The WNBA had to pull the plug on Thursday night's highly anticipated clash between the Dallas Wings and New York Liberty — and it wasn't because of anything happening on the court. Mechanical trouble with New York's charter flight forced the league to postpone the game just hours before tip-off.
Originally scheduled for an 8 p.m. CT start (9 p.m. ET), the Wings-Liberty matchup will now take place on Monday, July 20, at 7 p.m. CT (8 p.m. ET). The league confirmed the travel delay in a press release, noting that the Dallas Wings will honor all tickets purchased for the original date.
This is a tough break for fans who were buzzing about the potential playoff preview. The Wings (16-8) sit fourth in the WNBA standings, while the Liberty (13-11) are eighth but trail the fifth seed by just one game. These two squads could very well meet again when the stakes are highest later this year.
Dallas has had New York's number so far
The Wings have owned this season series. Back on July 7, Paige Bueckers and Jessica Shepard led Dallas to an 88-77 victory, and the same duo powered a 91-76 win on May 24. New York will be hungry to finally get on the board when they meet again Monday.
The Liberty have plenty of talent, but they've struggled to contain Dallas's balanced attack. Bueckers has been a nightmare for opposing defenses, and Shepard's inside presence has given New York fits. If the Liberty want to make a deep playoff run, they'll need to figure out how to slow down the Wings' dynamic duo.
For now, both teams will get a few extra days to prepare. The postponement also echoes recent travel-related disruptions across sports, though the WNBA was quick to reschedule and keep the season moving.
Monday's game now carries even more weight. The Wings will look to extend their dominance, while the Liberty aim to prove they can hang with one of the league's best. With playoff positioning on the line, this rescheduled showdown could be a turning point for both teams.
Stay tuned — the wait might make the rematch even sweeter.
