July 17, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings defender Arike Ogunbowale (24) with Dallas Wings defender Odyssey after the game against the Indiana Fever at College Park Center ·Odyssey Sims (2) Celebrate together. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports The Connecticut Sun and Dallas Wings, who face off Friday in Arlington, Texas, after a month’s rest, have different goals for the second half of the WNBA’s schedule.
Connecticut is targeting a championship, and with play resuming after the All-Star break and the Paris Olympics, the Wings are scrambling to get out of the league’s way.
Both teams will be looking for a boost from new players. The Suns traded guard Marina Mabray to Chicago before halftime, and Dallas finally moved forward with German national team member Satou Sabally in the lineup. A shoulder injury kept her out for the first half of the season.
The Suns (18-6), who have 16 games left to play, travel to Texas after losing two of their last three games before halftime, including an 82-game win on July 16. -74 loss to New York.
Devana Bonner leads Connecticut in points (16.7 points) and blocks (0.6) per game, while Alyssa Thomas leads the way in rebounds (9.2), assists (7.6) and steals (1.5) . Five Connecticut scorers averaged double figures.
Coupled with Mabray, who averaged 14 points per game for Chicago this season, the Suns will compete for the WNBA championship.
“I filled a gap that I knew I could do, and it was a perfect fit,” Mabrey said. “I’m here to win a championship and help this team get to where they’ve been working toward. I know I’m here too late, but better late than never, you know.”
Meanwhile, Dallas (6-19) is tied for last in the standings with Washington with 15 games remaining and hopes Sabally can help get the team back into the playoffs. Eight of the league’s 12 teams made the playoffs, and the Wings entered the second half just 4 1/2 games below the playoff line.
Dallas head coach Latricia Trammell said Sabally looked “really good” during Monday’s practice.
“I mean, she just got back from Paris and was a little bit jet-lagged, so she was practicing every now and then,” Trammell explained. “Obviously, her impact and her individual presence on both sides of the basketball is pretty special.”
The Wings lost three of their last four games before halftime but won the last one, a 101-93 victory over Indiana on July 17 in Arlington. Only three wins followed, despite the efforts of leading star defender Arike Ogunbowale. Center Teaira McCowan averaged 7.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game.
Connecticut won its first two games against the Wings this year, winning 74-72 at home on May 31 and 85-67 on June 15 in Arlington.
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