9-26. These are the glaring statistics of a team that promised to change the scenario this season. And needless to say, the front office tried its best. From roping in GM Curt Miller to a fresh WNBA coach in Chris Koclanes, the Dallas Wings had a steady blueprint for victory in place after getting the draft number 1 pick, Paige Bueckers. Instead, the locker room fell apart.

Tyasha Harris, NaLyssa Smith, and DiJonai Carrington replaced veterans Natasha Howard and Satou Sabally. But in vain. While leader Arike Ogunbowale struggled to find her rhythm within the new roster, the rebuilding roster failed to comply with the wishes of the franchise, despite their “one game at a time approach.” With the race for the playoffs becoming tighter with each passing day, recovery is a far-fetched dream for the Wings. But the Wings aren’t alone in the mess.

After all, they have ventured knee-deep into the season with a total of 26 losses each. And according to the recent prediction by ESPN Women’s Hoops, the reality for them isn’t any good. The official account took to X (Twitter) and wrote, “Tuesday’s WNBA playoff berth scenarios, per the league: Dallas is eliminated with wins by Golden State and *either* Seattle or Washington. Chicago eliminated with a loss *and* a Washington win.” Whether to take this as a sliver of hope or a wake-up call is up to the Wings and the Sky to decide ahead of the 2025 playoffs.

Let us understand this: though ranking 11th so far, the Dallas Wings stand at the threshold of the league. While their one-point win against the Indiana Fever guaranteed a spot in the playoffs for the Minnesota Lynx, one more loss can change the trajectory for the franchise and all other teams in the Western Conference division.

Despite showcasing flashes of brilliance, DiJonai Carrington’s sudden departure was a major setback for the locker room. But as per the playoff scenarios emerge, the Wings can change their destiny with outside support. All they need is for the Golden State Valkyries to lose all their games to stay afloat. But that doesn’t solve the case. They need to hope that the Seattle Storm and the Washington Mystics lose in the upcoming games, too. Factor in the Sparks, too. These are ideal world scenarios, but in reality, the Wings are clipped.

The season will come to an abrupt end for the Wings if all three teams clinch respective wins. And a similar fate awaits the Chicago Sky. If Angel Reese & Co. fail to clinch their 9th win, their playoff dream will end right there. Already on a five-game losing streak, forget banking on others, it will be difficult for the Sky to win against the New York Liberty and fulfill HC Tyler Marsh’s only wish. But if the Sky wins against the Liberty, they will continue in the playoff race. Yes, on borrowed time.

As the two teams trudge through the remaining season, it is back to the old saying: One game at a time. Can Paige Bueckers & Co. gain an upper hand against the Sparks tonight after losing by a point a few days ago? While the Chicago Sky struggles without Angel Reese in the active roster, and Bueckers is unable to lead the team, despite individual brilliance, it will be interesting to see if the two bottom-ranked teams strive to stay in the playoff contention.

Angel Reese’s bounce back in a losing cause

After missing three weeks due to injury, Angel Reese returned to action for the Chicago Sky in their 94–88 loss to the Seattle Storm. Reese made an immediate impact, finishing with 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting, along with seven rebounds and four assists. Despite her strong outing, the Sky were unable to stop Seattle’s balanced offense and slipped further in the standings. The Chicago star also admitted the time away was far from easy.

“It felt great. I love basketball. It’s my pride and joy. Sitting on the sidelines is no fun. Sitting and just doing rehab every single day is no fun,” she said after the game, highlighting how much she has missed the game. At the same time, Reese explained that her absence wasn’t only about physical recovery.

She revealed that she used the break to reflect and regroup, saying she was able to “just sit and figure out what’s going on with myself.” Head coach Tyler Marsh also noted that she had to manage challenges off the floor and emphasized the importance of continued support for the young forward.

Her return underlined just how valuable she is to Chicago. While the Sky couldn’t turn her comeback into a win, Reese’s performance showed that she remains central to their hopes of competing in the last leg of the season, even if they are flying parallel to the playoff race.