Dallas hosts New York following Ionescu's 30-point outing
Arlington, Texas; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: New York Liberty visits the Dallas Wings after Sabrina Ionescu scored 30 points in the Liberty's 101-99 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.
The Wings are 4-8 in home games. Dallas leads the Western Conference in rebounding, averaging 36.7 boards. Myisha Hines-Allen leads the Wings with 5.3 rebounds.
The Liberty are 5-4 on the road. New York leads the Eastern Conference with 21.8 assists. Natasha Cloud paces the Liberty with 5.9.
Dallas is shooting 41.5% from the field this season, 0.1 percentage points lower than the 41.6% New York allows to opponents. New York averages 87.9 points per game, 1.3 more than the 86.6 Dallas allows to opponents.
The matchup Monday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.
TOP PERFORMERS: Arike Ogunbowale is averaging 16 points and 3.9 assists for the Wings. Paige Bueckers is averaging 15.0 points over the last 10 games.
Cloud is averaging 10.4 points and 5.9 assists for the Liberty. Ionescu is averaging 18.9 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Wings: 3-7, averaging 82.3 points, 36.4 rebounds, 20.8 assists, 7.1 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 42.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 89.0 points per game.
Liberty: 6-4, averaging 88.1 points, 33.1 rebounds, 22.0 assists, 8.5 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 84.2 points.
INJURIES: Wings: Maddy Siegrist: out (knee), Tyasha Harris: out for season (knee).
Liberty: Nyara Sabally: out (knee).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
Aces face critical stretch to keep championship window open amid uneven season
HENDERSON, Nev. — From management to coach Becky Hammon to the players, the Las Vegas Aces say they remain a championship team despite what has been, at best, an uneven season. The Aces must keep their championship window open or major changes could come during what is expected to be a chaotic offseason given the number of pending free agents in Las Vegas and throughout the WNBA. 'I think as we look at big-picture decisions for the Aces, this stretch is very important,' team president Nikki Fargas said. 'It's where championship habits are going to be solidified, and there's a lot of great talent that's going to be available. Are you wanting to be a part of a championship legacy? We've found that that's been a great opportunity for us to talk about that in free agency previously.' The Aces, who in 2023 became the first WNBA team to repeat in 21 years, have been one of the league's model franchises in recent seasons. They were on the short list of favorites to contend for another championship this season, but are in a fight just to secure a playoff spot. They are 13-13, which puts them seventh in the standings. The top eight teams qualify for the postseason, and the Aces are for intents and purposes in playoff mode now because the fifth through 10th teams were separated by 3 1/2 games. 'We're just trying to string together some wins,' guard Jackie Young said. 'We know every game's important. We're trying to go out there and build off of the past games, learn from our mistakes.' Falling short of the playoffs or getting bounced early could lead to major offseason changes that could be coming anyway given the number of free agents. Only Aaliyah Nye is under contract beyond this season, according to Spotrac. That's largely the case around the league as well because the collective bargaining agreement ends after this season. Players timed their contracts to take advantage of what should be a much more lucrative CBA because of an 11-year media rights deal valued at more than $2.2 billion. 'I think next year's free agency is like the wild, wild West,' Hammon said. 'There's going to be people we're obviously trying to keep their services here in Vegas, and then there are others we're going to try to bring some people in. So I just think it's about finishing the season well, keeping our culture and our character intact through the rest of the (18) games so we make this a destination that people want to come and play with and be competitive at.' Hammon quickly made the point she's not the general manager, and the Aces remain without a GM since Natalie Williams was dismissed in October. The organization chose to not fill that position, with Fargas working with Tonya Holley, vice president of basketball operations, on personnel decisions with input from Hammon. This is an organization that has built through the draft — A'ja Wilson, Young and former Aces star Kelsey Plum were all No. 1 overall picks — but also hasn't been afraid to be aggressive in free agency or trades. Point guard Chelsea Gray signed as a free agent in 2021 and a year later was named WNBA Finals MVP when Las Vegas beat Connecticut in four games for its first championship. The Aces added two-time MVP Candace Parker in 2023, but she played just 18 games before a season-ending foot injury. She retired last year. They made their most audacious move this January, sending Plum to Los Angeles in a three-team trade that brought Jewell Loyd from Seattle. The move hasn't quite worked out the way the Aces envisioned, with Plum averaging 20.1 points and 5.9 assists while Loyd has scored 10.8 points per game. That's her lowest scoring average since putting up 10.7 as a rookie in 2015. But perhaps Loyd more closely will resemble the player who was a six-time All-Star with the Storm, who just last season averaged 19.7 points. She came off the bench — at her request — in Sunday's 106-80 victory at Dallas and scored 20 points. A resurgence by her and the expected addition of Cheyenne Parker-Tyus could be major boosts entering the postseason. Parker-Tyus, who signed as a free agent, is on maternity leave and her Aces debut is yet to be determined. Fargas said she was bullish on the Aces making another title run, pointing out the number of top players on the roster with championship experience, including Wilson and her three MVP trophies. 'Any time you have the best player in the world on your team, you will always have a shot,' Fargas said. If the Aces do have another such run in them, they will do so in the unusual role as underdogs. Hammon said she didn't care what those outside of the organization thought of her team. But Gray wants the target back on the Aces. That would mean they again are playing at a high level. 'You want to be playing your best basketball in September,' Gray said. 'That's what it's all about.'
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
5 WNBA trades we'd love to see ahead of the 2025 deadline
The 2025 WNBA trade deadline looms on Aug. 7, and we've decided to go through the league and find some options for possible trades until that deadline. While some contenders like the New York Liberty, Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm don't make our list, teams like the Minnesota Lynx, Phoenix Mercury and Golden State Valkyries add key pieces ahead of this year's deadline. Our major disclaimer: WNBA trades are harder to pull off than NBA trades, particularly with the looming CBA. This might lead to this being a quiet trade deadline, but we're going to do some imagining anyhow. This all might just be moot, but we'll have some fun and do some hypotheticals for the heck of it. Wings G Arike Ogunbowale to the Lynx The Lynx are one of the clearest title contenders this summer, but they could use another hot hand on offense to withstand some of the best scoring teams they'll see in the playoffs. If Minnesota wants to push in all the chips, they could send a queen's ransom to Dallas to secure Ogunbowale for the rest of the season. She would instantly set the Lynx up to score in bunches from beyond the arc right away. The team could use one more guard who can score 3-pointers with ease, and it could send a good young forward in Diamond Miller and a first-round pick back to Dallas. POSSIBLE TRADE: Ogunbowale to the Wings for Miller, a 2026 third-round pick a 2027 first-round pick Mystics F Aaliyah Edwards to the Valkyries After the Valkyries lost forward Kayla Thornton for the season, the team now has a clear need at forward. Edwards could settle into a more long-term role in Golden State, a team that will need young players on rookie deals with free agency looming for some of its best players in 2026. The Valkyries are starting to fade down the stretch, but adding Edwards would give the team a bit of a jolt now and a good building block for later. Forward Cecilia Zandalasini could be an intriguing fit for Washington to come off the bench and replace Edwards' minutes in the rotation. POSSIBLE TRADE: Edwards to Golden State for Zandalasinia, 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick Sky G Rachel Banham to the Dream Few teams in the WNBA love to shoot the 3-pointer like the Dream, and Banham coming off the bench for Atlanta could cement it as one of the best contenders in the league. She would be an outstanding option for a Dream team that could thrive with more options in the rotation to score from beyond the arc. Chicago needs young talent, so Dream guard Maya Caldwell and forward Taylor Thierry could get real minutes with the Sky as part of the trade. POSSIBLE TRADE: Banham to Atlanta for Caldwell, Thierry and a 2026 second-round pick Sun G Marina Mabrey to the Mercury The Mercury are trying to push for a title, and Mabrey could instantly elevate those chances. Phoenix could put together a compelling trade package for Connecticut, one featuring guard Lexi Held, forward Natasha Mack and a 2026 second-round draft pick. Phoenix could throw a 2027 pick in the mix as well to get a deal done, and Mabrey could arrive in Phoenix as a valuable depth option that can hit 3-pointers and give the team more of an edge. POSSIBLE TRADE: Mabrey to Phoenix for Held, Mack, a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick Sky G Rebecca Allen to the Mystics The Mystics could use another veteran guard coming off the bench for their playoff push, and Allen could absolutely provide that. Chicago could add a young guard in Lucy Olsen to the roster, and Washington could try Allen out for the rest of the season coming off the bench and potentially re-sign her as a free agent next offseason. A player-for-player swap makes sense here, as Olsen's overall potential matches Allen's instant and possibly long-term impact. POTENTIAL TRADE: Allen to Washington for Olsen
2 hours ago
Angels get to deGrom and stop Rangers' 6-game win streak with 6-4 victory
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Kevin Newman, Taylor Ward and Luis Rengifo homered to help the Los Angeles Angels beat Texas 6-4 on Monday night, snapping the Rangers' six-game win streak. Kenley Jansen pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 19th save. The 37-year-old Jansen hasn't allowed an earned run in 16 consecutive appearances, the longest active streak in the American League and the third-longest of his career. Connor Brogdon (2-1) replaced Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz in the fifth and gave up one run in 1 2/3 innings. Kochanowicz, called up from Triple-A Salt Lake earlier in the day, allowed two runs — none earned — in 4 2/3 innings. Newman's two-run shot opened the scoring in the third, and Zach Neto added an RBI double in the fifth. Josh Jung hit a solo homer and Jonah Heim had an RBI single for the Rangers. Josh Smith and Corey Seager scored when Adolis García reached on an error by right fielder Gustavo Campero, who bobbled a routine flyball. Jacob deGrom (10-3), who was 6-0 in his previous 10 starts, gave up five runs and seven hits with eight strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner has allowed at least one home run in five consecutive games in the same season for the first time in his 12-year career. Ward's leadoff homer in the sixth gave the Angels the lead for good, and Rengifo added a two-run drive off reliever Jacob Webb to make it 6-3. The Angels, who beat Seattle 4-1 on Sunday, have won back-to-back games for the first time since defeating Arizona on July 11 and 12. Patrick Corbin (6-7, 3.78 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for Texas on Tuesday against Yusei Kikuchi (4-7, 3.23) in the middle game of the series.
