The Dallas Wings look for balance in the absence of Satou Sabally

The Dallas Wings are a starter-heavy team. The loss of forward Satou Sabally has been significant. Sabally has not played in the past two games due to an ankle injury she suffered during the 91-86 loss against the Minnesota Lynx on Aug. 24.

She is the second leading scorer on the team, averaging 17.8 points per game, leaving a big hole to fill in her absence. 6’6 forward Awak Kuier has started the last two games in Sabally’s place. She adds more length to the Dallas defense but she cannot produce offensively the way Sabally can.

The Wings edged out the Phoenix Mercury 77-74 on Aug. 27. Three-time all-star Arike Ogunbowale said it was a rough win.

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“Obviously, we don’t have Satou (Sabally) whose a big part, but you know, everybody stepped up and even though it was a rough, ugly win, it’s a win, so that’s gonna be playoff basketball,” she said.

The Wings need one more win to clinch a playoff berth. The team is currently fourth in the standings. If Dallas can hold onto the fourth spot, the team will have home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. There are five games left for the team to work on some things before the playoff season begins.

Taking care of the basketball

The Wings will have to find a way to limit their turnovers. The team has averaged 16 turnovers in their last three games, giving up the same amount in points.

Dallas is third in pace of play. What makes the team dangerous is when they are able to run and get into their offensive sets where they can play inside out.

The pace can also get the team in trouble, especially when shots are not falling. The team begins to rush and make bad passes. Dallas edged out, which have been costly.

Ball movement

Ogunbowale averages the second most shot attempts per game with 18.9. When their opponent can keep the paint crowded it interrupts the Wings’ offense; Ogunbowale is the go-to. She will not be able to bail out the team every time.

Doubles will continue to come for Ogunbowale. The Wings has to find a way to spread the floor to make it easier to get the ball to 6’7 Teaira McCowan.

The center had 23 points and 18 rebounds in the 90-81 loss against the Lynx on Aug. 24. She averages 12 points and 9 rebounds for the season. She said postgame that in order to get momentum back after the two losses to Minnesota is to “play basketball and be aggressive.”

Dallas has had to deal with changes on their roster all season. The adjustments have to be made quickly and effectively to set the team up for success. The team has already had one of its best seasons under first-time head coach Latricia Trammell, winning 19 games with a handful more to play. Trammell said every one of her players have been a major factor in some way this season. After the win against the Mercury gave all of the credit to her team for putting them in the position to win.

“These young ladies have done a lot to get us in this position and so I always say a new season is about to start. I know we need one more,” Trammell said.

The Wings have back-to-back matchups against the Indiana Fever. It begins in Indy on Sept. 1.