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 ties her career-best of 28 points in the Wings’ win over Chicago.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Steve Hamm/Dallas Morning News.)
Marina Mabrey was (and still could be) in line for Most Improved Player this season. But the last 8 games have, well, been up and down for the guard. She’s gone back to the bench and doesn’t get consistent time as Satou Sabally and Allisha Gray have made it a logjam in the roster itself.
But even with the inconsistent time she gets, she apparently has the green light most of the time. And it showed against the Chicago Sky.
In the second quarter, she was a spitfire. She had TWO consecutive potential four-point plays (she missed the free throw on the second and-one three; that sounded strange) and then made another three to close out the first half.
Then late in the game, the Wings went to her. A short jumper tied the game at 87. And then a three-pointer gave the Wings the lead in the following offensive possession. Mabrey was then fouled on a three-pointer. She made all three free throws and that gave them the lead for good. Kayla Thornton made sure with that with a lay-up and then free throws took Dallas home.
Marina Mabrey scored 28 points, which matches her career-best. While she’s had a lack of scoring in some of her games, she’s scored 28 twice since she’s gone back to the bench. It’s her fire that gets people talking about her winning the MIP award. She may be out of the running for now but Mabrey’s shooting and scoring is helping Dallas become a much improved team.
They get back to .500 as they try to start the second half of the season strong.
Bullet Passes
In the meantime, we have the Aces and the Storm trying to keep up with each other. The Sparks led the Aces late but a 12-2 surge by Vegas knocked the Sparks out. A’ja Wilson finished with 20 points and 10 boards.
The Dream kept it close with the Storm. Sue Bird carried the offensive load as Breanna Stewart was having a rough game while Jewell Loyd didn’t even have a field goal attempt in the first 37 minutes of the game!
But it was Bird and Loyd coming through in the clutch. After Courtney Williams countered each shot by Bird and Loyd, Jewell came through with a lay-up with 6 seconds left to go up by three. Courtney couldn’t tie the game with a three and the Storm edged out Atlanta.
WNBA Scoreboard
July 2, 2021
Watch This Play
While we know Mabrey for her shooting, it was this pass to Satou Sabally that gets her here as Sabally beats the buzz with this little throw.
OH MY 🚨 @satou_sabally pic.twitter.com/c2DJJ1qSHV
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) July 3, 2021
Dallas Wings! They are flying high right now.
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.