- What: WNBA Regular Season Game
- When: Thursday, August 22
- Who: Dallas Wings vs. New York Liberty
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Where: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY)
The Wings aim for a better outcome in their second game against the Liberty in three days, following their 94-74 loss at the Barclays Center on Tuesday.
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty are having an exceptional season, boasting a 24-4 record, the best in the WNBA.
Currently, on a seven-game winning streak, the Liberty have secured decisive victories against title contenders like Connecticut and Las Vegas. The team is led by its star trio: Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu.
Stewart contributes 19.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game while leading the team in blocks and steals. Jones averages 14.9 points and leads the team with 9.2 rebounds per game. Ionescu tops the team with 19.9 points and 6.0 assists per game.
In Saturday’s 79-67 win over the Aces, the Liberty displayed their dominance. The game featured multiple WNBA MVPs, including the Aces’ A’ja Wilson, but the Liberty’s defense stood out.
They limited the Aces to just 36.9% shooting. The Liberty also controlled the boards, outrebounding the Aces 45-35.
LEO ???? pic.twitter.com/v9w2hxvkED
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) August 22, 2024
The Liberty’s defensive prowess held the Aces to just 39 points over the final three quarters, underlining why they are the favorites to win it all this season.
With this victory, the Liberty clinched a playoff spot and extended their lead over the Sun for the top overall seed.
New York made a relatively quiet splash during the offseason, with the most significant move being the signing of Leonie Fiebich to a training camp contract.
Fiebich made the team and is one of three Liberty players to have played in all 28 games so far.
The 24-year-old forward has bolstered the team’s flexibility, enabling them to guard all five positions better and execute defensive switches more effectively.
Standing at 6-foot-4, Fiebich possesses the quickness to defend the perimeter and the length to protect the rim.
In 2023, New York ranked in the bottom third for points allowed inside the paint. However, this season, they have climbed to second in the league.
As a result, the Liberty’s defensive rating has improved by five points, from 99.4 to 94.4.
Overall, New York’s net rating (13.5) is 5.3 points higher than that of the next-best team, and it had an even better margin than the Aces (+5.0) during their 2023 title run.
Dallas Wings
The Dallas Wings have been struggling in the WNBA despite having Arike Ogunbowale, the league’s third-leading scorer. With a 6-20 record, they are currently tied for the fewest wins in the league.
While Ogunbowale leads the team in scoring, assists, and steals, Teaira McCowan leads in rebounds and block rate.
In their first game after the Olympic break, the Wings were beaten 109-91 by the Connecticut Sun.
Despite Satou Sabally’s 20 points in her season debut, the Sun’s strong shooting and overall performance secured their position as a top contender in the WNBA.
New York 5️⃣@bswhealth | #VoltUp pic.twitter.com/bAoLFfLVGk
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) August 22, 2024
The Wings are hoping for a turnaround with Sabally’s return from injury, but making it to the playoffs will be a tough challenge as they are currently 4.5 games behind the final playoff spot.
This season, the Dallas Wings have been significantly impacted by injuries, which have affected their performance.
Key players like Satou Sabally, Natasha Howard, Maddy Siegrist, and Odyssey Sims have missed 10 or more games, disrupting the team’s rhythm and affecting their results.
Dallas has struggled on both ends of the court, especially in defense. The team has faced several losses by significant margins, highlighting their defensive shortcomings.
Currently, the Wings rank last in defensive efficiency, allowing 110.1 points per 100 possessions. Their struggles in transition defense have further compounded their defensive issues.
The Dallas Wings are gearing up for a crucial game against the New York team, known for their strong offensive capabilities.
Wings-Liberty Best Bet
This game presents an opportunity for the Wings to showcase their resilience and turn their season around. It will be an uphill battle, but the Wings are determined to secure a playoff spot.
With the Liberty’s strong performance, you’d think they would be a sure bet for over bettors. However, the over in Liberty games is just one game above .500 at 15-14.
This is largely due to the team’s solid defense, a key factor that bettors and analysts should consider when placing their bets.
The total in this one is at 172.5 points, which feels a tad high, I would recommend taking the under at -110 odds.
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