The Connecticut Solar and Dallas Wings have completely different objectives for the second half of the WNBA marketing campaign after 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 Recreation 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 workforce 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 shedding two of their last 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 photographs (0.6) per sport, 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 sport 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 workforce get to precisely the place they’ve been working in the direction of. I do know I am slightly bit late to the celebration, however higher late than by no means, .”
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 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 regarded “actually good” at apply Monday.
“I imply, she’s slightly jet-lagged simply now getting back from Paris, so she was out and in of apply,” Trammell defined. “Clearly her affect and her presence alone on each side of the basketball is fairly particular.”
The Wings misplaced three of their last 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 Might 26 regardless of the efforts of star guard Arike Ogunbowale, who leads the workforce in scoring and assists (22.2 and 5.2, respectively), and heart Teaira McCowan, who racks up 7.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocked photographs per outing.
Connecticut captured the primary two video games towards the Wings this 12 months, profitable 74-72 at house on Might 31 and 85-67 in Arlington on June 15.
–Subject Stage Media