Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. We jot down NBA and WNBA stuff mostly from last night that we want to talk about. Check it out.
The Dallas Wings snapped a three-game skid after Arike Ogunbowale went for 33 points.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Ned Dishman/Getty Images.)
After Arike Ogunbowale made those game-winning shots in the 2018 NCAA National Semifinals AND the 2018 NCAA Championship game, all I thought was that she’s going to be a player in the WNBA. I wasn’t sure if she was going to be a transformative player in the league because, as you smart hoops people know, there are a LOT of good players in the league. But I knew she was going to score a lot of points. Maybe at some point down the line, she’s going to be the #1 option for a championship team in the WNBA.
The Dallas Wings finished near the bottom of the league at 10-24 last year. But we felt Arike’s presence. She finished third in the WNBA in scoring with 19.1 points per. I don’t expect her to turn around the Wings immediately; I knew she was going to need more help.
But when she’s on, she’s on. She scored a season-high 33 points against the Phoenix Mercury. She now leads the league in scoring at 21.5 points per game.
And we hope she does get more help. Satou Sabally was their prized pick this year but she’s been out the last couple of games with a back injury. Allisha Gray has been their second-leading scorer this season and last. They still have holdovers Kayla Thornton and Isabelle Harrison. The Wings hope rookies Bella Alarie and Tyasha Harris can grow with the team and new acquisitions Marina Mabrey and Katie Lou Samuelson hope to get it going in new environments. Mabrey has scored double digits in her last two games while Katie Lou did score 11 points in the win against the Merc. And at some point, I feel Astou Ndour needs to get more PT.
With Arike, though, you know what you’re going to get. She’s a scoring machine on the court and teams would be hard-pressed to stop her from getting buckets. Arike has scored double digits in her last 26 regular season games. Good luck, league.
Bullet Passes
But good grief, the Wings sure had a hard time stopping Brittney Griner. She scored a season-high 29 points and Griner seemed unstoppable at the post. OH, MY GOSH. POST PLAY. BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS OBSOLETE.
No, you’re just not watching enough basketball. Mainly, the W.
The Seattle Storm are now 10-1 and they stopped the Connecticut Sun cold. And I was mentioning Natasha Howard the other day. I said that if she found her offense, the Storm would practically be invincible. Well, she went for 12 points and 11 boards against the Sun. Woof.
Also, I’d be so intimidated to go against Breanna Stewart if she’s locked in like this…
Annoyed Breanna Stewart about to drop 50 once she checks back in. #WNBA pic.twitter.com/uOYQ9SOsky
— 𝘙𝘦𝘺-𝘙𝘦𝘺 🤞🏾✌🏾 (@TheNoLookPass) August 16, 2020
Yeah, it didn’t seem like the Dream stood a chance aganist the Sky. Especially if the Sky shoot just under 58 percent. Are you kidding me? Please come back real soon, Chennedy Carter.
I mentioned that Marina Mabrey got it going the last two games. She scored 17 points against the Mercury. SHE IS READY TO COOK.
Marina Mabrey cooked it up. #WNBA pic.twitter.com/5v7nDwvQZw
— 𝘙𝘦𝘺-𝘙𝘦𝘺 🤞🏾✌🏾 (@TheNoLookPass) August 16, 2020
What a badass T-Shirt. There’s an updated version of this shirt. Go get it here.
Double U Scoreboard
DAL 95 (3-7) v PHX 89 (6-4)
SEA 95 (10-1) v CON 72 (4-7)
CHI 92 (7-4) v ATL 67 (2-9)
Watch This Play
Sami Whitcomb just casually walks into this 40-footer as time runs out in the third period.
WHAT @SamBam32 🤯3⃣🚨
The @seattlestorm lead the @ConnecticutSun 73-58 at the start of Q4 on ABC! pic.twitter.com/X9JWz9gjPN
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 16, 2020
Geez. Everyone is just shooting 40-footers now.
And I urge everyone in the bubble and the wubble to take care of themselves.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.