Arlington, Texas – The Dallas Wings snapped a two-game losing streak in emphatic fashion Friday, tying a WNBA record with 16 three-point shots en route to a 93-80 win over the Seattle Storm.
Skylar Diggins-Smith led six players in double figures with 23 points, and seven of the team’s 18 assists. Karima Christmas-Kelly added 14 and Allisha Gray, 13 points. Forward Glory Johnson had her ninth double-double of the season with 11 points and a season-high 16 rebounds.
Dallas was the aggressor from the beginning, hitting eight treys in the second quarter alone. They out-rebounded the Storm, 46-25, scored 13 points off of turnovers and put up 30 points in the paint. Coach Fred Williams said this was one of the most balanced games his team has played all season long.
“Especially with the production on the offensive boards and defensively, and our fast break points. We really executed well in the open court,” Williams said. “I think all the way around, it was a solid combination of defense and a good, solid 12 players that we have on the roster now that can give us some rest.”
The game was tied up at 23 after the first quarter, but the scoring barrage in the second opened up the lead to 13 points at the half 55-42. Seattle never came within 12 points for the rest of the game. Johnson said the key to the win was teamwork.
“We understand how important each one of these games are,” she said. “We need wins, we need to make it to playoffs, if that is the goal. If that is the mindset, we need to get some wins. This is one of those things. Seattle and LA got us last time, so our goal is to get them this time.”
Jewell Loyd led the Storm with 23 points, while Breanna Stewart added 21. Both Dallas, now 12-14 for seventh place in league standings, and Seattle, now 10-14 for ninth, are fighting for a playoff spot, which means having one of the top eight spots.
Diggins-Smith said she and her team had something to prove to themselves after losing to the Storm last Friday night, 109-93.
“We are just trying to focus on one game at a time; we really did a great job in practice breaking things down and executing when we got on the floor,” Diggins-Smith said. “It was a total team effort tonight, I thought everybody contributed, stepped up and won by committee, that’s what we need.”
Stewart said this was a tough game for Seattle, and that they were late on rotations.
“Anytime you come into a team’s home gym, especially with both fighting for playoff position,” Stewart said. “They shot the ball really well, and from there, they could shoot with their eyes closed and I’m sure it would go in.”
The Wings look to build from the win, as they host the defending champion Los Angeles Sparks Sunday. The Storm are in the midst of a two-week road trip.
