The Dallas Wings were chasing history, but the Minnesota Lynx became the boogeyman. The Wings had not won five consecutive games since 2023, and they have gone through hell since. After a strong start to this season, they were a win away from achieving that record, but the Lynx got in the way. Paige Bueckers and Co. were dominated, with the final scoreline reading 100-76. After the game, both coach Jose Fernandez and Bueckers pinpointed how the Lynx dismantled them. 

“A team like Minnesota is very good at what they do, and they expose you to different coverage,” Fernandez said. “Whether you ice, whether you hard hedge, whether you’re up to touch—we trapped, and they made very good reads. We were late on rotations.”

The Lynx already stretched the floor with Courtney Williams from the mid-range and Olivia Miles and Kayla McBride from the perimeter; each of whom could also drive in the paint. This versatility just made it more difficult for the Wings’ defense. The Wings conceded 48 points around the rim, a problem they have dealt with all season. And Minnesota was bound to exploit that defensive Achilles’ heel.

Patience was key for the Minnesota Lynx. Whenever they were isolating with a trap play, they took their time to find the correct pass or wait for the screen to open up the lane for a drive. Along with the screens, the Lynx mixed in some heavy movement as players like Howard and McBride moved into the empty space to receive the pass. And Bueckers acknowledged this.

“I think their ball screens—they do a really good job of setting them up. They have threats in the short roll and threats within the scoring position, whether it be Liv [Olivia Miles], Court [Courtney Williams], or KMac [Kayla McBride],” Bueckers said in her post-game press conference. “We just have to do a better job of packing the paint, making them spray it, and forcing them to shoot contested threes.

“We have to make second efforts, fly around, scramble, and help each other out. And we just have to move as one with more connectivity on the defensive end.”

The Dallas Wings already went with a guard-heavy lineup, with the only viable paint protector being Jessica Shepherd. Even though she had a size advantage over Natasha Howard, she was often alone guarding the basket. That allowed Howard to use her footwork to her advantage.

However, Olivia Miles especially was key at orchestrating the Lynx offense as she had all the correct passes. Miles had 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, terrorizing the Lynx defense, while Kayla McBride added 22 points and 4 assists. The Wings could not stop the bleeding as the Lynx shot 54% from the field and 50% from the three-point line.

But to make matters worse, Natasha Howard did not mince words when referring to this Dallas defense. 

Natasha Howard jokes about the lack of paint protection from Paige Bueckers and Co. 

It’s not the first time Howard dissected this Dallas defense. In their first matchup, Howard put up 26 points and 5 rebounds while going 11-14 from the field. This time around, it was 21 points while going 8-10 from the field. And after the game, she made a few observations on this Dallas team’s defense in the paint, or lack thereof. 

“It feels good playing against a team that doesn’t really protect the paint. But I give credit to our guards for giving me those easy looks and stuff,” she said. “I wouldn’t be able to score the way I am without them. I give them the credit. It’s not just me.”

A questionable decision from Jose Fernandez has affected the paint protection for the Wings. Alanna Smith was no longer in the starting lineup and played only 9 minutes in this game. She is the reigning Defensive Player Of The Year and the paint protector of the 2025 Lynx. 

Fernandez has hinted at some of Smith’s problems away from the court that are affecting her form. But Paige Bueckers and Co. need her to return to her best form.