WNBA Dallas Wings

Wings Topple Liberty to Secure Playoff Berth

Published on August 9, 2022 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Dallas Wings News Release


Arlington, Texas - The Dallas Wings (17-16) came back to beat the New York Liberty (13-20), 86 - 77, at College Park Center, Monday night.

Marina Mabrey paved the way for the Wings, racking up a career-high 31 points on 11-18 shooting (61.1 FG%), including 13 points (6-7 FG, 85.7 FG%) in the fourth quarter, to defeat the Liberty. She was joined in double-figures by Allisha Gray (18) and Teaira McCowan (16). McCowan also grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Wings, as Dallas outrebounded New York 31 to 28.

On the defensive side of the ball, Dallas rejected five shots and swiped eight steals, led by Kayla Thornton, who had two blocks and three steals.

Dallas stays home to complete the season trilogy with the New York Liberty (13 - 20) on Wednesday, August 10, at 7:00 p.m. CT on Bally Sports Southwest Extra.

Notables:

Wings guard Marina Mabrey netted 31 points to set a new career high.

Allisha Gray scored 18 points.

Center Teaira McCowan netted 16 points and led the team with nine rebounds.

Veteran Kayla Thornton swiped three steals to lead Dallas, who finished with eight takeaways. Thornton also rejected two shots as the Wings rejected five as a team.

The Wings outrebounded the Liberty 31 - 28.

Dallas outscored New York 23 to 13 in the fourth quarter, including outscoring the Liberty 12 - 6 in the final five minutes of the contest.

The victory secured Dallas a playoff spot for the second consecutive season.

DALLAS WINGS HEAD COACH, VICKIE JOHNSON (MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2022)

On the team's win tonight

"I'm so happy for our team - the effort they put forward for 40 minutes. New York is a good team. They can shoot the basketball, but we stayed in there. It got a little heated, but we don't back down from that. We want them to know they're coming into our house, and we have that attitude now. When you come to Dallas, you're coming in and it's going to be a fight."

On clinching a playoff berth

"We're not looking ahead. We're looking at Wednesday. In that locker room we knew that we had the opportunity to make the playoff for the second year in a row, but we want to go deeper. We want to finish sixth and once the playoff starts, it's a new season. Anything can happen. We're comfortable going on the road and playing whoever. We would love to get the number six seed and finish the season the right way. We're looking forward to New York on Wednesday."

On the new format of the playoffs

"I love it. I don't have a problem with it. I've been in the league 26 years. I remember when it was one and done. I've been a part of that many times in New York. We have to go win, but I have no problem with it, so I'm very comfortable going on the road with my team."

On Marina Mabrey's performance tonight

"She played amazing. She's from Jersey and Sabrina's from California, but she has that New York attitude. They were going at it. They were saying words. Even [Allisha] Gray got involved in it. My team is looking forward to Wednesday and I think that was the first time that I ever heard my team say, 'We can't wait until Wednesday comes', so I'm excited about that. Mabrey played amazing, the way she handled herself in making shots. I don't think she missed a shot the fourth quarter, but I think she had 11 at halftime and finished with 31. It was nice to see Gray make shots as well. Some big-time threes. What we ask of Gray defensively, she's the best two-way player in this league. And then 'KT' [Kayla Thornton], we had to switch her off [Betnijah] Laney and put her on Sabrina [Ionescu]. Our team just played amazing, and they played well together. Great team win."

On defensive schemes tonight

"We had to go with the big lineup. We swung KT and put her on Sabrina, and we switched. Sabrina is a good young player. She can shoot the shit out the ball. I was behind her like "Miss!'. I love her energy, her fight. She's very competitive, I love that, but my team is competitive as well. We're looking forward to Wednesday."

On tying the franchise's longest winning streak

"I think it says a lot about our growth. We're playing for something bigger than the playoffs. We're playing for something bigger. We're playing for respect in a sense. That game on Saturday was a very hard game to play because you go from playing the number one seed, the number two seed, and then the last place team. Indiana is not a bad team, they're different from Vegas and Chicago meaning they're more penetrating. They attack us in that area, so we were prepared and got us mentally ready for New York. New York got on a run, and we came back with our defense, and we made stops and plays. That's just growth more than anything, so I love to see that from our team. They believed not only in themselves, but as a team and that's how we won tonight because they believed we could win."

DALLAS WINGS GUARD, MARINA MABREY (MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2022 - 31 points (career-high), 4 rebounds, 4 assists)

On the team win tonight

"I felt our team start to lose it for a few minutes and they trusted me. They were finding me and threw me the ball in clutch situations and whether it was me taking the shot or throwing it somewhere to be successful that's all I was focused on. KT [Kayla Thornton] was encouraging me a lot, telling me to slow down and make good decisions, so that was cool. Just seeing everyone do their role and job right when we needed it was really fun to play with."

On clenching the playoffs tonight

"To see Arike [Ogunbowale], a player like that go down again, and everyone needs to step up. Coming out there, playing with a chip, a will to win, and having that be contagious to the rest of the team. Everyone played their roles. Teaira [McCowan] continues to fight down there. KT does her role, 'Lish with clutch shots. Veronica [Burton] came in and did exactly what she was supposed to do and then so on down the line. Ty [Harris] came in and did great, Izzy [Harrison] was encouraging to do ball screens. 'K' [Awak Kuier] made some huge plays, that offensive rebound was huge. You can go down the line and talk about everybody, and just me stepping up offensively with my team giving me the ball and me going to work."

On her mom being present for her scoring career-high

"Throughout the years we've been through a lot of stuff people don't know. But for her to be here courtside and watch me, she knew I had been struggling through the month of July. Knowing she's my biggest fan and knowing she knows exactly what I'm capable of was a full circle moment. She's my rock."

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