Wings' Identity Linked to Upcoming Schedule
After overcoming a two-game losing streak, the Dallas Wings face the most difficult task: playing against two of the top four teams in the league.
The Dallas Wings’ season has been an up and down roller coaster. During the month of June the team went 4-7. Their biggest obstacles were their inability to bounce back after a loss, as the Wings had multiple losing streaks. Another challenge was defeating the Los Angeles Sparks, a team the Wings lost to on multiple occasions. Lastly, injuries have been a factor. Having lost newcomer Diamond DeShields and rookie Lou Lopez Sénéchal has been crucial at times.
The team ranks fourth in points scored, third in points scored at home, and fifth in points averaged on the road. Adding an extra scorer like DeShields would be helpful in the Wings’ offensive production. Last season she averaged 13.1 points on 38 percent shooting. The only players to average double-digit points this season include Arike Ogunbowale, Satou Sabally, and Natasha Howard.
As for Lopez Sénéchal, she is an excellent three-point shooter. Last season at the University of Connecticut she poured in 44 percent of her attempted threes. Crystal Dangerfield is leading the team in shooting beyond the arc, knocking down 35.3 percent of her attempts. Lopez Sénéchal presence would be helpful for a team that ranks last in three points made.
Odyssey Sims signed a contract for the remainder of the season and will help Dallas’ offense find more open shots, she leads the team in assists. Jasmine Dickey and rookie Ashley Joens were waived.
On the positive side, Ogunbowale and Sabally were named all-star starters this season. Both players played a key role in Tuesday’s 16-point win over the Phoenix Mercury. Ogunbowale dropped in 23 points, while Sabally recorded a double double with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
The Wings’ true identity will be tested this next week when they play two of the top four teams in the league. The team opens play against the four seeded Washington Mystics. The last time Dallas played Washington, they lost 75-74 back on June 2nd. Since then, the Mystics have gone 6-3, while the Wings lost six of their last 10 games.
The one upside for the team is that Washington has a 1-3 record against the top five teams in the league.
As for Dallas they have a chance to change their narrative against the top teams, as they play back-to-back games against the Las Vegas Aces. The Aces come in hot with a 14-1 record. They rank first in points per game and second in team defensive rating. The Aces have multiple players (four to be exact) that average 14 points or more.
The Aces downside is that they rank six in opponents points in the paint. Overall, they allow 35 points down low. This comes in handy for Dallas, as they average 38 points inside. Howard leads the way down low dropping in 9.7 points. With Teaira McCowan back, that can only increase for the team.
The Wings identity will be challenged next week when open up a brutal schedule against some of the top teams in the league.
Can Dallas solidify themselves as contenders against some of the best? Or are they still a middle of the pack team looking for answers?