The Wings’ present report is 17-16. The Chicago Sky was 16-16 in the common season final 12 months and went on to win the WNBA championship.
DALLAS — For the second straight 12 months, the Dallas Wings have clinched a playoff of spot. And not like final 12 months, where they had been clinging to eighth place for a lot of the common season, they’ve discovered their stride by profitable their final 5 straight video games – just lately beating each the No. 1 and No. 2-seed groups in the league.
Could they be contenders for the WNBA championship this 12 months?
Well, if the Wings proceed to develop collectively – it’s a chance. And frankly, the workforce has been enjoyable to look at down the common season stretch.
Dallas heart Teaira McCowan was simply voted the AP Player of the Week. She averaged 18.5 factors, 12.8 rebounds and shot 56% from the subject to assist the Wings win their final 4 video games.
Monday evening, guard Marina Mabrey paved the approach by netting a season-high 31 factors in entrance of their dwelling crowd, together with 13 factors in the fourth quarter towards the New York Liberty.
RELATED: Dallas Wings clinch playoff berth behind Mabrey’s career-high 31
The Wings additionally tied their franchise report for longest profitable streak at 5 video games.
“We’re playing for something bigger than the playoffs. We’re playing for something bigger. We’re playing for respect in a sense,” Dallas Wings Head Coach Vickie Johnson mentioned throughout her postgame interview.
The workforce has additionally been down two large items – level guard and leading-scorer Arike Ogunbowale and ahead Satou Sabally – and in the event that they are wholesome sufficient to affix the squad in the playoff run, the Wings could be the workforce to beat!
“In that locker room, we knew that we had the opportunity to make the playoffs for the second year in a row, but we want to go deeper,” Johnson mentioned. “We want to finish sixth and once the playoff starts, it’s a new season. Anything can happen. We’re comfortable going on the road and playing whoever.”
The Wings’ present report is 17-16. The Chicago Sky was 16-16 in the common season final 12 months and went on to win the WNBA championship.
It will probably be the Wings’ fourth playoff look, however the workforce has but to win a postseason recreation. Mabrey is hoping her workforce can proceed to step in the moments, particularly in the event that they are down gamers like Ogunbowale.
“Coming on the market, enjoying with a chip, a will to win, and having that be contagious to the remainder of the workforce,” Mabrey mentioned.
Up Next
The Wings nonetheless have three common season video games left. They’ll face the Liberty once more at dwelling in College Park Center in Arlington, Wednesday, Aug. 10. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. Click here if you need tickets.
The Wings will then journey to Phoenix to play towards the Mercury, who will probably be with out star Diana Taurasi for the remainder of the season as a consequence of a quadriceps pressure.
The Wings will then catch a flight to LA for a matchup towards the Sparks.
Playoff outlook
The prime eight groups with the highest profitable proportion will clinch a spot in the WNBA Playoffs. Games will start on Wednesday, Aug. 17 – simply three days after the finish of the common season.
The Wings will probably be coming into the playoffs in the sixth spot this 12 months.
As of Tuesday, Aug. 9, right here are the six groups which have certified:
- Chicago Sky
- Las Vegas Aces
- Connecticut Sun
- Seattle Storm
- Washington Mystics
- Dallas Wings
There are 5 groups that are combating for the remaining two playoff spots:
- Atlanta Dream
- Phoenix Mercury
- Minnesota Lynx
- New York Liberty
- Lost Angeles Sparks
Click here to look at the schedule — together with the nationwide broadcast lineup.
story by The Texas Tribune Source link