WNBA Dallas Wings

Wings Fly over Sparks, 92-82

Published on June 19, 2022 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Dallas Wings News Release


Arlington, Texas - The Dallas Wings (8-8) defeated the Los Angeles Sparks (5-9), 92 - 82, at College Park Center, Sunday afternoon.

The Wings three-point salvo continued, as Dallas made at least ten threes for their third straight game, led by guard Arike Ogunbowale, who sank five from beyond the arc and finished with a team-high 27 points. She was joined in double-figures by Marina Mabrey (21), Allisha Gray (20) and Kayla Thornton (15). Gray also led the team with 12 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. The Wings also tallied 20 assists as a team for the sixth time this season, led by Gray, who had a season-high six assists.

With Arike Ogunbowale, Marina Mabrey and Allisha Gray all scoring 20 or more points, Dallas had three guards reach the 20-point plateau in the same game for the first time in franchise history.

Dallas briefly hits the road for one game against the Atlanta Dream (5-8) on Tuesday, June 21, at 6:00 p.m. CT.

Notables:

Arike Ogunbowale netted 17 first half points and finished with 27, including five made threes.

Allisha Gray netted 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for her first double-double of the season.

Guard Marina Mabrey filled the cup, pouring in 21 points for her fourth 20-point scoring performance of the season.

Forward Kayla Thornton netted 11 first half points, and finished with a season-high 15, her fourth game in double-figures this season

Dallas has made at least ten threes in four straight games, including 13 tonight.

The Wings handed out 20 assists as a team for the sixth time this season, winning four of those contests.

With Arike Ogunbowale (27), Marina Mabrey (21) and Allisha Gray (20) all scoring 20 or more points, Dallas had three guards reach the 20-point mark for the first time in franchise history.

The Wings have made at least 10 free throws in all but one game this season, including sinking 15 tonight.

HEAD COACH VICKIE JOHNSON (Sunday, June 19, 2022)

On the team's performance today

"We pushed the ball in transition and pushed the tempo. We wanted to get out in transition. We had 35 [points] in transition. I thought we passed the ball very well. We had 20 assists and our guards played well, 20-plus [points]. Gray rebounded the ball very well. [Marina] Mabrey passed the ball very well. Arike [Ogunbowale] with seven rebounds, three assists. Mabrey with five assists. KT [Kayla Thornton] 15 [points], knocking down some threes, defending at a high level. We shot over 45 percent [from the field]. Those things were good for us. We still have to concentrate on making our free throws. We did get to the free throw line which was great for us. Also, finishing in the paint as well. We did a better job doing that as well."

On today's style of play being the team's full potential

"Pace, defense, offense. When Teaira comes in or Charli comes in, we slow it down a little bit. Let's pound the ball into the paint. Let's be aggressive in that area. Let's get people in foul trouble. We got Liz [Cambage] in foul trouble. And then get in and make our free throws, and now once she goes out le'ts pick the game back up. And Izzy [Isabelle Harrison] and KT, K [Awak Kuier] - they can get out in transition and run. Our shooters can make open threes, so they shot the ball very well. It's great to see us play well at home. I thought that our starters played well, I thought 'Big T' came in and did what she did. And I think the opportunity for our reserve players to come in and be productive, but they have to come in and be productive. It doesn't matter if it's two minutes, five minutes. Come in, get that game day experience because at the end of the day the game could come down to it. Maybe in Atlanta, you might need to go in for 30 seconds, who knows."

On Allisha Gray's performance tonight

"It's great. She was feeling a little [something] today, but she locked in. One thing I challenged her, and she challenged herself, she wanted to be All-Defense. I told her don't give players so much respect. Guard everybody like you guard Jewell Lloyd and then you'll see the difference. Jewell Lloyd, you have the utmost respect for, so now when you guard - and no disrespect to anyone - but when you are guarding Canada or Sykes, you put the same type of pressure on them and you're going to get steals at half court and go down and score in transition. You don't fall back. You don't bring your defensive effort down because of their style or the respect part of it. I was very happy for her, but she made it known that she needed one more rebound. 'Coach you got to put me back in, I need one more rebound', so I said alright I got you."

On differences in the team this year compared to last year

"I think the maturity level, being able to win on the road, and now being able to win two at home. Now we need to go back on the road and finish the month off at home. Defensively, I think they're trusting more in our rotation. And offensively, we're getting the opportunity to get downhill, making the right basketball play and I think that's the biggest thing. And playing for forty minutes and not giving up, not settling. One thing I want to continue to say for me at the beginning, I'm not even going to lie to you, I thought we had already become a good team. We're becoming a good team. We're becoming what we can. We have stats - team, individual, game - we're not there, but we're becoming that. And once we become that, then that's when we're going to be very scary to deal with."

On Los Angeles' 'lazy passing'

We were just up the passing lane, just up to touch. So, you said it's just lazy passes? I mean we played great defense. I thought we were up to touch, our hands were in the passing lane, and then we just ran through the passing lane. I don't know if it was really lazy passes. We tried to put a lot of pressure on the ball and also have active hands and get deflections. So now, we can run through the pass if we're a little late and get down on the pass. I thought they did a great job on defense."

On improving on getting the ball to Teaira McCowan

"We need to become better passers because they're three-quarter fronting and we're passing it to the top hand versus over the top directly to her, so we're going to work in that area. I thought in the Phoenix game, we passed it in better. This game I think we were lacking in that area. I think we had four or five turnovers in that area. I really don't think we're used to playing with someone that big."

On the message at halftime

"At the half, to make sure we come out, warm up and do the right thing. Now the first five minutes of the third quarter weren't that great. You know we started taking quick shots, we weren't moving the basketball, and now we settled down. And now let's close the game. Let's make them work. Let's make three or four passes and make them put the ball inside and that's what we did."

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