The Dallas Wings extended their winning streak to five games after they beat the Los Angeles Sparks, 97-77, at College Park Center on Thursday.
While the final score was lopsided, the Wings had to shake off a lackluster start. The game was tied at halftime, 44-44, with Dallas struggling on both ends after the WNBA's nearly three-week break because of the FIBA Women's World Cup.
After the game, Wings coach Jose Fernandez admitted that they had a slow start. He could not help but add a hilarious dig at the referees, as shown in the video posted by The IX Sports' Drake Keeler.
âÂÂThe first half? It was tough. You could tell we hadn't played in two weeks, and the officials hadn't officiated for a while either. So it was a pretty good balance,â said Fernandez, eliciting laughter in the media room.
âÂÂI think everybody was a little rusty from not doing stuff. Yeah, I wouldâÂÂve turned the TV off at halftime. I would've changed the channel.âÂÂ
He, however, quickly turned serious when he enumerated their issues in the first half.
âÂÂThe ball was getting thrown around everywhere. There was no floor balance. There were bad shots. But the sign of a good team is how you respond in the next 20 minutes, and they came out of the locker room and did some very, very good things,â added the 54-year-old coach.
Article Continues BelowâÂÂThe first half, it was tough, you could tell we hadnâÂÂt played in two weeks, and the officials hadnâÂÂt officiated for a while either.âÂÂ
âÂÂI wouldâÂÂve turned the TV off at halftime.âÂÂ
Jose Fernandez on the Wingsâ first half ð pic.twitter.com/vFpUEiefbS
â Drake (@DrakeKeeler) September 18, 2026
The Wings outscored the Sparks, 53-33, in the second half.
Jessica Sheppard had a triple-double of 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists, while Paige Bueckers added 19 points, three rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
Bueckers helped Team USA capture the gold medalÃÂ in the FIBA Women's World Cup.
Dallas will battle the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday.

