The Dallas Wings will have a decidedly different look and added personnel when they clash with the soaring Phoenix Mercury on Thursday in Arlington, Texas.
The Wings (5-13) conclude a four-game homestand that’s produced two wins in their past three contests, including a 79-71 victory over Washington on Saturday. Rookie guards JJ Quinerly and Aziaha James scored 15 points apiece, Arike Ogunbowale had 14 and Myisha Hines-Allen added 13 points in the win, which came in the second of a home back-to-back.
Dallas played without guard Paige Bueckers, the league’s top overall draft pick in April, because of a knee injury. Bueckers, voted an All-Star Game starter, was back at the team’s full practice session on Tuesday and is expected to play in Thursday’s contest.
Ogunbowale did not practice on Tuesday because of a thumb injury and has been ruled out for Thursday’s game. DiJonai Carrington, who has missed the last several games with a rib injury, was limited at practice and is listed as doubtful.
Since its win on Saturday, Dallas has made significant roster moves, trading forward NaLyssa Smith to Las Vegas, releasing guard Kaila Charles and guard-forward Haley Jones from hardship contracts, signing forward Liatu King to a rest-of-the-season contract and adding Luisa Geiselsoder and Teaira McCowan back to the team after the two centers were away at EuroBasket for several weeks.
Dallas coach Chris Koclanes said the changes will lead the team to play more through its frontcourt.
“We definitely have to play inside-out,” Koclanes said. “It’s good balance now. We know we have dynamic guards, and now we’ve got good size in the post. We just gotta be intentional about getting the ball down there and making people have to defend us without fouling.
The Mercury (12-5) head to Dallas on the heels of an 84-81 home loss to Las Vegas on Sunday that went down to the final shot. Alyssa Thomas poured in 16 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in the setback, which snapped Phoenix’s six-game winning streak. Kahleah Copper had 15 points and six rebounds, and Satou Sabally finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.
“That was a playoff (style) basketball game, obviously, early in the year,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said after the game. “I don’t think we would change anything that we did. We’re gonna compete and be physical.”
Sabally was named as a starter for the WNBA All-Star game on July 19 but deflected credit to her team. The All-Star Game starters are determined by voting from fans, current players and a media panel. The league’s head coaches vote for the reserves, with the full roster announced on Sunday.
“I’ve been on teams where some want it and some say they want it but don’t really show it, so this is not the case here,” Sabally said. “Everyone comes in to work, and that will show in the games. We don’t give up and play all 40 minutes hard. That is the identity of the team.”
–Field Level Media
