Jul 17, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) celebrates with Dallas Wings guard Odyssey Sims (2) after the sport in opposition to the Indiana Fever at Faculty Park Middle. Necessary Credit score: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports activities The Connecticut Solar and Dallas Wings have totally different objectives for the second half of the WNBA marketing campaign once they sq. off on Friday in Arlington, Texas, after a monthlong break.
Connecticut has a championship in its sights, whereas the Wings are in a rush to get out of the league’s cellar as play resumes after the All-Star Sport and the Paris Olympics.
Each groups will search for a lift from new gamers. The Solar traded with Chicago for guard Marina Mabrey simply earlier than the break, whereas Dallas lastly is getting ahead and German nationwide staff member Satou Sabally into its lineup. A shoulder harm sidelined her for the primary half of the season.
The Solar (18-6) have 16 video games to play and head to Texas after dropping two of their closing three video games earlier than the break, together with an 82-74 setback at New York on July 16. Three of Connecticut’s six losses have come to New York, and the Solar sit second within the league standings, 2 1/2 video games behind the Liberty.
DeWanna Bonner leads Connecticut in scoring (16.7 factors) and blocked pictures (0.6) per recreation, whereas Alyssa Thomas is tops in rebounds (9.2), assists (7.6) and steals (1.5). 5 Connecticut scorers common in double figures.
Add Mabrey, who averaged 14 factors per recreation for Chicago this season, and the Solar are set on contending for the WNBA title.
“I fill a void that I do know I can do, and it is an ideal match,” Mabrey mentioned. “I am right here to win a championship and assist this staff get to precisely the place they’ve been working in the direction of. I do know I am a bit of bit late to the occasion, however higher late than by no means, you already know.”
Dallas (6-19), in the meantime, is tied with Washington on the backside of the standings with 15 video games to play and hopes Sabally may also help it again into playoff consideration. Eight of the league’s 12 groups make the postseason, and the Wings begin the second half simply 4 1/2 video games beneath the playoff line.
Dallas coach Latricia Trammell mentioned Sabally seemed “actually good” at observe Monday.
“I imply, she’s a bit of jet-lagged simply now getting back from Paris, so she was out and in of observe,” Trammell defined. “Clearly her affect and her presence alone on each side of the basketball is fairly particular.”
The Wings misplaced three of their closing 4 video games earlier than the break however gained the final of these, stunning Indiana 101-93 in Arlington on July 17. Dallas has gained simply thrice after Could 26 regardless of the efforts of star guard Arike Ogunbowale, who leads the staff in scoring and assists (22.2 and 5.2, respectively), and heart Teaira McCowan, who racks up 7.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocked pictures per outing.
Connecticut captured the primary two video games in opposition to the Wings this yr, successful 74-72 at house on Could 31 and 85-67 in Arlington on June 15.
–Area Degree Media