DHJ Quick Take: Awak Kuier Available For Wings vs. Phoenix
The Dallas Wings upgraded Awak Kuier (right wrist) to available against the Phoenix Mercury after she cleared shootaround, returning a defensive anchor to the team.
- Is Awak Kuier playing vs. Phoenix? Yes, Dallas upgraded her to available after she went through shootaround at College Park Center.
- Why does her return matter? The Wings allow 95.4 points per 100 possessions with Kuier on the floor versus 108.1 without her, and they were outscored 46-26 in the paint without her at Minnesota.
- What does it mean for the lineup? Her return reunites the preferred frontcourt with Co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith and restores rim protection.
- What’s next? Dallas hosts Phoenix on Thursday at College Park Center at 8 p.m. CT on Prime.
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Wings upgraded Awak Kuier (right wrist) to available for Thursday’s game against the Phoenix Mercury, clearing the forward after she went through shootaround at College Park Center.
The move returns one of Dallas’ most important defenders. Kuier had been sidelined by the wrist injury, missing Tuesday’s 100-76 loss at the Minnesota Lynx and the Commissioner’s Cup opener against the Seattle Storm. Dallas enters the night 7-4 on the season.
What Awak Kuier Restores On Defense
Kuier’s return addresses the area the Wings have flagged all season. Dallas owns a team-best plus-24.5 net rating in her minutes this season, compared with minus-1.9 when she sits, and its defensive rating improves from 108.1 points allowed per 100 possessions without her to 95.4 with her on the floor. Much of that traces to her length, which Paige Bueckers has credited for letting Dallas guard the screener and the ball-handler with one defender and keep the rest of the defense home on shooters.
“Our bigs did a great job. We adjusted in the second half of being more up to touch and being more up in the ball screens,” Bueckers said earlier this season. “And especially with K, she just is so long that she can guard two at times.”
That presence has been missing during a stretch in which Dallas has struggled to protect the rim, allowing the most paint points in the league this season while opponents converted 62.8% of their attempts at the basket. Minnesota offered the latest reminder Tuesday, outscoring the Wings 46-26 in the paint and shooting 23-of-38 inside on the way to a 24-point win.
With Kuier back, Dallas reunites its preferred frontcourt and restores the rim deterrent that makes head coach Jose Fernandez‘s multiple-effort rotations hold up.
The Phoenix Mercury Test
The Mercury provide an immediate measuring stick, and the matchup runs straight through the area Kuier helps most. Phoenix leans on Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper, downhill threats who, alongside the Mercury’s guards, stretch a defense across the floor. Arike Ogunbowale said that puts a premium on covering every level.
“They’re physical. They play strong,” Ogunbowale said at shootaround. “They have shooters around them, too, so we’re going to have to defend all three levels.”
JJ Quinerly, back in the rotation after her own return from injury, said the response has to start with matching that physicality and setting the tone on defense.
“Staying together is a big one. Defensively, we have to be aggressive,” Quinerly said. “We have to be ourselves, a team that gets into people defensively and then executes offensively.”
Having Kuier back gives Dallas the rim deterrent to make those efforts hold up, restoring the anchor it leaned on during its earlier defensive strides.
Up Next
Tip-off against Phoenix is set for 8 p.m. CT at College Park Center, with the game streaming on Prime. It is the first meeting of the season between Dallas and Phoenix.
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