The Dallas Wings will get another crack at the WNBA’s hottest team this afternoon as they host the Minnesota Lynx for the third meeting between them this season.
Sitting atop the WNBA standings at 14-4, Minnesota has controlled the season series so far, winning both previous matchups and showcasing why they remain one of the league’s best on both ends of the floor.
The Lynx have consistently punished the Wings with efficient offense, a formidable paint presence and disciplined execution, leaving Dallas searching for answers heading into yet another match up between the teams.
“They’ve got really good spacing and they make the most out of every possession,” Wings head coach Jose Fernandez said.
The Lynx’s offensive precision has been particularly evident early in games. In their most recent meeting on June 9, Minnesota jumped out to a 30-18 first-quarter lead, while capitalizing on defensive breakdowns from Dallas.
“They didn’t miss many shots,” Fernandez said. “A lot of them were uncontested. We’ve got to make sure we do a good job in our rotations, and we’ve got to be special in transition defense.”
A key part of Minnesota’s success comes from their elite pick-and-roll execution, something Dallas has spent considerable time addressing.
“I think the biggest thing is knowing your personnel,” Fernandez said after practice yesterday. “We’ve got to do a much better job guarding the ball and keeping them in front of us. Communication and teaching today, that’s been the focus.”
The Wings will also have an added layer of paint protection this time around with the return of Awak Kuier. Kuier missed the first two meetings between the teams, and her size could help combat Minnesota’s inside presence.
“She can give us some rim protection,” Fernandez said. “Some size that can change shots and affect shots.”
While Minnesota’s offense presents one challenge, their defensive physicality creates another.
“They get into you. They defend you,” Fernandez said. “It starts by guarding one-on-one and being physical. How you’re physical is how you get into people, how you make early contact, how physical you are at the point of attack, and how you’re setting screens.”
Offensively, Dallas will look for a bounce-back performance from all-star guard Arike Ogunbowale after a rough 4-point performance in the Wings’ previous game against the Las Vegas Aces, including going 1-of-10 from the field and 0-of-5 from three.
“She’s a pro,” Fernandez said. “Pros do what they do. Someone like her has to have short-term memory. For us to be successful, she’s got to play well and shoot the ball well.”
Despite the losses, Dallas believes improvements in its defensive discipline and offensive ball movement can help narrow the gap between them and one of the WNBA’s most complete teams.
The challenge will be slowing down a Minnesota offense that punished every defensive mistake in the first two meetings.
“In that first half, they were special,” Fernandez said. “They got a lot of uncontested shots, and they’re too good. They’re going to make wide-open shots, and they’re going to make you pay.”
If the Wings hope to avoid going down 0-3 in the season series, they’ll need to turn the lessons from the first two matchups into execution this afternoon.
