for attracting unwanted attention from the opponents. While the team has shown massive improvements in the offensive department, it is time that the Arike Ogunbowale and Paige Bueckers duo focuses on the defensive arrangements on the floor and dominate the Fever. After all, Caitlin Clark & Co. are known for their defensive inability. But despite that setback, the Fever roster managed a surprising Commissioner’s Cup win this season.

Paige Bueckers joins Caitlin Clark in another WNBA record

As the overall No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, Paige Bueckers has created a stir ever since she entered the league. Her consistency and hunger to prove her worth among the pros landed her with a historic achievement. She managed to average 18.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists so far and joined Indiana Fever player, Caitlin Clark as the only players to average 15+ points and 5+ assists across their first 15 games.

Jun 11, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) against the Phoenix Mercury at PHX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Paige’s growing popularity prompted her franchise to shift the August 1 matchup against the Indiana Fever to the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks arena. The Wings’ first game of the season against the Fever was also held in the NBA arena, and drew nearly 20,409 spectators for the historic showdown. And as a result, it became the league’s eighth regular season game in history to average more than 20,000 spectators.

Now as the Wings proceed towards the second game against the Indiana Fever, can Bueckers & Co. leave this brutal loss behind and start a new winning streak? While the two powerhouses of women’s basketball failed to face each other when the franchises collided on June 27, fans expect to watch Bueckers and Clark face each other for the first time in the pros.

As Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale team up once again, it will be exciting to watch if the two manage to end the roadtrip with a bang! or carry a streak of losses home. While Fever’s complete roster poses a deep-seated fear and threat for the Wings, can the duo confidently face the opponents? Guess, we’ll have to wait and watch.