Latest news with #DallasWings
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
WNBA in fresh racism storm after Dijonai Carrington confronts referee and blasts 'insane' treatment
Dallas star Dijonai Carrington appeared to claim she was the victim of racial discrimination after a WNBA referee called security during a bust-up on the court. In a clip that has now gone viral on social media, Carrington is seen talking to referee Roy Gulbeyan at the end of the Wings' loss against the Chicago Sky on Thursday. The official can then be seen ushering a member of security staff to stand between himself and Carrington. The guard, who sparked controversy last season after leaving Caitlin Clark with a black eye and then clashing with a reporter over the collision, accused Gulbeyan of an 'insane' overreaction. 'Security,' she wrote on social media. 'When I'm literally having a civil conversation is insane. Mind you, he called the 'sEcUrItY' over there… #Mircoagression (sic)' Microaggressions are defined by the American Psychological Association as 'commonly occurring, brief, verbal or nonverbal, behavioral, and environmental indignities that communicate derogatory attitudes or notions toward a different 'other.'' security… , when i'm literally having a civil conversation is insane . mind you , he called the 'sEcUrItY' over there… #Mircoagression — dιjonaι carrιngтon♛ (@DijonaiVictoria) May 30, 2025 According to Merriam-Webster, microaggressions 'express a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group (such as a racial minority).' The Daily Mail has reached out to the WNBA and Dallas Wings for comment. Carrington did not expand on the hashtag but the WNBA was recently embroiled in a racism saga following the season opener between the Sky and the Indiana Fever, when Clark clashed with rival Angel Reese. Afterwards, the league launched an investigation into claims of racist abuse directed at Reese. Earlier this week, however, the league said it could substantiate claims of racist fan behavior after a probe that included gathering information from fans, team and arena staff, as well as an 'audio and video review of the game.' Carrington found herself at the center of a racism storm following her own clash with Clark last season. After catching the Fever superstar in the eye, Carrington was asked if it was intentional and whether she later laughed about the incident. That sparked a furious statement from the WNBA players association, who branded the line of questioning: 'A blatant attempt to bait a professional athlete into participating in a narrative that is false and designed to fuel racist, homophobic and misogynistic vitriol on social media.'
Chicago Tribune
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
This is what dominance looks like for Kamilla Cardoso. Can the Chicago Sky center stay consistent in Year 2?
On the right day, Kamilla Cardoso can't be stopped. And Thursday was one of those days. Or, more accurately, a wrong day for any member of the Dallas Wings frontcourt. Cardoso bludgeoned the Wings for the Chicago Sky's first 10 points of the 97-92 win. For 26 minutes, Cardoso put on a clinic for post play — diving to the low block for layups, crashing through defenders to draw fouls and slipping under her man for seals. Cardoso set a new career-high with her 23 points. And her play on the other end of the court — swallowing up opponents on defense in the post and passing off mismatches to create kick-out 3-point opportunities — headlined the first win of the Sky season. 'I played with confidence,' Cardoso said. 'I finally saw the work that I put in in the offseason translate into this game.' This is the version of Cardoso that the Sky have been seeking ever since they drafted the Brazilian center with the No. 3 pick last spring. At 6-foot-7, Cardoso looms over most of her competition — and her physical advantages extend far beyond her height. The center's size belies her agile feet and remarkable speed, allowing her to space the floor and crash the boards with the swiftness of a smaller player. But despite these clear advantages, Cardoso's rookie season was somewhat muted. She averaged 9.8 points and 7.9 rebounds. Cardoso often scored in bunches, showing flashes of her physical dominance for a quarter and then receding from the game entirely. Some of this disconnect can be attributed to a shoulder injury that caused her to start the season late and end it early. But Cardoso consistently emphasized that her confidence — or lack thereof — was the driving difference between single- and double-digit performances. To coach Tyler Marsh, connecting with this dominant version of Cardoso isn't just a tactical challenge — it's entirely predicated on the center's mental approach. 'I think that Kamilla can be a dominant force in this league pretty much on a nightly basis when her mind is made up to do so,' Marsh said. 'It's part of what I talk about with giving young players grace, because they got to grow into that. It's not something that we can just expect from them from the jump. 'Learning how to be that nightly, that's part of being a pro and it's part of understanding what her talent is and what her potential is. We just want to put her in positions where she's able to do that and see that so it can be a regular thing.' At times last season, Cardoso appeared to disengage entirely from the game in front of her. This isn't unusual for rookies who are overloaded by the mental burden of learning a new system while also familiarizing themselves with new personnel and attempting to keep up with the elevated pace of play. Even as a second-year player, it's hard to stay engaged for a 40-minute game. That was still true at the end of Thursday's first quarter, when Cardoso turned around from a routine rebound and threw an awkward, thoughtless pass straight into the hands of the Wings' Paige Bueckers. The mistake was so surprising that Cardoso — in a moment of youthful earnestness — clapped both of her hands over her mouth in shock before scrambling back and ultimately fouling Arike Ogunbowale. But even with that error, her performance was more dialed in than any from the 2024 season. Cardoso threw herself on the ground in pursuit of loose balls twice, sending smaller guards scrambling out of the way. The center shuffled quickly off the ball in help defense, passed out of double teams and connected relentlessly on screens with veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot. Beyond recording a crucial win, Marsh believes Thursday's game played an important role in Cardoso's development to show her that she's fully capable of exceeding her own expectations. 'It's a two-way street,' Marsh said. 'There's a level of responsibility on our end as a staff to put her in positions to be successful, and then she's got to approach the game day-to-day with that mindset of how dominant she can be. 'We want her to understand how impactful and how important she is to us on the defensive end and the offensive end. Hopefully that continues to breed trust in herself, just like we have in her.' Confidence is key. But Vandersloot offered an additional solution to firing up Cardoso — get her the ball. The Sky want plays to start with Cardoso just as often as they end with her. In Marsh's new system, the center operates in a fulcrum role designed to pass through and around the post position, requiring Cardoso to facilitate from the perimeter and nail. Cardoso feels her passing is the most underrated aspect of her game — and Vandersloot, one of the greatest passing guards in the history of the sport, agrees. 'She needs to touch the ball a lot,' Vandersloot said. 'She's so unselfish, she's a great passer and I think she understands the game really well. So we have to play through her more often.' Thursday's outing also informed the Sky how they should proceed in striking a balance between Cardoso and forward Angel Reese. The pair's lowlights of struggling through contact on the low block are mostly a symptom of desperation — especially last season, when the Sky offense lacked ball movement and rhythm. Both players are more unselfish than many game scenarios allow them to showcase, willingly passing off looks in the post and slinging skip passes across the arc to produce 3-point looks. The Sky aim to play a more spaced-out style of basketball. That has meant a sacrifice for Reese, who is playing further away from the basket and taking significantly fewer shots. But this style also leans into the forward's potential as a high-low distributor to play in tandem with Cardoso. Reese assisted on three of Cardoso's baskets in Thursday's win, a reflection of how this dynamic can space the floor and fuel the offense. The Sky's entire success is intertwined with the growth of Cardoso and Reese. And on Thursday, the Sky caught a glimpse of a future defined by the dominance of their center. Now, it's up to Cardoso — and the team around her — to prove this can become an everyday affair.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Arike Ogunbowale's historic game spoiled by Wings' loss vs. Sky
The post Arike Ogunbowale's historic game spoiled by Wings' loss vs. Sky appeared first on ClutchPoints. Arike Ogunbowale had a historic performance on Thursday night, but the Dallas Wings were defeated by the Chicago Sky 97-92. Despite finishing with 37 points — while also earning sole possession of No. 19 overall on the WNBA's all-time three-point list — Ogunbowale's Wings dropped their fifth game of the year. Dallas now holds a 1-5 record overall. Advertisement 'It looked like our chemistry took a little step, but it's still not where we want it to be,' Ogunbowale said of the Wings' performance against the Sky. 'We definitely have to rebound better. I think, especially in that first quarter, that kind of set the tone. They were feeling good, then we kind of had to claw back.' Ogunbowale, as mentioned, recorded 37 points in the defeat. She shot 14-25 from the field and 6-12 from beyond the arc. Arike got the job done with her passing as well, dishing out seven assists. The Wings have struggled overall to begin the new campaign, though. After a slow start to the season, Ogunbowale has found her groove in recent action, however. Paige Bueckers has also played well, but this Dallas team is clearly still trying to get things going overall. Their only win of the season came on Tuesday against the Connecticut Sun in a 109-87 victory. The Wings are hoping to develop consistency sooner rather than later in order to emerge as a true postseason contender. Advertisement Dallas will host Chicago in a rematch on Saturday. 'The good thing is we get to see them again, very quickly,' Wings head coach Chris Koclanes said. 'So now get to see how we can watch and what adjustments that we can make and see how we can respond, right? We did a lot of good things, thought we did enough things to win that game. So it doesn't feel great, but still lots of positive moments we can really build off.' The Wings and Sky will play in Arlington, TX on Saturday night at 8 PM EST.
The Guardian
14 hours ago
- General
- The Guardian
Wings' Paige Bueckers to miss at least two games while in WNBA's concussion protocol
Dallas Wings guard and 2025 No 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers will miss a minimum of two games after she was placed under the WNBA's concussion protocol, the team announced on Friday. Bueckers, 23, will sit out Saturday's home game against the Chicago Sky and Tuesday's road matchup against the Seattle Storm. Bueckers will be re-evaluated after Tuesday's game. In a 97-92 road loss to the Sky on Thursday, Bueckers posted 15 points, eight assists, five rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Six games into her WNBA career, Bueckers is averaging 14.7 points, 6.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds for the 1-5 Wings. She leads the team in assists, steals (2.0) and blocks (1.0) per game while playing a team-high 34.0 minutes.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Paige Bueckers placed into WNBA concussion protocol, will miss at least 2 games
Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers has been placed in the WNBA's concussion protocol, the team announced Friday. As a result, Bueckers will miss a minimum of two games. She will be reevaluated after the Wings travel to play the Seattle Storm on Tuesday. The team said Bueckers was placed under the protocol after Dallas' loss to the Chicago Sky on Thursday. It is not entirely clear what led to Bueckers being placed in concussion protocol. Some suspect Bueckers may have sustained the concussion during the final minute of the first half, when she was fouled by Chicago guard Courtney Vandersloot. Bueckers stayed on the ground for a moment before being helped up by teammates. Advertisement Bueckers played 36 minutes in the 97-92 loss to the Sky. She scored 15 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Bueckers' rookie season has had a slow start, as the Wings are 1-5. But Bueckers has already been a key player for Dallas, starting all six games and playing the most minutes of anyone on the team. The Wings' primary offensive production comes from Arike Ogunbowale, who leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.7 points per game. Where Bueckers really shines is with playmaking: The rookie is tied for the league lead with 40 assists and her 12 steals are tied for third.
