What happened: The Dallas Wings beat the Connecticut Sun 86-83, and Alanna Smith — now playing without the protective mask she had been wearing — said she is starting to see signs of a turnaround in Dallas. The result pushes the Wings to a winning record and a fresh one-game win streak. It marks another step for a group that has trended upward in recent weeks.

Why it matters: At 14-8, Dallas sits firmly in postseason position and continues to separate itself from the WNBA's bottom tier. Connecticut, by contrast, fell to 5-17 and remains among the league's most-struggling teams. A healthy, unmasked Smith giving Dallas consistent frontcourt play is a meaningful factor in the club's climb.

What to watch: Watch whether Dallas can extend the streak and hold its playoff seeding, and whether Smith's health continues to anchor the Wings' frontcourt.