Women's Basketball 24.7

"There is no offseason"

WNBA Rookies Shine in Preseason Debut

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April 30, 2016

In the first preseason game of the 2017 WNBA season the San Antonio Stars hosted the Dallas Wings Saturday afternoon. On display were five top ten draft picks, including the #1 pick Kelsey Plum who many were anxious to see in her WNBA debut. Plum did not disappoint as she scored her first basket less than a minute into the game. Plum went on to score 19 points and dished out 5 assists. She was able to score in many different ways; getting to the basket, coming off screens and knocking down three point shots. She even got to the free throw line more times than anyone on the Stars where she went seven for seven from the stripe. If there were any doubts as to whether Plum would shine in this league that was certainly put to rest yesterday. Plum wasn’t the only rookie to impress on the Stars. No. 5 pick Nia Coffee was very efficient in almost 20 minutes of play. Coffee was relentless on the boards where she pulled down five rebounds and went 6-10 from the floor to finish second in scoring with 17 points. Rookie Briana Day out of Syracuse scored 10 points on 4-7 shooting.

Dallas Wings rookies were also very impressive in their debuts. Allisha Gray led the way for the Wings scoring a team high 15 points. Gray was aggressive with the ball as she attacked the basket and got to the line eight times. Although Gray was not as efficient from the floor, her tenacity fits right in with Dallas style of play. South Carolina teammate Kaela Davis held her own in Saturday’s contest as well. Davis finished with 13 points 6 rebounds and 3 assists her her WNBA debut. She was able to get to the basket and use her size and strength to finish shots. No. 3 pick Evelyn Akhator was a little more quiet in her debut as she finished with four points and four rebounds in 15 minutes of play. In the end the San Antonio Stars hung on the win 87-81 to give Vicki Johnson her first win as a WNBA head coach.

All in all these rookies had a fine showing in Saturday’s game. For it to be their first time in a WNBA uniform, they showed poise and skill that will definitely be beneficial to both teams who were at the bottom on the league standings for the 2016 season. The Stars and the Wings will rely heavily on their young talent to lead the way this season. As they continue to adjust to the size and speed of the WNBA, these young players will continue to develop and be huge contributors to the success of their respective clubs.

WNBA Video Recap Games 8/31 (Playoff Race)

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August 1, 2016

With their win last night the Seattle Storm moved into 8th place in the playoff standings. Washington, who held onto the last playoff spot before last night, are now a half a game behind the Storm in the playoff race. The Connecticut Sun are a full game behind and the Dallas Wings are now two and a half games out of the playoffs. It looks as if the last one or two playoff spots will not be determined until the very end. The last games of the regular season are on September 18th.

Dallas Wings (9-19) @ Seattle Storm (11-16) 66-78

STANDINGS;

  1. LYNX 22-5 X
  2. SPARKS 21-5 X
  3. LIBERTY 19-8 X
  4. DREAM 14-13
  5. SKY 13-13
  6. MERCURY 13-14
  7. FEVER 12-14
  8. STORM 11-16
  9. MYSTICS 10-16
  10. SUN 10-17
  11. WINGS 9-19
  12. STARS 6-20

X– Clinched Playoffs Berth

WNBA Free Agency 2016; Dallas Wings

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The newly named and relocated Dallas Wings (formally the Tulsa Shock) will look to pick up where they left off last season. Tulsa was one of the best teams in the WNBA last season despite losing their all-star guard Skylar Diggins to an ACL injury. A bitter departure for the fans of the Shock as their team FINALLY clinched a playoff spot after missing out in all of their years in the city.  The Shock finished third in the Western Conference with a record of 18-16 and took on second placed Phoenix Mercury in the first round of the playoffs. The Shock, full of young talent, started the season off strong and went on a eight game winning streak in June which tied the franchise record all time win streak. However, this success was short lived. Shortly after losing Diggins the Shock lost ten games in a row and looked to be defeated. Luckily for the Shock, their heroics to start the season kept them in playoff contention despite the losing skid. They eventually were swept by Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs but have much to look forward to next season. With Diggins returning to the line up along with Sims, Williams, and Pierson, who was named to her first all star team, the Wings should do some damage in the west.  [Read more…]