Wings Lose to Storm, 84-79
June 12, 2022 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Dallas Wings News Release
Arlington, Texas - The Dallas Wings (6-7) lost to the Seattle Storm (8-5), 84 - 79, at College Park Center Sunday afternoon.
All-star hopeful Allisha Gray led Dallas with 20 points, her third 20-point performance this year. She was joined in double-figures by Satou Sabally (13), Teaira McCowan (13) and Ty Harris (10).
Wings forward Kayla Thornton led the team with 14 rebounds, her fifth game this season with double-digit rebounds. The Wings grabbed 39 rebounds as a team, the seventh time they have grabbed at least 35 rebounds this season.
Dallas next faces the Las Vegas Aces (11-2) on Wednesday, June 15, at 12:00 p.m. CT.
Notables:
Wings center Teaira McCowan recorded a season-high 13 points, including 11 in the first half.
Allisha Gray finished with 20 points, her third 20-point performance this season.
Guard Ty Harris notched 10 points, her first game in double-figures this year.
The Wings' 39-rebound effort was led by Kayla Thornton, who had 14, her fifth double-digit rebound effort.
Dallas forward Satou Sabally netted 13 points, her sixth double-digit scoring performance in 2022.
The Wings have made at least 10 free throws in all but one game this season, including sinking 11-13 (84.6%) tonight.
HEAD COACH VICKIE JOHNSON (Sunday, June 12, 2022)
On the play inducing Arike Ogunbowale's ejection
"I think that incident happened in LA as well if I'm not mistaken. We're not on the soccer field, we're on the basketball court and you have to respect the game. Whatever the referee calls, they call. I haven't had a chance to look at it, but we play basketball with our hands, not our feet."
On the contribution of the bench tonight
"It was good to see Teaira [McCowan] coming into her own to a certain degree and able to finish in the paint for us. Being an inside presence and rebounding the basketball, as well. In the second half, they took advantage of her in the pick and rolls and stuff like that. I thought that 'K' [Awak Kuier] came in and played quality minutes. She didn't score the basketball as much, but she defended and moved the basketball. 'V' [Veronica Burton] came in and she was solid defensively, moved the basketball, and was aggressive. And Jas [Jasmine Dickey] came in and played quality minutes as well. But we need more from Izzy [Harrison]. She can't be here one day and down the other. We need consistency from her and 10 to 12 [points] a game. I'd rather see 10 to 12 versus 20, two, four, and six. We want consistency so we know what we're getting every night."
On Allisha Gray's performance
"I was very pleased with her. We just need to learn how to continue to feed her and let her be aggressive. I'm proud of her - she stepped up to be the leader offensively and defensively. She plays both sides of the basketball and to be able to guard Jewell Lloyd to that degree is hard. Also to be able to score the basketball, so I'm very proud of her. She's doing a great job."
On second-chance points
"It was huge for us. We finished with 14 offensive boards. But second chance points, we were 24 to eight. The thing I want to talk about is finishing in the paint. 48 to 26, which if you look at it, you say 'oh that's great', but the percentage, 23 for 45, is not great because they don't have shot blockers like that. And we have to finish better in the paint."
On her message to the team regarding Arike Ogunbowale's ejection
"I said nothing. She's out, now somebody has to step up. We have a 12-man roster. We can't dwell on it. Halftime is too short to talk about Arike getting thrown out and why and all that stuff. I have to re-think the rotation to a degree where we're going to be productive and have a chance to win tonight.
On the rebounding discrepancy tonight in spite of the loss
"We need to be able to finish in the paint. Like I said, we were 23 for 45 in the paint. I think every shot from Izzy was in the paint, Satou missed a couple in the paint. We just need to finish in the paint."
On further actions regarding Arike Ogunbowale's ejection
"We have talked about it, but that's something [Wings President & CEO] Greg [Bibb] and I need to discuss a little bit more. When it affects the team, it affects all of us."
WINGS CENTER TEAIRA MCCOWAN (13 points, six rebounds and four assists)
On getting into the flow of the team after playing overseas
"I feel great. I had to figure out what my teammates like. I have to figure out what [Arike Ogunbowale] like, what the point guards like. I feel like with practice, we have gone over that a lot, as well as learning the plays and learning the defensive schemes. I feel like those are the key points I needed to focus in on and I feel like I have been getting better each time at practice."
On if this was the first time, she felt comfortable since coming to Dallas
"Yes, I stopped overthinking things and just went out there and played. I feel like most of the time, in the past games, I have overthought the game too much because I was new and didn't want to mess up. But tonight, I just went out there and played. Coach always says play your minutes, and play your minutes hard, so that's what I went out and did."
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from June 12, 2022
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