Wings Down Sparks, 98-84
July 22, 2023 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Dallas Wings News Release
ARLINGTON, Texas - The Dallas Wings (13-9) defeated the Los Angeles Sparks (7-15), 98-84 Saturday night at College Park Center to avoid the sweep by the Sparks.
With the victory, the Wings maintained their second-best home record in the league (8-2) and improved their overall record to 13-9, good for fourth place in the league at the conclusion of tonight's games. The five-game win streak also ties the Wings longest win streak since they relocated to Dallas in 2016.
The big three of Natasha Howard (28 points), Satou Sabally (26 points) and Arike Ogunbowale (25 points) scored 79 of Dallas' 98 points in the game, approximately 80% of the total points. They became the second trio of teammates in WNBA history to score at least 25 points in the same game. Including tonight, Sabally has had five games this season with 15-plus points, 10-plus rebounds and five-plus assists. Only four players have had more over a full WNBA season.
Howard and Sabally each recorded a double-double, grabbing 11 boards each on top of their offensive output. The duo became the first pair of teammates in WNBA history to each have 25+ points and 11+ rebounds in the same game. Dallas has had two players record a double-double in ten games this season, while no other team has had more than four games with the same occurrence.
Ogunbowale's 25 points represent her 13th game scoring 20 or more points and ties her for the second most games with such numbers alongside Minnesota's Napheesa Collier and New York's Breanna Stewart.
Teaira McCowan recorded seven points and four rebounds, while Crystal Dangerfield, Kalani Brown and Odyssey Sims each had four points. Dangerfield led the team with a +/- of 24, while chipping in with six assists.
The Wings came away plus 10 in offensive rebounding and plus 14 in total boards, leading them to shoot nine more field goals than the Sparks.
Dallas Wings Notes:
The Wings recorded five more assists than the Sparks with Sabally and Dangerfield leading the effort with six assists each. Ogunbowale and Odyssey Sims dished out five assists.
The Wings shot a season high 53.9% (41-76) from the field.
Dallas outscored Los Angeles 54-32 in points in the paint, 9-0 in second chance points and 20-8 in fast break points.
The Wings forced 12 turnovers and scored 26 points off of them.
Dallas scored 20 plus points in each quarter, while they held the Sparks below 20 points in the final three quarters.
Up Next:
The Wings will face the Connecticut Sun at home on Tuesday, July 25 at 7pm CT with coverage on Bally Sports Southwest Extra.
Score after 1st Quarter: Dallas 26, Los Angeles 30
Score at Halftime: Dallas 52, Los Angeles 48
Score after 3rd Quarter: Dallas 77, Los Angeles 67
Final Score: Dallas 98, Los Angeles 84
Zoom Recording: Dallas Wings Postgame (Head Coach Latricia Trammell): https://we.tl/t-p07XdXEJ3z
Zoom Recording: Dallas Wings Postgame (Natasha Howard): https://we.tl/t-G8pKJ4Sd1x
Zoom Recording: Dallas Wings Postgame (Satou Sabally): https://we.tl/t-icrmYgip5Z
PHOTOS AND B-ROLL: Dallas Wings vs. Los Angeles Sparks (July 22)
POST GAME QUOTES
Head Coach Latricia Trammell
On the five-game win streak...
"We're just in that winning mentality and it's contagious, right? Players are having fun and want to win. Home floor means something to them, and they knew we had to take care of business at home. Even though we won three on the road, which was definitely growth for us, and we have another big one coming up here on Tuesday, but really just ecstatic for this team. Multiple players stepped up at multiple times, which is fantastic. When you have a team like that great things are going to happen. I'm really proud of them."
On what it means to get over the hump against the Sparks...
"Yeah, it feels good, right? I mean, it definitely feels good. We're just at a different level. I told the players this when I went back and watched our last games against them when we were in LA - I couldn't watch it because I thought that's not even us right now. So, we're just playing at a different level and I knew this was going to be a big win. I'm just glad that we finally beat them."
On if this was a game focused on eliminating the Sparks playoff chances...
"Well, I will tell you and I said this, in several timeouts, the sparks have been down 20 and like the other night against Minnesota they were down 19, came back to have a chance to win it at the buzzer. So, this is a team that won't stop, so I knew that even though we had a lead several times, I just have to keep telling them, if you don't lock in, they're going to come back. That's just what they do, because they've done that consistently. So, I think that we stopped their runs when we needed to, we locked in defensively when we needed to. Yeah, I think that's what turned our defense to offense, and where we got some easy run out baskets. It was really good."
On if this is the most complete game the team has played this season...
"One of them. You bet. We talk about the 3rd quarter all the time - that's kind of been our Achilles heel at times. I just mentioned to them that the 3rd quarter has to be big and we came out and won it again. That kind of gave us that run in the third quarter. Think about Arike [Ogunbowale], started a little slow at the beginning, but then she had 12 points in the 3rd [quarter]. Then, you have 'Tash [Natasha Howard] and Satou [Sabally] taking the load at the beginning in the first half doing extremely well. When you have players like that step up at any given time - I'll take that offense any day."
On what it means to have players willing to make the extra pass in today's game...
"Yeah, we had 25 assists. We had Satou with 6 [assists], Arike with 5 [assists], Crys [Crystal Dangerfield] with 6 [assists], and Odyssey [Sims] off the bench with 5 [assists]... I mean that's special. We talk about that in practice all the time - put them in situations to share the basketball, and hopefully it's becoming more muscle memory and just becomes a part of our identity and who we are."
On what details have been discussed that has allowed this team to reach the next level...
"I think the connectivity. Beating Vegas, then turning around and beating New York. That brings extreme confidence, you know? To be able to see yourself being successful against the top teams currently. I think that helps. Winning helps. I've always found that, excuse what I say here but, winning does not suck. I'm just telling you, and when you have those experiences and you beat people like that. Then, beating Minnesota by 40. That's going to do something to your mentality. I've found in my 30 years of coaching that it's always going to do something in a positive way."
On Teaira McCowan's impact...
"I don't know if you saw the analytics for her. We are a much better basketball team with her on the floor offensively and defensively. Major impact player and talk about turning the tides, look at the energy she brought with those blocks. That gets anybody hype. I was wanting to go chest bump her. That is the waves and the surges that we need, and she's capable of that. So, I'm a 'T' fan and she's going to continue to just compete and play at a high level. That's just who she is."
On what makes this team special...
"The people they are. I enjoy being around them. They enjoy being around each other. I think about the relationships I've built, when we first started, I had my first Denton Ryan High School team here that I coached, what 25 years ago. Tonight, I had my first ever high school team here... and I think there were 13 in the stands. It's about those relationships and that's the culture that you want and I like being around them. They are my extended family. I will go to battle for them. Yeah, it's a special group, not because it's my first group as a head coach here, but they want me to be better. How's that? And what I mean by that is when I'm around them, they inspire me to make sure that I'm doing what's right for them."
On if anything exceeded her expectations during this five-game winning streak...
"No, I knew they could do it. That is them putting in the work. That is those players, and I've said this before, buying in, executing at a high level. A lot of times giving up the 'me' for the 'we', which is extremely important. They're locked in. I talked about giving them a day of rest and recovery tomorrow. And they said, 'Let's just come in just for a brief moment and watch a little bit of film.' They're locked in. That's what you want to see. Who does that? That was a big moment in the locker room."
On how the star power sharing the basketball impacts and spreads to the culture of the team...
"Well, when two of your top players are sharing the basketball it kind of takes the excuse away from everybody else. So, they're setting the tone, and we're being successful because of it. They know when to take the shots and when to deliver it. Also they trust their teammates to be able to do that. That's a great recipe for a championship team."
On our star group accomplishing these great statistics in tonight's game...
"Well, I'm just hearing it so it's a joy. Should I get t-shirts that says, "History Makers" on it? That might be it. I'm so happy for them. I mean, this is a statistic I will share with them tomorrow. I do that after every game. We celebrate those successes. I look for analytics and statistics like this to share with them. They're only getting started. That's what I can say - we have a lot of basketball left and I expect them to keep it up. Next time, I expect you to share some more really good stats about our team. That's fantastic. That's unbelievable. Think about all these players who have come through, and all the great teams. That's unbelievable."
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