WNBA: Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks tackle Sabally, Dallas Wings

The Los Angeles Sparks (4-4) will tackle the Dallas Wings (5-4) on Wednesday in a Commissioner’s Cup matchup. It’s the primary of 4 regular-season conferences between the 2 groups, with an early afternoon tip-off scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. The sport can be broadcast on NBA TV and regionally on Bally Sports activities Southwest.

Although the Wings took a loss of their final recreation (a high-scoring contest towards the New York Liberty), rising star Satou Sabally earned just a little little bit of {hardware}, profitable Western Convention Participant of the Week after averaging 19 factors, 12.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in three video games. Sabally, who’s averaging 21.2 factors, 11.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals per recreation on the season, has been the Wings’ most constant participant so far, and may she keep her present manufacturing for your complete 2023 WNBA season, she’ll be a robust candidate not just for the league’s Most Improved Participant award, however for an All-WNBA choice as nicely.

In opposition to the Sparks, Sabally can be matching up towards the Western Convention’s earlier Participant of the Week, Nneka Ogwumike. The 2016 MVP appears rejuvenated enjoying below head coach Curt Miller in his first 12 months in Los Angeles, posting career-highs throughout the board (21.3 factors, 9.7 rebounds and three.4 assists per recreation) whereas sustaining her traditional wonderful offensive effectivity (66.6 % true capturing) because the Sparks’ major choice.

As a crew, nonetheless, the Sparks have cooled off after a powerful begin to the season, not too long ago blowing large results in Seattle and Minnesota — two groups Los Angeles ought to, in principle, be comfortably higher than. The Sparks have additionally been hit onerous by accidents, with Layshia Clarendon (plantar fascia tear) and Chiney Ogwumike (foot) their newest gamers to overlook time. Although Azurá Stevens and Jasmine Thomas are again within the lineup after lacking the beginning of the season with accidents of their very own, neither participant is 100% again to recreation pace but, leaving Los Angeles with a shorthanded rotation.

Whereas the Wings have a number of accidents of their very own — Diamond DeShields and Lou Lopez Sénéchal proceed to be out for the foreseeable future with knee accidents and Crystal Dangerfield is recovering from an ankle damage — they’ve gotten key contributions from substitute gamers in Kalani Brown and Odyssey Sims. It’s considered one of a number of issues to look at for in Wednesday’s matchup: The Wings’ depth, whereas not ultimate, appears significantly extra useful than the Sparks’ for the time being, and whereas gamers like N. Ogwumike, Lexie Brown (14.4 factors per recreation; 42.6 % 3-point capturing) and Jordin Canada (5.6 assists and a pair of.6 steals per recreation) are enjoying excellent basketball, leaning too closely on them has not confirmed to be a recipe for fulfillment, significantly later in video games. We’ll see if the Sparks can put collectively a full 40 minutes towards a Wings crew that has the potential to place up large scoring numbers.

Sport info

Los Angeles Sparks (4-4) vs. Dallas Wings (5-4)

When: Wednesday, June 14 at 1 p.m. ET

The place: Faculty Park Heart in Arlington, TX

watch: WNBA League Pass, NBA TV, Bally Sports activities Southwest

Sparks damage report: Layshia Clarendon (out; foot), Chiney Ogwumike (questionable; foot), Katie Lou Samuelson (out; being pregnant)

Wings damage report: Crystal Dangerfield (out; ankle), Diamond DeShields (out; knee), Lou Lopez Sénéchal (out; knee), Teaira McCowan (not with crew; Turkish Nationwide Staff duties)