Rebecca Allen Catches Fire as Sky Shut Down Paige Bueckers and Beat Dallas

CHICAGO: For much of the Chicago Sky's season, the offense has struggled to produce enough perimeter scoring to complement Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.

On Wednesday night, Rebecca Allen provided exactly what had been missing.

Allen scored a season-high 27 points, connected on five three-pointers and blocked three shots as Chicago defeated the Dallas Wings 87–76 at Wintrust Arena.

Reese contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds, recording her 13th double-double of the season.

The victory improved Chicago to 6–13.

The result was significant because the Sky found a productive offensive combination against a Dallas team featuring rookie sensation Paige Bueckers.

Bueckers scored 17 points but shot just 5-for-20 from the field.

Chicago's ability to limit her efficiency was central to the outcome.

Allen changes the perimeter equation

The Sky have attempted to build their identity around interior scoring and rebounding.

That approach creates opportunities, but it also carries an obvious risk.

When opposing defenses do not fear Chicago's outside shooting, they can place additional pressure around the basket.

That reduces the space available to Reese, Cardoso and other frontcourt contributors.

Allen's performance forced Dallas into a different defensive problem.

Her five made three-pointers provided scoring Chicago could not create solely through post-ups or offensive rebounds.

Every successful perimeter attempt made it more difficult for the Wings to concentrate on protecting the paint.

Allen also contributed defensively, recording three blocks.

That combination made her the game's most important individual performer.

A decisive third-quarter run

The matchup remained competitive through much of the opening half.

Dallas had enough offensive talent to answer Chicago's early production, and the Wings were not allowing the Sky to establish a comfortable margin.

Allen changed that during the third quarter.

She made two three-pointers and a long jumper during a 13–2 Chicago run.

The scoring burst pushed the Sky ahead 67–57 with 2:20 remaining in the period.

It was the most consequential stretch of the game.

Rather than depending on a series of difficult interior finishes, Chicago created separation through outside shooting.

Dallas now faced a double-digit deficit and needed to recover against a Sky team that could control possessions through its rebounding.

The visitors continued competing, but the run had shifted the game's direction.

Reese finishes what Allen started

The Wings eventually cut Chicago's advantage to six points with 3:37 remaining.

The Sky were facing another late challenge.

Reese responded.

She converted a layup, grabbed a defensive rebound on the following possession and then completed a three-point play.

The sequence pushed Chicago's lead to 87–76.

Reese's involvement reflected the value of a player capable of influencing several consecutive possessions.

She did not need a high-volume scoring performance to change the outcome.

One successful finish, one rebound and one additional scoring opportunity helped protect the victory.

Her 15-point, 11-rebound performance continued one of the league's most consistent individual rebounding stretches.

Bueckers faces a difficult night

Dallas entered the season with substantial attention surrounding Bueckers, the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

The rookie had already demonstrated that she could contribute immediately at the professional level.

Chicago made her work for nearly every opportunity.

Bueckers finished with 17 points but required 20 field-goal attempts.

That inefficiency mattered because Dallas was already playing without enough consistent offensive support to overcome Allen's production.

Li Yueru scored 18 points and collected 10 rebounds.

JJ Quinerly added 16 points.

Those contributions kept the Wings involved, but they could not reverse the third-quarter damage.

Chicago's defensive effort against Bueckers was particularly important because the Sky have struggled to prevent opposing backcourts from creating efficient scoring opportunities.

For one night, they made a highly regarded rookie work through a difficult shooting performance.

Chicago finds a useful formula

The Sky are still attempting to establish consistent offensive production.

Allen's season-high 27 points should not be mistaken for evidence that every offensive problem has disappeared.

Chicago remains below .500 and faces substantial challenges against the league's strongest teams.

But the result offers a practical lesson.

When the Sky receive dependable perimeter scoring, opponents cannot defend Reese and Cardoso in the same manner.

Outside shooting creates space.

Rebounding extends possessions.

And effective defense against opposing guards limits the number of points Chicago must produce to win.

Wednesday, those elements worked together.

Allen provided the shooting.

Reese supplied another double-double.

And Chicago prevented Bueckers from taking over the game.

The Sky still have work ahead, but the performance gave them something concrete to build on.