DHJ Quick Take: Awak Kuier’s Two-Way Bench Shift Highlights Wings’ Identity Shift
- Disruptive Length Alters the Interior: Forward Awak Kuier anchored Dallas’ second unit with an ultra-efficient 20 minutes, recording 9 points on 4-of-6 shooting, 4 assists, 3 steals, and a block to disrupt Washington’s half-court rhythm.
- Practice Block Accelerates Playbook Comfort: Kuier credited a rare weekend stretch of consecutive full-team practice sessions for her high-impact performance, noting the repetitions allowed her to quickly adapt to the structural tendencies of guards Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale.
- Executing a ‘Help-the-Helper’ Defensive Scheme: Emphasizing a collective approach to protect the perimeter, Kuier detailed how the fro gntline focused on dynamic recovery to ensure the guards were never left isolated against Washington’s interior drives.
- Leveraging European Chemistry with Shepard: The sixth-year forward highlighted her extensive overseas history alongside offseason signing Jessica Shepard as an immediate asset, explaining that their pre-existing continuity has seamlessly translated to high-low execution for the Wings.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Awak Kuier spent 20 minutes off the bench Monday night and left her fingerprints on most of them. The Dallas Wings forward finished with 9 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals in the team’s 92-69 rout of the Washington Mystics at College Park Center, the kind of two-way line that has shown up more often as the season has settled in.
Kuier shot 4-of-6 from the field, added a block and posted a plus-11 in the Wings’ first home win of the season, a 23-point result that closed a three-game homestand and evened Dallas at 2-2.
The performance came in Kuier’s sixth season since the Wings drafted her No. 2 overall in 2021. She said the recent practice time has made a difference.
Practice Time Brought Comfort
The Wings held two practices over the weekend, their first extended stretch of practice time all season. For Kuier, that meant a chance to learn how her teammates want to play.
“I think practice for sure helps a lot. Having good practices and practicing with all the players, I think that really made a difference going into the game,” Kuier told Dallas Hoops Journal. “Just knowing what every player likes to do, how Paige likes to play, how Arike likes to play. So I think that helped me a lot.”
Wings coach Jose Fernandez tied her game-night impact directly to that work.
“I think now with Awak getting more practice time and her learning the playbook and getting a much bigger feel, you saw the impact that she made,” Fernandez said.
Length and Feel at Both Ends
Kuier picked off three Washington passes and dished out four assists, the kind of activity Paige Bueckers said disrupted the Mystics on both sides of the floor.
“She was amazing on both sides of the floor. Just her length disrupts things a lot defensively, and she has a great IQ for the game,” Bueckers told Dallas Hoops Journal. “And then her cutting, her screening — she’s learning really fast, and she just wreaked havoc on both sides of the floor tonight.”
Kuier said the defensive plan against Washington’s frontcourt came down to keeping the guards from being stranded one-on-one.
“I think just giving extra help for our guards, knowing the personnel and making sure that we’re not leaving the guards on an island,” Kuier told Dallas Hoops Journal. “So I think just kind of a help-the-helper type of mentality, and I think because of that, we were able to stop them.”
A Familiar Frontcourt Partner
Kuier shared minutes with Jessica Shepard, who recorded a 16-rebound double-double against Washington. The two played overseas together for multiple seasons before reuniting in Dallas, and Kuier said that history pays off.
“We played together overseas, so I’ve played with her. I know how to play with her,” Kuier said. “So it’s always having that familiar player with you who knows what you like to do and vice versa. I think it also helps me.”
A Different Player Than the One Drafted
Arike Ogunbowale has been with the franchise since 2019, long enough to see Kuier’s full arc in Dallas. Ogunbowale credited the developmental stretch Kuier spent overseas, where she carried a larger role for her clubs.
“I think that time overseas for her where she was a big piece on her team really helped her,” Ogunbowale said. “She came back confident. Her shot looks good. She can get to the basket. She’s long. She’s just more confident. She got a little bit of muscle on her, and she just looks so good from the time she was drafted to now, so I’m really proud of her.”
Up Next
The Wings begin a three-game road trip Wednesday against the Chicago Sky at 8 p.m. CT, with stops in Atlanta and New York to follow before a return home to face Las Vegas.
More Wings Coverage on Dallas Hoops Journal
- ‘Controlling The Controllables’: Jessica Shepard Reflects On Dominant Double-Double For Dallas Wings vs. Washington Mystics
- Arike Ogunbowale Brushes Off ‘Chitter Chatter’ As Dallas Wings Show Standard vs. Washington Mystics
- ‘We Just Stayed Connected’: Paige Bueckers Breaks Down Dallas Wings’ Complete Two-Way Response vs. Washington Mystics
- ‘Flying Around And Covering’: Rebuilt Defense Sparks Dallas Wings’ 92-69 Blowout Of Washington Mystics
- Dallas Wings Prepare To ‘Match That Energy’ Against Washington Mystics In Duel Of Young Teams
- ‘He’s A Wonderful Coach’: Dallas Wings Players Back Jose Fernandez After His Accountability Comments
- Azzi Fudd Says UConn Play Calls Still ‘Ingrained’ As She Adjusts To Dallas Wings’ System
