Dallas hopes for the return of injured standouts Arike Ogunbowale and DiJonai Carrington when the Wings go to the Indiana Fever on Sunday in Indianapolis.
The Wings (6-15) have misplaced two straight however are optimistic about getting Ogunbowale (16.8 factors per sport) again from a thumb harm. Carrington (11.8 ppg) stays day-to-day with rib points.
On Wednesday, with out two of its three main scorers, Dallas fell 87-76 at Chicago. Rookie Paige Bueckers scored 17 factors however shot simply 5 for 20. Li Yueru tallied 18 factors and 10 rebounds, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to carry off the Sky. A rookie-heavy Wings lineup shot simply 36 p.c and allowed Chicago to shoot 50.9 p.c.
“They’re solely going to be higher for … getting these experiences,” mentioned Wings coach Chris Koclanes. “However that is a variety of minutes that these gamers have by no means logged. … When your beginning guard group has the taking pictures night time that they did, it is powerful.”
Indiana continues to be making an attempt to type out roles after dealing with two temporary stints with out All-Star Caitlin Clark. Clark has scored a mixed 22 factors on 9-for-29 taking pictures in two video games since her return from a groin harm. The Fever break up these two video games.
Indiana (10-10) defeated the Atlanta Dream 99-82 on Friday. After shedding 80-61 to Golden State in Clark’s return on Wednesday, the Fever offense was clicking in her second sport again. Clark shot simply 5-for-17 on her solution to 12 factors however dished out 9 assists towards Atlanta.
Fellow All-Star Kelsey Mitchell was the main beneficiary of Clark’s passing with 25 factors. Sophie Cunningham (16 factors on 4-for-5 3-point taking pictures) and All-Star Aliyah Boston (19 factors) additionally reached double figures.
Indiana has battled well being points apart from Clark’s, with Aari McDonald and Cunningham among the many gamers who’ve missed important chunks of the season.
“We have been speaking all 12 months about constructing consistency,” mentioned Fever coach Stephanie White. “(Friday was) sport two with our entire roster. And we nonetheless have not had a apply with all people.”
The Fever gained the primary matchup of those groups this season 94-86 on June 27 in Dallas.
–Area Degree Media