Wings Playoff Hopes Hinge on Second Half of August

The Dallas Wings are 2-3 in the month of August. These next five games will play a critical role in playoff seeding.

The Dallas Wings went 7-3 in July. Some crucial victories include beating the Las Vegas Aces by two and the New York Liberty by 10.

During the month, the team went on a five-game winning streak. Arike Ogunbowale averaged 23.4 points during the streak. She had her best performance against the Indiana Fever, scoring 28 points, four rebounds, five assists, and two steals.

Another player who played well in July was Natasha Howard. The 6’2” forward averaged five double-doubles in July. On July 22nd against the Los Angeles Sparks, she dropped 28 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals.

The problem is both players have seemed to struggle during August. In five games, Ogunbowale has scored 20 points in two games. The problem is rooted in her shooting. In two games this month, she has shot below 34 percent. Against the Aces last week, she scored 12 points in 39 minutes. She shot 2-6 from the three-point line and 5-16 overall. Her inconsistent shooting is a concern for the team.

On the other hand, Howard has struggled to match her numbers from July. In five games, she has recorded one double-double. Her shooting numbers have declined. In two games this month, she has shot 22.2 and 18.2 percent. She also has double-digit rebounds in just two games. Howard has to improve her shooting percentage and rebounding numbers if the team hopes to get over their August blues.

The second half of August will be crucial to the Wings’ playoff chances.

Right now, the Wings have the fourth-best record in the league. They are a game and a half ahead of the Atlanta Dream and two games on top of the Minnesota Lynx.

Dallas’ chances of moving into third seem out of reach, as the team remains five games behind the Connecticut Sun.

Currently, the team has ten games remaining on their schedule. Three of their next matchups are on the road against teams in playoff contention. The team also plays five of their next six games away.

The problem is Dallas has a 6-8 record on the road. The good news, the Wings are 4-1 in their last five away games. In July, the team went on a three-winning streak on the road.

Getting everyone back on track will be crucial to a successful end of the month. One player on the right path is Satou Sabally. The 6’4 forward has dropped in 28, 21, and 25 points in her past three games.

During August, she averaged 2.6 steals. She has also averaged 1.4 blocks. Sabally has played well on both sides of the ball. Getting her teammates on board is the next big step.

Might exhaustion have caught up to the team? It’s possible. In August, Dallas played four games in seven days.

However, a five-game layoff might be just what the team needed. The last time Dallas played a game was Saturday against Connecticut.

If Dallas can get their players back to full strength, then Dallas might host a playoff series at home.