The high-flying Dallas Wings look to continue their midseason success that has them in the WNBA’s upper echelon when they host the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas.
The Wings (18-9) entered the All-Star break as one of the league’s hottest teams with seven wins in their last eight games, most recently claiming a 101-97 win last Wednesday in Portland.
Arike Ogunbowale scored all of her game-high 24 points in the second half and reigning Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers returned after a one-game absence to score 21 points.
Jessica Shepard (18 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists) added to her single-season team record with her fourth triple-double while Maddy Siegrist came off the bench to tally 14 points.
A huge part of the Wings’ success this year has been their depth. As one of the team’s steadying reserves, veteran guard Odyssey Sims helps the younger players understand that everyone has a role.
“We talk about it all the time,” Sims said after a recent win. “Just be ready when your number’s called. It’s not just go in and try to score the ball, but just making sure we’re all locked in. So whoever goes in, we’re all ready to play.”
Atlanta (16-10) will go for the season sweep of the Wings after taking the first two games. The Dream beat Dallas by five points on May 12 in Arlington, then by 17 points 10 days later in Atlanta.
The Dream arrive having won their last three games before the All-Star break, capped by a 93-91 home win over Chicago on July 19. That victory was punctuated by Jordin Canada’s game-winning layup at the buzzer after Atlanta squandered a 22-point first-half lead.
Allisha Gray had a game-high 29 points in the win. Madina Okot contributed 14 off the bench, Rhyne Howard added 11 points and Canada finished with 10 points and nine assists.
Former Chicago star Angel Reese had just eight points and five rebounds for the Dream before leaving the game with 9:45 remaining with a left knee injury.
Reese played in the All-Star Game on Saturday and is expected to be in the lineup on Wednesday. She continues to be a double-double machine, having amassed 66 in her 89-game career and 17 this year while averaging 15.4 points and 11.5 rebounds.
“The double-doubles, they don’t matter unless we’re winning,” Reese said. “To be able to have my best year yet, to come and be so successful with this team, it just feels really, really good. I’m really, really happy.”
–Field Level Media
