The Dallas Wings’ 93-91 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday night included some last-second dramatics.
The Wings trailed by two points with 0.8 seconds remaining when Arike Ogunbowale went to the free throw line with a chance to tie the game.
After missing the first attempt, Ogunbowale was called for a violation on the second for pump-faking her shot. Following the call, she kicked the scorer’s table in frustration and received a technical foul.
Los Angeles missed the ensuing technical free throw to end the game.
Arike Ogunbowale faked a free throw before receiving a technical foul for kicking the scorer's table. pic.twitter.com/B3ny8P4Ibp
— espnW (@espnW) June 1, 2022
Ogunbowale had sunk her previous 17 free throw attempts before that trip to the line, starting with a perfect 10-for-10 performance against Phoenix on May 19.
After the game, Dallas coach Vickie Johnson said it wasn’t just Ogunbowale’s free throw shooting that lost them the game.
“Like you said, she was 17-for-17. It happens,” Johnson said. “The biggest thing that I told the team afterwards is, when we are in shootaround and we’re taking our free throws, make it game-like. Those two free throws could be winning or losing the game.
“It’s an opportunity for you to sit down and focus and make your free throws. We didn’t do that tonight. We didn’t do that as a team. We shot 63 percent from the free throw line. Unheard of. Just making our free throws, we would’ve won.”
So far this season, the Wings are averaging 80.1 percent from the free throw line. On Tuesday, they shot 63.6 percent (14-for-22).
“We had an opportunity to make free throws, we didn’t make wide open shots,” Johnson said. “Did we deserve to win? No. But I would’ve loved to win.”
