The Minnesota Lynx will look to lean on their defense and build on a good start on the road when they square off against the Dallas Wings on Thursday in Arlington, Texas.
The Lynx (1-1) head to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex after an 88-84 win over the Mercury in Phoenix on Tuesday. Nia Coffey scored eight of her 13 points in a pivotal fourth-quarter stretch for Minnesota and also grabbed 10 rebounds. Kayla McBride and Natasha Howard led the Lynx with 14 points apiece. Olivia Miles also had 13 and Courtney Williams and reserve Emma Cechova each had 11 points. Howard led Minnesota with 11 rebounds.
The Lynx outrebounded the Mercury 43-31 on Tuesday as Minnesota bounced back from a 91-90 home loss to the Atlanta Dream in its opener.
“Can’t say enough about our 21-year-old Emma,” Lynx coach Cherly Reeve said. “She had huge stretches. And so we’re happy with the overall response to some things that we didn’t do well last game, like rebounding.”
The Wings (1-1) continue a three-game homestand after a 77-72 loss to Atlanta on Tuesday. Arike Ogunbowale led Dallas with 20 points, while Paige Bueckers had 15 points but went just 5-of-12 from the field. Jessica Shepard added 12 points and eight rebounds as Dallas was limited to 35 fewer points than in its season-opening win over Indiana.
“It’s so early. This is Game 2,” said Ogunbowale, who has led Dallas in scoring in its first two contests. “We definitely got a lot of good shots. We just couldn’t knock them down today. But with all the people that we have, I can’t see that happen too many times. But if it does, we have to be ready to guard, and that was just our biggest message.”
Dallas coach Jose Fernandez lauded his team for defending the 3-point shot, but it was the long-distance game that eventually made a difference in a clash the Wings led by a point after three quarters.
“(Atlanta) took 33 of them. They shot 27% (from three), and you’re holding them to 37% (overall), but you lose by five,” Fernandez explained. “Come back, watch film tomorrow, fix it. Quick turnaround and get ready for Minnesota.”
Top overall draft pick Azzi Fudd did not play for Dallas due to a knee injury. She scored just three points in the season opener. Her status for Thursday’s game is to be determined.
Former Lynx forwards Alanna Smith and Shepard signed with Dallas in the offseason and make up a new-look Wings frontcourt.
–Field Level Media
