Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the WNBA daily as we try to heal from this pandemic.
Marina Mabrey puts up a shot against the Phoenix Mercury.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Barry Gossage/Getty Images.)
We were all looking forward to the rematch between the Dallas Wings and Phoenix Mercury, especially after Skylar Diggins-Smith and Marina Mabrey got into it late in their last game.
This time around, Mabrey got the last laugh.
But it was close throughout, though. Phoenix was staying in because of Brittney Griner‘s dominant performance. She would finish with 27 points and 16 boards. That’s terrifying.
The problem was that Dallas was able to go on an 11-2 run late in the game. Satou Sabally, who had just returned, capped it off with a three on the top of the key.
The Mercury wouldn’t give up, though. Griner and Diggins-Smith struck back by scoring all of the points in a 9-0 stretch. Suddenly, it was a one-possession game and with a stop, a chance to tie or even win.
But like I said, it was Marina Mabrey that put it all away. She was able to break free and convert a lay-up to put the Wings up four. Even after free throws were converted by Megan Walker, the Mercury had to play the foul game. Those are hard to win when you’re down. Arike Ogunbowale iced it with her own foul shots.
The Mercury’s three-point shooting was less than ideal at 5 for 25 (.200). On the other side, the Wings went 10 for 26 (.384). Arike led the Wings with 22 points while Mabrey, who comes off the bench now, scored 14. Diggins-Smith supplemented 22-6-5 to the Merc.
Phoenix will get another shot at the Wings on Friday.
Bullet Passes
The Mystics used a 21-2 run in the third to get themselves an 18-point cushion. The Lynx tried to rally late but scoring machine Tina Charles put a stop to that late. Charles has scored 29 or more points in 5 of the last 6 games.
I love that the final scores are identical on Tuesday.
The Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever are playing on Wednesday. Well, one of them has to win…
WNBA Scoreboard
June 8, 2021
Watch This Play
WNBA loves their buzzerbeaters. Here’s Crystal Dangerfield with another one from way downtown.
Dangerfield from DEEP to end Q3! @crystald2_
💻 #WNBATwitter pic.twitter.com/pxJ37GNukp
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 9, 2021
The Rookie of the Year is playing well even though she’s coming off the bench this year.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the WNBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.
R.I.P. Nala.