WNBA Preview: New York Liberty (30-6) vs Dallas Wings (9-27)

0
138
Dallas Wings logo

The New York Liberty have a four-game winning streak and can inch closer to clinching the top seed in the WNBA playoffs when they visit the Dallas Wings on Thursday.

This is the second of a two-games-in-three-nights stint between the teams in Arlington, Texas.

The Liberty (30-6) won the first game 105-91 on Tuesday, with Breanna Stewart leading the way with 27 points. New York owns the league’s best record, three games ahead of Minnesota with four games to play in the race for the No. 1 seed.

New York and Minnesota have split their two games this year and will square off for the final time in the regular season on Sunday in Brooklyn. The Liberty are just the second team in WNBA history to reach the 30-win plateau in just 36 games — Las Vegas, in 2023, was the first team to achieve that mark.

Jonquel Jones added 19 points for New York on Tuesday. Leonie Fiebich tied her career high with 16 points off the bench, Sabrina Ionescu racked up 14 points and 11 assists and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton scored 10 as the Liberty amassed a season-best 33 assists and shot 55.2 percent (16 of 29) from 3-point range.

Liberty coach Sandy Brondello is focused on making sure her team is taking the final stretch one game at a time.

The Wings (9-27) never led Tuesday, trailing by 17 in the first half, 25 in the second and never getting the deficit under double digits in the final period. Dallas has lost its past five games and is one of two teams (Los Angeles Sparks) already eliminated from the postseason.

Wings coach Latricia Trammell said that as competitors her squad is focused on winning every game and aims to be “upsetters” over its final four contests.

Arike Ogunbowale led the Wings on Tuesday with 23 points while Natasha Howard tallied 21.

Previous articleMinnesota Twins reinstate Byron Buxton from 10-day injured list
Next articleCFB-FBS: American Athletic Conference Week 3 Release
WNBA Editor
Profile: A dedicated WNBA analyst with a deep understanding of the league’s tactical evolution, player‑development pathways, and expanding cultural impact. This columnist provides comprehensive coverage that blends advanced metrics, film study, and league‑wide context to highlight the storylines shaping modern professional women’s basketball. Background: With extensive experience covering the WNBA and women’s basketball at multiple levels, the columnist has contributed to national sports outlets and digital platforms, offering perspective on coaching trends, roster construction, and organizational strategy. A background in sports journalism and analytics supports a disciplined approach to evaluating performance, interpreting data, and tracking team progression throughout the season. Signature Coverage Areas: Game previews and matchup analysis Film‑based breakdowns of offensive and defensive systems Player evaluation, draft analysis, and free‑agency movement Team‑building strategy, salary‑cap dynamics, and front‑office trends Historical context, league milestones, and postseason features Style & Approach: The writing emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and accessibility — translating complex schemes and statistical models into insights that resonate with both long‑time WNBA fans and new followers of the league. Each column reflects a commitment to balanced reporting, thoughtful evaluation, and a deep appreciation for the WNBA’s growth, competitiveness, and influence on the broader basketball landscape.