WNBA: Kalani Brown provides Dallas Wings key contributions

With star middle Teaira McCowan nonetheless sidelined as a consequence of a knee harm she suffered within the Dallas Wings’ (3-1) season opener, the Wings signed a well-recognized face in Kalani Brown to shore up their frontcourt depth — and the fast outcomes have been an unquestionable success.

Brown, who competed for the Wings in coaching camp and was waived shortly earlier than the opening-day roster reduce deadline, was brought back to the team on an emergency hardship contract granted because of the ongoing absences of Diamond DeShields and Lou Lopez Sénéchal (each of whom are recovering from knee accidents), and he or she regarded like she hadn’t missed a beat in a 94-89 Dallas victory over the Minnesota Lynx. Brown recorded 12 factors and 7 rebounds in 26 minutes of motion, taking part in each behind and alongside Natasha Howard, who had a superb recreation herself (25 factors on 11-of-15 taking pictures). These minutes have been key within the win — as evidenced by Brown’s field plus/minus of +9 — particularly contemplating the void beforehand left by McCowan.

Up till this level, Wings head coach Latricia Trammell has been reluctant to play Awak Kuier (8.3 minutes per recreation) or rookie Maddy Siegrist (4.2 minutes), so whereas Howard and Satou Sabally (22.3 factors and 9 rebounds in 33.4 minutes per recreation) will possible proceed to have heavy workloads in Dallas’ beginning frontcourt, Brown’s efficiency simply hours after signing her hardship contract might have earned her the function of the workforce’s first huge off the bench — till McCowan returns, that’s. The Wings have been mum about offering a timeline for McCowan’s restoration, however even after she returns from harm, Brown will nonetheless be on the roster, and Trammell is clearly a fan of her dimension at 6-foot-7.

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What’s subsequent for the Wings

Dallas performs two extra video games this week, each on the street. On Friday, they’ll tackle the Washington Mystics (2-2), adopted by a matchup in opposition to the Connecticut Solar (5-1) on Sunday. Each video games can be an excellent check for the Wings, who went 1-2 in opposition to the Mystics last season and 2-1 in opposition to the Solar.