Wings one win from playoffs, but Fire still cling to postseason hopes

The Dallas Wings can clinch the WNBA's final playoff spot with a win over the Portland Fire on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas -- but they have bigger goals on their agenda over the final six games of the regular season.

The Wings (22-16) have won two straight games, including a 92-70 home victory over struggling Seattle on Sunday, to put them on the doorstep of the postseason.

Paige Bueckers paced Dallas with 32 points against the Storm, scoring 18 of those in the first quarter and 23 over the first 16 minutes of the game as the Wings built a 56-21 lead. Jessica Shepard added 11 points and 11 rebounds in the win.

Dallas heads into Tuesday's contest in eighth place and can clinch its first playoff berth since 2023 if it beats the Fire (15-22), the only team other than the Wings capable of qualifying for the playoffs.

"We can't play like we're trying to make the playoffs," Bueckers said. "We've got to play to our identity and to what we want to build on and to what we've been this entire season. Obviously the stakes are higher, but once you focus on that, you kind of lose sight of where you are in the present."

The Wings are just a game behind New York for sixth place and only 2 1/2 games behind Atlanta for fourth and the right home-court advantage in the first round. The team has already matched the franchise win record since moving to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex from Tulsa before the 2016 season.

"It's monumental coming off a 10-win season and a nine-win season before that," said Jose Fernandez, the Wings' first-year coach. "We wouldn't have the success if it wasn't for the individuals in that locker room and the people I'm surrounded with every day."

The Fire arrive after a 105-100 home loss to Washington on Sunday. Carla Leite's 27 points and 11 assists led Portland while Emily Engstler added 23 points as she made 5 of 7 3-point attempts. Megan DiLeo scored 21 and Bridget Carleton added 18 points for the Fire, who led by five points entering the final period before surrendering 40 points over the final 10 minutes.

"A lot of our team concepts we're doing well, and it gets to ‘Can you guard your yard and just stay in front one-on-one?'" said Portland coach Alex Sarama. "And, unfortunately, that's where we're really falling short."

Portland, which has dropped two consecutive outings, must win its final seven games and have the Wings lose all six of theirs to make the postseason in its inaugural season. While that scenario is mathematically unlikely -- five of their final seven games are against teams ahead of them in the standings -- Sarama praised his team's attempt.

"Can't fault the effort ... the effort and the intent every game has been superb this season," Sarama said. "You know, I couldn't be more grateful to the group for that. As a group, they're a joy to coach for that reason."

The teams split their first two meetings this year. The Fire won 84-83 at home on June 13, and Dallas prevailed 101-97 in Portland on July 22.

--Field Level Media