Maddie Siegrist's 17-Point Half Vanished, And Natasha Howard Punished Dallas

Holy smokes, folks, did you just see that?! The Minnesota Lynx pulled off an absolute stunner on Thursday night, roaring back from a double-digit deficit to knock off the Dallas Wings 90-86 in Arlington, Texas. We're talking a full-blown, jaw-dropping comeback story, and the name you absolutely need to know is Natasha Howard. She poured in 26 points for the Lynx, an absolutely ridiculous 19 of them coming in the second half alone, to completely flip this game on its head. Dallas thought they had it in the bag, cruising with a comfortable lead, but the Lynx had other, much more energetic plans!

Dallas's Early Lead Disappears in the Texas Heat

Man, oh man, the Wings came out firing like their lives depended on it! Maddie Siegrist was on an absolute tear in the first half, pouring in a stunning 17 points, every single one of them before the break. Can you believe it? She racked up 10 points in that opening frame alone. Dallas jumped out to a 28-18 lead after the first quarter, riding a red-hot 11-2 run. They held an eight-point cushion, 48-40, at halftime, and at one point in the second quarter, they even stretched their lead to a dozen points! It felt like they had this one locked down, a done deal. But then, something shifted, and that offensive fire started to cool down way too fast.

Natasha Howard's Second-Half Takeover Fuels Lynx Rally

But hold up, the Lynx weren't going anywhere! They stayed within striking distance, battling hard and finding ways to chip away. Nia Coffey hit a crucial three-pointer in the second quarter that sliced the deficit to 34-32, a real momentum shifter. The Lynx then exploded with a 9-0 run in the middle of the third quarter, actually taking their first lead of the game at 55-54, thanks to a couple of clutch free throws from Kayla McBride. Dallas, led by Paige Bueckers' 27 points, did manage to briefly regain a 60-55 lead with a sweet step-through, Euro-step layup by Alanna Smith, but the writing was on the wall.

Natasha Howard, though? She completely took over in the final minutes. With just 1:57 left, she tied the game at 83 with a gritty layup. Then, with 51 seconds remaining, she dropped another layup to give the Lynx a two-point lead! Olivia Miles delivered a massive blocked shot, forcing a shot clock turnover by Dallas, and McBride sealed the deal by hitting three critical free throws late, finishing with 11 points herself. Courtney Williams added 21 points and Miles chipped in 15, with Coffey hitting for 13. What a full team effort to close it out!

Early Season Momentum Swing

What an absolutely wild win for Minnesota! They've now strung together two straight victories, moving to a solid 2-1 early in the season. That's the kind of momentum that can make or break an early run, and they just snatched it from the jaws of defeat! For Dallas, man, this is a tough one to swallow. Dropping their second game in a row puts them at 1-2, and you know that stings, especially after having a lead like that evaporate right before their eyes. This early in the season, every game sets the tone, and while there's plenty of basketball left, this kind of rally has to get the Lynx feeling sky-high. You absolutely love to see that kind of fight!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.