Sky starts fast, but fades late and loses season opener
This is a new era for the WNBA and a fresh look for the Sky.
First time out in 2024, the Sky learned a common basketball lesson: A few bad minutes at the end can wipe away a whole lot of good things.
The Dallas Wings finished the game on an 18-6 run to win the season opener 87-79 in Arlington, Texas, on Wednesday The teams will stay in Texas and meet again Saturday.
The biggest problems for the Sky were easy to spot in the box score. The taller Wings outscored the Sky 26-12 on second-chance points. The Sky did a nice job of attacking the basket but went just 16 of 27 at the foul line and didn't make any 3-pointers in the second half.
Up by 4 with five minutes left, everything fell apart down the stretch. Guard Dana Evans showed some confidence in taking open shots but went 0-for-4. Meanwhile, the Sky needed to throw some defensive help at Dallas guard Arike Ogunbowale, who scored 14 in the fourth quarter and dominated a matchup with the Sky's Marina Mabrey.
“It's a little sped up right now,” Mabrey said. “To the point where, 'Hey, should I try to do this, should I try to do that, should I move it?' That kind of come with patience with each other, and a feel for the game. When we go back to the film, I think it will be clear as day what we should have done.”
Rookie Angel Reese had a frustrating start to her WNBA career, then came alive at the start of the fourth quarter. She finished a nice spin move in the lane, then stripped Dallas' Natasha Howard and went in for an uncontested layup. When Reese beat the Wings downcourt and scored off a long pass from Mabrey, the Sky led 73-69 with 5:05 remaining.
Reese finished with 12 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal and 5 fouls. She went 2-for-8 at the foul line.
“It's learning,” Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon said when asked about Reese's debut. “They're learning and growing, knowing what they can do and can't do. You learn how to win and that's where we are. We're learning how to win.”
Mabrey led the Sky with 19 points. Diamond DeShields, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, delivered an inspired effort, scoring 14 points. She didn't play much in the fourth quarter and Weatherspoon that was about being conservative with her minutes as she return from the injury.
With 6-7 rookie Kamilla Cardoso on the shelf with a shoulder injury, the Sky had trouble dealing with 6-7 Dallas center Teaira McCowan early. McCowan scored 16 points in the first half but just 2 in the second.
Dallas is missing one of its best players. Six-foot-4 Satou Sabally, who averaged 18.6 points and won the Most Improved Award last season, is recovering from shoulder surgery.
Even with the influx of rookie talent, the WNBA figures to be similar to last year when it comes to hierarchy. There will likely be a big gap between two-time defending champ Las Vegas, then the New York Liberty, then everyone else. If that's the case, there will be some even talent among the bottom 10 teams.
The Sky led by 9 after the first quarter against Dallas, but it's usually the finish that matters more.
Twitter: @McGrawDHSports