Richard Dean
Updated on: October 11, 2024 12:56 am GMT
The Seattle Storm and Dallas Wings are set to collide at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, on September 13, 2024, as both teams look to assert their positioning in the WNBA league standings. While the Storm come into this matchup with a solid record of 22 wins and 14 losses, the Wings are reeling from a challenging season, currently sitting at 9 wins and 27 losses.
Recent Performance: Seattle Storm
The Storm head into this game following a recent victory against the Los Angeles Sparks, where they secured a notable 90-82 win. In that contest, Seattle demonstrated solid shooting, posting a field goal percentage of 47.1%, converting 33 out of 70 attempts. Their free-throw shooting was particularly impressive, hitting 18 of 19 attempts for a success rate of 94.7%.
On the boards, Seattle managed to grab a total of 27 rebounds, with only 3 being on the offensive end. Additionally, the team’s defensive efforts forced the Sparks into 13 turnovers, while Seattle collected 11 steals during the game. Individual contributions were highlighted by Skylar Diggins-Smith, who scored 26 points on 10 of 13 shooting and provided 5 assists.
Overall Season Statistics
Seattle’s performance this season has been marked by a balanced offensive and defensive output. The Storm are currently averaging 83.2 points per game, ranking them fifth in the league in scoring. Their shooting efficiency stands at 43.3% from the field, and they are connecting on 28.9% of their three-point attempts. Additionally, they are performing exceptionally well from the free-throw line with an impressive percentage of 83.7%.
Defensively, the Storm are known for their ability to force turnovers, averaging 15.1 forced turnovers per contest. They maintain a solid defensive record, ranked fourth in points allowed per game at 78.5, while conceding a shooting percentage of 42.5% and allowing 33.5 rebounds per game.
Recent Performance: Dallas Wings
The Dallas Wings are looking to turn their fortunes around after suffering six consecutive losses. Their most recent defeat came against the New York Liberty, where they fell 105-91. Despite a commendable effort with 28 rebounds in total (23 defensive and 5 offensive), the Wings struggled defensively, allowing New York to shoot 54.3% from the field.
Throughout the game, the Wings showed promise offensively, shooting 47.2% but their three-point shooting was less successful, hitting only 25.0% from beyond the arc. Arike Ogunbowale stepped up with 23 points and contributed 4 assists, but as a team, Dallas will need to improve their consistency moving forward.
Overall Season Statistics
This season, the Wings’ struggles have been evident, recording an average of 83.6 points per game while allowing a league-high 91.5 points. Offensively, they are shooting 44.7% from the field, while their three-point shooting stands at 36.1%. The Wings will look to leverage their offensive firepower, which is currently ranked fifth in the league for assists per game at 20.4.
Defensively, however, they have faced significant challenges, ranking last in the league for points allowed, indicative of their need to tighten their defensive strategy. Their inability to contain opposing teams has been a central theme in their losses.
Head-to-Head Matchup
The clash between the Storm and the Wings this Friday holds significant implications for both teams. Seattle, with their recent victories, has the momentum, while Dallas seeks to snap a disheartening losing streak at home. The Wings have not experienced a victory since their encounter with the Storm earlier in the season.
When analyzing the matchup, Seattle’s robust offensive capabilities against Dallas’s struggling defense present a compelling dynamic. If the Storm can capitalize on their shooting efficiency and continue to force turnovers, they could gain a substantial advantage over the Wings.
Key Players to Watch
- Seattle Storm: Skylar Diggins-Smith: Look for her continued offensive contributions following her recent performance against the Sparks.
- Dallas Wings: Arike Ogunbowale: As one of the top scorers for Dallas, her performance will be critical for any chance of victory.
Betting Odds
The current betting line favors Seattle, with the Storm projected to win by 7.5 points. Given the discrepancy in their recent form, many experts believe that the Storm will cover this spread.
Both teams really want to win this important game in the WNBA. The Storm are trying to keep their spot in the playoffs, while the Wings are looking to turn things around and do better in the last games of the season. It should be an exciting matchup!
