Article Author:
Reuters
The postseason implications will be significant when the Dallas Wings host the New York Liberty as Game 2 of their late-season two-game miniseries in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday. The
Wings (17-16) beat New York Monday, 86-77, to qualify for the playoffs. The final two games will be against Phoenix and Los Angeles.
Monday's Liberty loss saw them slip to his 13-20 record. This is the same record as the Minnesota Lynx and the Los Angeles Sparks. With three games left for him, it's the league's final playoff game behind the Phoenix Mercury for his spot. His two remaining postseason spots left him with five teams.
Marina Mabry led Dallas to victory on Monday, scoring his career-high 31 points and scoring points in the absence of injured Alike his Ogamboiré . Alisha Gray scored his 18 points and Tayla McCowan added his 16 points to Dallas to take his fifth straight win.
"We're excited about making the playoffs, but we want more. We want the sixth seed and we want to finish the season the right way." Dallas coach Vicky Johnson said. "Once the playoffs start, it's a new season and anything can happen. We're happy to be out on tour and play with anyone." After undergoing repair of a torn core muscle, the abdominal injury will keep her out for the rest of the regular season and the first round of the playoffs.
Sabrina Ionescu poured his season-high 32 points into the defeated Liberty, with Marin Johannes adding his 19 points. game.
New York erased his 12-point deficit in the first quarter and led 64-63 into the final period. The game came and went over the ensuing five minutes before Dallas took charge on a 14-0 run that started at the 5:45 mark to gain an 86-71 lead.
That run and Tsubasa's defense were different. Liberty scored just 13 points in the fourth quarter.
"Then you need a little more movement," said New York coach Sandy Brondello. Sabu (Ionescu) did his best there, but in the end I think he had a little too many isolation balls, but it comes down to me and the play I was calling.
– Field Level Media
