Evaluating the Dallas Wings through one quarter of the 2018 WNBA season

Evaluating the Dallas Wings through one quarter of the 2018 WNBA season

The Dallas Wings have now played 10 games with a 5-5 record. With the return of Elizabeth Cambage, have the Wings played up to the standards so far?

The Dallas Wings have now played 10 games with a 5-5 record. With the return of Elizabeth Cambage, have the Wings played up to the standards so far?

The Dallas Wings just finished playing 10 games so far in this 2018 WNBA season in Minnesota which resulted in a loss. This means the Wings have now officially played one-quarter of the WNBA season. There were a higher set of expectations for the Dallas Wings this year. With the return of Elizabeth Cambage and getting some needed playoff experience, the 2018 WNBA season was supposed to be a good year.

So far, the early returns are not that great. The Wings have been a mediocre team as they are .500 for the early part of the season with a 5-5 record. They have a 3-1 home record and are 2-4 on the road. They have played more road games than home games in the first 10 games.  Let's break down the wins, losses, the players and the stats so far.

Dallas Wings Schedule Through the First 10 Games

Wins

Atlanta @ home, Atlanta on the road, Seattle @ home, Indiana on the road, Las Vegas @ home.

Losses

Minnesota on the road, New York on the road, Phoenix @ home, Minnesota on the road.

Best Win Through 10 Games

Seattle at home.

Worst Loss Through 10 Games

Minnesota on the road.

How the Wings have fared against top 4 teams in the WNBA: The Wings have only played two top 4 teams through 10 games. They have a 1-1 record against them.

How the Wings have fared against the bottom 4 teams in the WNBA: The Wings have only played three bottom four teams through 10 games. They have a 2-1 record against them.

Team Stats

The Dallas Wings through the first 10 games of the WNBA season are averaging 82. 9 points per game (fourth most in the WNBA) and they give up 81.0 points per game (seventh most in the WNBA)

Players

The Dallas Wings started off with a different roster than on opening day. Both Breanna Lewis and Saniya Chong were waived. Dallas signed Leticia Romero and Cayla George (who has yet to play due to visa issues). Teana Muldrow was also signed. Theresa Plaisance has been injured and yet to play and Karima Christmas-Kelly was announced to miss the rest of the WNBA season due to a knee injury. 

Stars

Both Elizabeth Cambage and Skylar Diggins-Smith have not disappointed through the first 10 games played. Cambage is averaging a double-double with 19.4 ppg/10.4 rbg. She had a career-high 28 points and a career-high 18 rebounds in the win against Las Vegas. Skylar Diggins-Smith is off to her best scoring start with nearly 21.4 ppg / 5.9 apg (a career best). She has scored a career-high 35 points in the road win against Indiana.

Disappointments

This is not a fun category to fall under, but Wings guard Allisha Gray has not performed well through the first 10 games, averaging a career-low 8.2 ppg after averaging 13.0 in her rookie year. She was supposed to make that leap but it has not happened yet. Other players such as Aerial Powers and Glory Johnson have started off slow, but that's also due to injuries.

Pleasant surprise

Wings forward Kayla Thornton has often been the third or fourth scorer as she is averaging 8.8 ppg in her third year in the league. 

Rookie power: Azura Stevens is averaging 5.4 ppg/3.4 rbg. Scored a career-high 10 points in a road loss in New York. She has started off slowly, but she has shown flashes in her game. Rookies Leticia Romero and Teana Muldrow have just started to play, so an update will happen when the Wings reach the halfway point.

Trends / Habits

The Dallas Wings through the first 10 games sometimes have big first halves and often struggle in the third and fourth quarters. Or, they get down big in the first half and fight in the fourth quarter only to end up losing the game. Often the Wings have only played with just seven or eight players due to injuries. 

The Wings have work to do as they head into the midway part of the season. They need to have a consistent third or fourth scorer, they also need to step up their defense.

The Dallas Wings just finished playing 10 games so far in this 2018 WNBA season in Minnesota which resulted in a loss. This means the Wings have now officially played one-quarter of the WNBA season. There were a higher set of expectations for the Dallas Wings this year. With the return of Elizabeth Cambage and getting some needed playoff experience, the 2018 WNBA season was supposed to be a good year.

So far, the early returns are not that great. The Wings have been a mediocre team as they are .500 for the early part of the season with a 5-5 record. They have a 3-1 home record and are 2-4 on the road. They have played more road games than home games in the first 10 games.  Let's break down the wins, losses, the players and the stats so far.

Dallas Wings Schedule Through the First 10 Games

Wins

Atlanta @ home, Atlanta on the road, Seattle @ home, Indiana on the road, Las Vegas @ home.

Losses

Minnesota on the road, New York on the road, Phoenix @ home, Minnesota on the road.

Best Win Through 10 Games

Seattle at home.

Worst Loss Through 10 Games

Minnesota on the road.

How the Wings have fared against top 4 teams in the WNBA: The Wings have only played two top 4 teams through 10 games. They have a 1-1 record against them.

How the Wings have fared against the bottom 4 teams in the WNBA: The Wings have only played three bottom four teams through 10 games. They have a 2-1 record against them.

Team Stats

The Dallas Wings through the first 10 games of the WNBA season are averaging 82. 9 points per game (fourth most in the WNBA) and they give up 81.0 points per game (seventh most in the WNBA)

Players

The Dallas Wings started off with a different roster than on opening day. Both Breanna Lewis and Saniya Chong were waived. Dallas signed Leticia Romero and Cayla George (who has yet to play due to visa issues). Teana Muldrow was also signed. Theresa Plaisance has been injured and yet to play and Karima Christmas-Kelly was announced to miss the rest of the WNBA season due to a knee injury. 

Stars

Both Elizabeth Cambage and Skylar Diggins-Smith have not disappointed through the first 10 games played. Cambage is averaging a double-double with 19.4 ppg/10.4 rbg. She had a career-high 28 points and a career-high 18 rebounds in the win against Las Vegas. Skylar Diggins-Smith is off to her best scoring start with nearly 21.4 ppg / 5.9 apg (a career best). She has scored a career-high 35 points in the road win against Indiana.

Disappointments

This is not a fun category to fall under, but Wings guard Allisha Gray has not performed well through the first 10 games, averaging a career-low 8.2 ppg after averaging 13.0 in her rookie year. She was supposed to make that leap but it has not happened yet. Other players such as Aerial Powers and Glory Johnson have started off slow, but that's also due to injuries.

Pleasant surprise

Wings forward Kayla Thornton has often been the third or fourth scorer as she is averaging 8.8 ppg in her third year in the league. 

Rookie power: Azura Stevens is averaging 5.4 ppg/3.4 rbg. Scored a career-high 10 points in a road loss in New York. She has started off slowly, but she has shown flashes in her game. Rookies Leticia Romero and Teana Muldrow have just started to play, so an update will happen when the Wings reach the halfway point.

Trends / Habits

The Dallas Wings through the first 10 games sometimes have big first halves and often struggle in the third and fourth quarters. Or, they get down big in the first half and fight in the fourth quarter only to end up losing the game. Often the Wings have only played with just seven or eight players due to injuries. 

The Wings have work to do as they head into the midway part of the season. They need to have a consistent third or fourth scorer, they also need to step up their defense.

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