Wings Earn 90-77 Win Over Mercury
June 9, 2023 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Dallas Wings News Release
ARLINGTON, Texas - The Dallas Wings (5-3) remain undefeated at home with a perfect 4-0 record following a 90-77 win over the Phoenix Mercury (1-5) at College Park Center. The Wings represent one of two WNBA teams to remain undefeated at home and have twice as many home victories as Las Vegas (2-0). Their +23 margin of victory represents their largest of the season.
Arike Ogunbowale finished the night with a season-high 35 points, her most since May 19, 2022, at Phoenix where she had 37. She shot 12-21 (57.1%) from the floor, her best shooting effort of the season. With her performance tonight, Ogunbowale has recorded 13 games of 30 or more points since entering the WNBA in 2018, the most of any player in that time span.
Satou Sabally finished the night with 17 points and a team-leading 16 rebounds, which represents her most since July 31, 2020, versus Indiana when she recorded her career high of 17. Sabally pulled down nine rebounds in the first quarter alone, which represents a career-high for rebounds in a single quarter, beating her previous high of seven vs. Phoenix (8/10/20). Additionally, she tied her career-high for rebounds in a half with 10 in the first half. With her sixth double double of the season, she became the sixth player in franchise history with five-straight double-doubles and first since Teaira McCowan in 2022.
Natasha Howard totaled 22 points on the night, while recording seven rebounds and a team-leading four blocks. Kalani Brown added eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Odyssey Sims led Dallas with a +/- of 21 and recorded a team-leading 7 assists. She recorded six points off the bench for Dallas, while rookie Maddy Siegrist recorded four points.
Dallas Wings Notes:
In a third quarter that saw Dallas hold Phoenix to an opponent third quarter low 16 points, the Wings went on a 13-0 run that allowed them to gain a 13-point lead
Dallas made it to the free throw line 19 times where they shot 94.7%, while Phoenix only shot 76.5% on 17 attempts.
The Wings won the rebound battle once again, grabbing 41 of their own, while Phoenix had 31.
Dallas outscored Phoenix 19-4 in fast break points and 26-9 in second chance points
Up Next:
The Wings head to New York for a 12 p.m. CT game against the Liberty on Sunday, June 11 with national coverage on ABC.
Score after 1st Quarter: Dallas 17, Phoenix 21
Score at Halftime: Dallas 45, Phoenix 42
Score after 3rd Quarter: Dallas 68, Phoenix 68
Final Score: Dallas 90, Phoenix 77
POST GAME QUOTES
Head Coach Latricia Trammell
On how having fun affects the team's play...
"I mean, there's a lot of smiles. Even when we're grinding and it's close, I mean they still are staying connected. I always say that, but they're enjoying each other. I'm enjoying them. I said that in the locker room just now. Win or lose, I don't care about that. I always say I drive to my passion everyday, but they're a big part of that. I mean, they're just a joy to be around."
On getting Satou Sabally going after being scoreless the first quarter and half...
"She got herself out. I mean, she's a competitor, she's doing so well... she's a professional. I mean, she had her fifth straight double double, and 10 rebounds at the half, so I knew she was doing at least something on that end. Then, we just found a way to create a little bit more space for her to be able to move and create and she did a fantastic job. So proud of her."
On Arike Ogunbowale having a scoring balance of inside and outside attacks...
"She got to the free throw line early and then kind of started heating up from three in the second half. It was really good, but do you see her defense? I mean, her defense has been unbelievable. But you're right. She had her 13th 30-point game in her career. I mean, she just set the tone. She can hit big shots when we need them like she did. She watches a lot of film. She wants to enhance her skill set, and also create more for her teammates as well. And so yeah, she's- I love her. She's in a different mindset right now for sure."
On if a conversation ever happened between Coach and Ogunbowale on her defense...
"Day one, all of them. Yeah, I mean, that's an enhancement that they all needed. So, I've been proud of the grit."
On what having a sold-out arena means to her and her thoughts on the organization's spirit...
"Yeah, that's what I said before the game. It's this organization. They're wanting to grow our game in the right way. I'm surrounded you know- I've always been told that if you want to be successful you must surround yourself with successful people. And I have done that. I mean, they're manic grinders. They want the best for this team, this organization, and I'm just honored to be a part of it."
On her thoughts about the team winning the rebound battle and the level of physicality from them...
"Well, you have to love that, right. Especially going back-to-back and we treated it this way- I told them in shootaround today, let's treat this like the playoffs, you know, having to play someone back-to-back and make adjustments. I continue to execute what works, but also clean that up and make adjustments going into the night and they did that. And so, if that's how we continue to move forward, I'm all for it. I'm so proud of them."
On what it means to protect home court...
"Well, with anything, right, you've got an advantage because you're at home, but I'm going to go back to what you asked about the fans and being sold out. That's the energy we needed, I mean, these fans, it was electrifying. To come out on a Friday night to support these women that can help to continue, on Pride night, to help empower and inspire and allow us to use our platforms. I think it's the first time in franchise history that I heard of being sold out and then also being undefeated at home."
On how the 12-0 run in the third quarter propelled them team to pull away...
"Well, basketball is a game of surges and that's the one we needed. We're being consistent. You know, at first, we were trying to just win two quarters, because the growth that's taking place now, we're consistently one through three. Now we just need to work on that fourth so I love that we still have challenges to meet and still continue to get better because there's a lot of basketball left, but that 12-0 run... I mean, you've got to love it."
On if Sabally placed herself in her role or was it something she asked of her...
"Yeah, she envisioned that for herself. I remember when I first was hired and talking to her, and she goes, "This is my year," and she's kept that same mindset. So, she's a determined young lady and she's taken the excuse away from everyone else not to join that bandwagon. So very proud of her."
On her rings she's wearing during the game...
"Oh yeah, that's when I went back-to-back national championships when I was a college coach and my group then, we just made a pack. A pact that anything that meant a lot to us in the game of basketball that we would wear them and stay connected. So, wherever they are in this world, if there's something special in this game of basketball, they're wearing them as well. So, I'll wear them every game."
On what's contributing to their successful defense...
"Buy in. That's a big thing to buy into the execution of defense. We run a team defense, so having each other's back executing what the game plan is. And just you know, when you always think about defense, I mean, thank God it travels, right. Because we're going to need it going into New York. But yeah, the grit, the intensity, the passion, the energy, the communication. And I've been very proud of them."
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