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00:00It's GMC's starting lineups for the second game in a row.
00:02Alana Smith is going to be getting the starting nod for the Wings, for the Mystics.
00:06They're the second-youngest team in WNBA history.
00:10Of course, they have Citron, averages 17 and almost 4 assists a game.
00:15And, of course, you also have Shakira Austin, the AP Player of the Week.
00:24Alicia Clark is not going to be playing tonight as we take a look at our CVS health report.
00:28She's out with a back problem, but she is going to be coaching up a storm, we know, on the
00:33sideline.
00:35Absolutely.
00:36Now the Mystics come in.
00:37They've won four straight.
00:39And in that four-game win streak, they've beaten the Aces, Golden State, and the Wings.
00:44It's the first four-game win streak since 2020.
00:46They've also won six of their last eight.
00:49And Coach Sidney Johnson telling us the team believes they belong there.
00:54They're playing like it.
00:55Yeah, they say, why not us?
01:00Third meeting between these two in game two, the Washington Mystics, they maximized their
01:05possessions, crashing the boards.
01:07They had 13 offensive rebounds.
01:09Many of them came late in the game, and that was the killer for the Wings.
01:13Yeah, we were talking about it before the game started, how the Wings will come out.
01:17Which Wings team will come out tonight?
01:19Sometimes the Wings play like they don't know how good they are.
01:22And one of the things you have to do on the road, Ron, is to play like you're not a
01:25visitor
01:25in that building.
01:26Well, this time they quickly double on the inside.
01:29Nice job by Jess Shepard coming over for the double.
01:32Okay, here comes Page looking to push it.
01:35First quarter versus Washington the last game.
01:37The Wings hit a slump, going just one of ten in the first.
01:41But that's a good sign when Page hits the three.
01:45It's always a great sign when Page scores early.
01:48You know, we get four, five, six games, six minutes deep into a quarter, and she hasn't
01:53scored.
01:54It's difficult for Dallas.
01:56Deep in the corner, but they answer with the three.
02:02Georgia Amar hitting her 33rd three of the year.
02:08Only six double-figure games this season, but Amar has been seeing time on the bench late
02:13in the game.
02:14They go for Cody McMahon instead.
02:16But one of the things you and I were talking about before the game is the Wings cannot come
02:20out tentative or conservative in the first quarter.
02:23They've got to attack early and set the pace, not let Washington dictate.
02:28Yeah, you've seen Dallas be a little bit hesitant sometimes on the road and against the team
02:33as hot, red-hot as Washington is, they will have to snap that and start playing really
02:38aggressively in this first quarter.
02:41Pull-up jumper by Citron won't go, and the Wings with a two-point advantage.
02:45Jess Shepard all the way in with a right-handed layup.
02:50Jess number four in field goal percentage, number one in rebound in the W.
02:56Good start, though, for Dallas.
02:59Got to get around those picks.
03:00I'm going to start hitting some of those three-pointers.
03:02Good boy.
03:03Offensive rebound, that's something that Jose Fernandez talked about.
03:09It's got to be the mentality.
03:11Shepard, the spin move off the glass, nicely.
03:14Thought about asking.
03:16I'm not going to help her out.
03:18Why would I do that?
03:20Which is something she's done before.
03:22She's done.
03:22When one of her teammates went to help the player out.
03:24Right, he's like, don't help her.
03:25She's like, but I kind of want to help her.
03:27No, go score.
03:29Here is Austin.
03:30Eleven double-doubles on the year.
03:31And got it.
03:34Jeff Shepard, six straight points.
03:37But Shakira Austin, who comes in averaging just over 15 a game with her first two.
03:42Tough, tough shot right there.
03:44The physicality of this young player and the way her game has grown over the season she's been in the
03:51WNBA has been remarkable.
03:52And she is playing like the team's MVP in Washington right now.
03:56And that's the CIA trio that the Wings have to curtail tonight.
04:00Austin really hot in July.
04:02Her growth has been the theme since camp.
04:04The game has slowed down for her.
04:06She's reading the defense better.
04:08She's making extra passes.
04:10And her confidence, Ron.
04:12I mean, just watching her play, watching her play a couple games here the last couple weeks.
04:16And her confidence in her face-up game and her ability on the block has been really cool to watch.
04:22Jeff Shepard again buries it.
04:25Just a perfect four for four.
04:27She's got eight of the ball game.
04:29This is a good sign for Dallas because sometimes she defers way much more than she should for the type
04:34of player that she is.
04:37Austin will shoot the three.
04:39He doesn't get it.
04:40Yeah, I'll live with that.
04:41I'd much rather have Shakira Austin taking threes and beating us on the block.
04:45They're going to call a jump ball.
04:46Enrique wanted the foul to be called.
04:50One thing Dallas wants to do is make sure you keep Washington in front of you.
04:56Especially at the point of attack.
04:58Here is Enrique again.
04:59Let's take a look at the call.
05:00Shot creates some space.
05:02Block out.
05:02Enrique is saying that this should have been a foul.
05:06And I don't have the angle on that, but it did look like she possessed the basketball first.
05:11Mikayla Onwere was right in on that.
05:13Last three games, wings have only averaged 82 points a game.
05:17Need a little more than that tonight against the number one, number two defensive team in the W.
05:23Amor tries to get out of paint.
05:25Great help defense.
05:26Onwere from outside nails it.
05:28Tough shot from the former UCLA Bruin.
05:33Two points away from 1,500 in her career.
05:37Career high field goal percentage for Mikayla this year.
05:40Whistling a foul.
05:45The foul will be on Mikayla Onwere.
05:49How about this?
05:50The Valkyries, we'll see them in a couple of nights at American Airlines Center.
05:54And the Mystics, number two in points per game allowed this year.
05:59Page a little strong on the jumper.
06:03Washington able to keep it alive.
06:06This is a team you've got to get off the floor.
06:08If you're knocked down, you've got to go.
06:09They will go in transition and be very effective in secondary.
06:15Austin inside.
06:17Great body control.
06:21Out of the 25-year-old out of Ole Miss.
06:25Fifth year in the league.
06:27And here is Jess Shepherd.
06:34And the wing's answering again.
06:36Hazy Fudd with a 20-footer.
06:40I think the field will have some pace in this game.
06:44And the way away from outside, no.
06:47Good job.
06:48Paige Becker's punching it over to Smith.
06:50He's got Jess on the right side.
06:53Atlanta takes it all the way.
06:55Foul in the basket.
06:57That is what you get with a player like Atlanta is her ability to run the floor
07:02but also to leave the break and finish with the bucket here.
07:06I think she closed her eyes a little bit on that.
07:08But it's okay.
07:09It went down anyway.
07:11Nice shot.
07:13Now the last game versus Washington, she played 18 minutes.
07:16And that was big because she hadn't played the previous four games.
07:25She's going to be needed down the stretch.
07:27Completes the three-point play.
07:28The wings lead it by five here in the opening ten minutes.
07:31Glad you're with us tonight.
07:33Of course, the Valkyries coming to town.
07:35That will be on Friday night at 8.30.
07:38I'd like to see an American Airlines center for that game.
07:41Austin up front.
07:49If you're guarding Austin, the last thing you want to do is to play her
07:53in a way that you want her to put the ball on the floor.
07:56She's too athletic.
07:58She has great moves to the basket.
07:59You want her face-up game,
08:01you want to challenge her to shoot a 12 to 15 to 22-footer.
08:05You don't want to get into a battle of her putting it down,
08:08using your body to get to the basket,
08:09because she's too good for that.
08:12You know, last year, you think about it,
08:15Shakira Austin and Kiki Ariafen were just learning how to play with each other,
08:19and I think they're taking that next step this year.
08:22Well, you can tell they played together in offseason.
08:25You know, the chemistry,
08:26that's when you build the chemistry with your teammates is in the offseason.
08:29You've got to hang out.
08:30You've got to play together.
08:31You've got to play pickup together,
08:33and it looks like they've been able to do that.
08:37You just pop it up.
08:39No, stop the ball.
08:40Chitron Becker gets a hand on it,
08:42and she is going to commit the foul.
08:46Once you get turned around like that,
08:48you start reaching.
08:49Well, here's what I was going to say.
08:51Once you get that deep,
08:52you're going to start reaching.
08:54I was literally about to say,
08:55once you let them get past the free throw line,
08:58your chances of stopping them without fouling is minimal.
09:02So you have to make them pick up the basketball.
09:05immediately after half court.
09:07You literally be waiting for it.
09:12Page picks up her second personal foul.
09:14Chitron was 10 of 10 from the free throw line
09:17in the last meeting between these two teams.
09:19Wings did a good job defensively on her
09:21when she had the ball.
09:22Only three of 18 shooting.
09:25Lead cut down to one.
09:28Dallas led by as many as six.
09:30A.Z.
09:32Doesn't get the bounce.
09:33Smith pokes it out.
09:34Nice job.
09:36Atlanta, baseline jumper knocks it down.
09:43Atlanta has five.
09:44That's a good sign.
09:47Last two games, she was just five of 12 shooting.
09:51She was two of two tonight.
09:53Here's Citron.
09:55Bud fights over the top of the screen.
09:58Austin being guarded by A.G.
10:00Nice move inside.
10:01Page with a rebound.
10:03Page four or more rebounds.
10:05Seven of the last 16 games.
10:07And the wings make them pay.
10:09Nice.
10:10Spot up.
10:11Run the floor in transition.
10:13If they don't flare out on defense,
10:15make them pay for sure.
10:17See the wings two of four from three.
10:20Washington two of seven.
10:23Citron at least they're hassling a little bit.
10:25Amor buries it.
10:30Got to play that a little bit better.
10:31You can't play completely off on the health defense.
10:34You got to be ready for the three-point shooters.
10:36Especially 69% of her shots are threes.
10:40Here's Arike.
10:41Go-bye.
10:43Gives it up.
10:44Atlanta.
10:45Nobody on the boards with Dallas, though.
10:48Got to compete for those boards.
10:50Lauren Betts has checked into the lineup.
10:52For the Mystics, the rookie out of UCLA.
10:55She has really come on to a scoop.
10:58Yes.
11:00We'd cut down to one.
11:03That is Cody McMahon, the rookie out of Ole Miss,
11:06who started her career at Ohio State.
11:10She's aggressive, and she likes to drive.
11:13Arike doesn't get the spin, but gets the foul.
11:19Azee Fudd tonight, two of three shooting.
11:21She's got five in the ballgame.
11:24Coming off of that three-point award, Azee Fudd spotting up,
11:28and the wings are up by one in the capital city.
11:33But her dominance in the post area with her footwork is really one of the things that makes her a
11:40candidate for MVP,
11:41and we haven't talked enough about that, I don't think.
11:43Not a bit.
11:44Yep.
11:44And when they mention MVP, obviously you talk Aja Wilson.
11:48Yep.
11:49Deservedly so.
11:50But a lot of people, the national publications, aren't mentioning Jess.
11:54And I go, all they say is most improved.
11:56I go, no.
11:57No.
11:58Let's kick this up a notch.
11:59Yeah, she needs to be in the conversation for MVP.
12:03Jessica Shepard had only eight points in the last minute between these two teams.
12:06Already has that now.
12:09And here is Arike.
12:11And I love Jose Fernandez saying she is not getting enough credit for what she's done this season.
12:20She is making the case for so, so many awards,
12:23but I think the one that they're chasing mostly is Dallas getting in the playoffs,
12:27and then seeing what you do after that point is not fizzling out after having such a great first half
12:32of the season.
12:33There is Azee Fudd again with a steal.
12:35Oh, number six in the W in steals and the transition bucket.
12:45Again, as was preached from day one of training camp, and you and I were there,
12:49Jose Fernandez says it starts with our defense because nobody's going to be able to guard us
12:54if we get the stops.
12:57Latest five.
12:59Here's the rookie best.
13:01Right-handed shot.
13:02That was pretty.
13:02That was a tough shot with the defense was tough.
13:07The bodying that she put on Betts, and she was still able to get that shot off.
13:11Very nice.
13:12This is a big team.
13:13She had 11 in the first meeting between these two teams.
13:15Five of seven shooting.
13:17Page gets in to pay.
13:18Amor can't stop her.
13:22Page has five.
13:23The lead is five.
13:27And I were talking in the break.
13:29Both sides of the ball.
13:30Wings are doing exactly what we wanted them to do tonight.
13:33That's be aggressive on offense, and that's be aggressive on defense because we know that
13:38the Mystics owned the paint the last time they played.
13:42And the Mystic players said, they can't guard us on the inside.
13:45Literally said that.
13:46And when I said that to you, you went, whoa.
13:49The old saying, them is fighting words?
13:51That's those.
13:52Them is definitely fighting words.
13:53I mean, in the confidence.
13:54The Mystics said, listen, we're going to keep going down low because they have not proven
13:58that they can guard us down there.
14:00Now, Lee Uru tried to body up.
14:02Here comes Shepard.
14:03Inside of 145 on the drive.
14:09Lee can't finish it out.
14:11I'm not sure you want to make that pass to her in traffic.
14:14It's a good thought for someone who's used to finishing in traffic, but that's a tough
14:18call for Uru.
14:21Citron no.
14:23Offensive rebound on the putback.
14:30But that's only the second offensive rebound for Washington tonight.
14:35Page, a little hesitation, the pull-up.
14:40Washington with a chance to tie or pull within one as we close in on one minute left to play
14:45here in the first.
14:47Got to contest that.
14:49The three no.
14:51And Lee will just let it go out of bounds with 59 left here in the opening quarter.
14:56But to your point, I do think Dallas has played very principled defense at this point.
15:01They have not allowed the paint presence of the Mystics to overtake them.
15:07Where, you know, you're looking at 10, 20-point runs.
15:10They're playing solid defense.
15:11They're giving them one shot at the basket for the most part on every possession.
15:14And that's a vast improvement.
15:16And I think the Wings have to realize every win's going to impact the playoff seedings
15:20and first-round matchups.
15:22That's right.
15:23You like that number four spot.
15:25Arike.
15:26Got it.
15:27Nice.
15:30Arike's got six.
15:32Hasn't missed a shot tonight.
15:35Just calm, you know, just in this fluid in the motion of the offense.
15:43Even though the foul was committed, I like what Jess Shepard did there.
15:46Let's get physical.
15:47You're going to come in here.
15:49We're going to put a body on you.
15:50I like it.
15:51Show a little booger.
15:51A little mano-a-mano here on defense is get physical because they're coming in.
15:57They're spin-moving, initiating the contact,
16:00and then sometimes you just got to let them feel it.
16:03If we're going to be physical, let's be physical.
16:05Here is Kiki Irithin.
16:08Played at Stanford and USC.
16:14Number five in the league in rebounds.
16:17Made it to her second All-Star game as Owak Kawir checks into the lineup.
16:22One thing about Irithin, if you watch her the last couple of games,
16:25she's finding ways to impact the game.
16:29And she's expanded her game.
16:31Cuts the lead down to three.
16:35Another UCLA Bruin in the building on the squad.
16:40Paige showing patience out front.
16:42She is seeing more people double, triple hook team her and blitzer.
16:48What a pass from Irithin.
16:50But Owak Kawir put the meat hooks on the ball.
16:54Put the mitts on.
16:55That was great.
16:55That was a terrific look.
16:58Athleticism by Owak Kawir to grab it and knock it down.
17:02Irithin has three of the wings, seven assists here in the opening quarter.
17:06That's with a handoff.
17:08Final second.
17:09Pull-up jumper.
17:09And it'll go.
17:11Tough.
17:17Bounding him.
17:19Eight to seven.
17:19Still early.
17:20Washington, ten points in the paint in that first quarter.
17:24Five straight games.
17:25They've averaged over 40 points in the paint.
17:27So, good first quarter.
17:29Dallas, most points in the first quarter this season, by the way, with 31.
17:32Yeah, what I hear as I listen to your summaries, that Dallas has had a very balanced first quarter.
17:37They were not over great at everything, but they certainly did not come under in rebounding in points off the
17:45break.
17:45I mean, those are important categories for a team that plays the style of basketball that they play.
17:49So, they pretty much control the tempo of the game.
17:52Austin had seven points in that opening quarter.
17:55starts the second with a hoop.
17:58This is what I'm talking about.
17:59Tough shots here.
18:01She faces up.
18:02A walk tries to meet her, but her footwork is so elite.
18:07To be able to finish that shot in traffic is just, she's been working on some stuff.
18:12She's gotten much better.
18:16This is the first year she's really been healthy.
18:19Can't let her get that rebound, though.
18:20No, not a bit.
18:21That's exactly what Jose Fernandez was talking about after the last game with Washington and today.
18:28And Alana Smith, having a big game tonight.
18:33I don't think teams have seen Alana play very much, so they're not really prepared for how good she is.
18:39Right?
18:39She played a couple of games with face masks, protecting in that situation, but this is a pure spot-up
18:45shooter.
18:47Congratulations to her, being named to the Opals, the Australian World Cup team.
18:51Well-deserved.
18:54Mainstay in Australia basketball.
18:58Wings by four.
19:01Getting physical.
19:02A walk can't stop him.
19:07Area thin on the inside.
19:0914 points in the paint now for the Mystics.
19:13A walk will launch the three.
19:17Did she get fouled on the three?
19:19I think she might have.
19:25Foul's going to be on area thin.
19:27How about the block by Smith, last year's co-defensive player of the year, and here comes Odyssey.
19:32Odyssey Sims is so good at seeing who's open and getting them the basketball at the right time, and the
19:39right person.
19:39Sometimes you're open for a reason, and it's not always because you're a great shooter.
19:43Sometimes it's just the opposite of that, but in that situation, Alana, who is really starting to come on for
19:48Dallas, needs the ball in her hands a little bit more while she's hot.
19:50For the last two games, Alana Smith has played double-digit minutes.
19:54That is something good.
19:55A.C. Fudd will come back into the lineup.
19:59A.C. with five points, two of three shooting, and a couple of assists, and, of course, her usual steal.
20:08A.C. with the free throws, only five minutes in the last game versus Washington, didn't have any points.
20:20Austin, the handoff, Amor up front, running the point.
20:24Didn't play last year, recuperating from that A.C.L.
20:27The defense, you've got to have that steal.
20:30She put the pressure on and made a difficult pass.
20:33And the buzzer.
20:38A.C. with the three right as the shot clock went off.
20:46Great ball movement by the Mystics on that.
20:49Clock, you know, clock savvy, understanding where the clock is, time score situation on that one was excellent for the
20:56Mystics.
20:57A.C. going over the 1,500 career point mark with that three.
21:01Love talking to Sidney Johnson.
21:05When the players were here last year, they were telling me, and I quote, he's such a dad.
21:10In other words, goofy.
21:12And he was telling us tonight, he said, listen, players know I'm goofy.
21:16Players know I can't dance.
21:17I'm myself.
21:19And the players appreciate that.
21:20Well, you keep the locker room really loose.
21:24He does.
21:25He does that.
21:26You really do.
21:26I mean, the coaches, we know the tremendous pressure that WNBA coaches are under.
21:30So, you know that.
21:32And for him to be able to maintain that level of rapport with the players is important.
21:37And it's partly part of the reason that they've been able to continue playing so well this season.
21:41Well, he played at Princeton.
21:43Holds the Ivy League record for consecutive three-pointers made without a miss.
21:50Foul is going to be called on the wings.
21:54Our officials tonight.
21:55Tim Green is our crew chief.
21:57Ryan Sassano, who made that call, the referee.
21:59And Catherine Chang, the umpire.
22:05Foul was on Odyssey.
22:10Wings by two.
22:11They've led by six.
22:12That's a good help defense.
22:14And great rotation defensively by Dallas just then.
22:17Oh, Lana Smith.
22:18That's what we expected at the beginning of the year.
22:20Got to stay down right there.
22:22Austin from 17 as the buzzer goes off.
22:25Nope.
22:25It's going to be a loose ball foul.
22:27That'll be against the Mystics.
22:30Good job, Zaza, drawing the contact.
22:35That'll be on Onya Wehrae, and that'll be her third personal foul.
22:40That hurts them, because she's been playing well.
22:43Yeah, you got to start with Dallas.
22:44The only thing Dallas is not doing right now is boxing out.
22:47They're playing great defense on the first series of the basketball,
22:52but then they're not boxing out,
22:53giving Washington additional opportunities at the basket.
22:56And that's what really hurt them in the last meeting between these two teams.
23:00Good pass.
23:02Good shot.
23:04Dagger.
23:07You got to flare out against the Mystics,
23:09because they've got so many three-point shooters.
23:11You can't run back to the paint in transition defense.
23:14That's her first three-pointer made since July 7th.
23:17She was 0 for 5 since that time.
23:20Good defense.
23:21Citron lost the handle on top Amor.
23:25Citron.
23:26Got to help.
23:26Got to swarm.
23:27And they did.
23:28Great.
23:28That time, Alanis Smith came over to help, and it'll be a shot clock violation.
23:34But that's what is called recognizing where your help's coming from.
23:39That's right.
23:39And who you're playing.
23:40Some players, you're not going to swarm.
23:41Some players, you're going to play them one-on-one straight up.
23:44But a player like Shakira Austin, as soon as she touches the ball, all hands on deck.
23:50She's got nine points, but it's taken seven shots to get that.
23:53Wings by five.
23:55Early here in the second.
23:59Wings haven't won in D.C. since 2023.
24:04Legal screen would happen.
24:11That's going to be a turnover for the Dallas Wings.
24:22Austin way out front.
24:26Citron.
24:27Page has to fight through it.
24:29Citron with a left hand.
24:31Wow.
24:32The pull through.
24:33The high pull through.
24:35But the lulling the defense to sleep was really what made that play happen.
24:39Just not going really fast.
24:41Just slowly watching what the defense does to react and then making the move.
24:44Nine 20-point games this season for Citron.
24:48Page has to give it up.
24:49Jeff's looking for a first point in the second.
24:52And got it.
24:53And go to the line.
24:54And one.
24:56Great move.
24:58Great body control.
25:00Use the defense to your advantage here.
25:04She's going to spin.
25:05A little swivel.
25:06And one.
25:08Defense on your backside.
25:10Nothing to do but the foul right there.
25:12Great move.
25:14Already the fastest for 300 points, 300 rebounds, and 150 assists.
25:19Someone was motioning a travel.
25:22But no, you need to go study that footwork.
25:23That's footwork that should be studied.
25:25There's nothing about a travel in that move.
25:28I agree 100%.
25:29It's a great move.
25:33And the wings come up with a rebound.
25:36Lana Smith giving the wings good minutes tonight.
25:38Maybe they'll get the Twitter idiots off her back.
25:42With all due respect.
25:45Well, I assure you, they probably never played a day of basketball in their lives.
25:49So there's nothing they can consider there.
25:52Except maybe in grandma's backyard.
25:54Nice.
25:54Sheppard again.
26:02Jess has 10 and 3.
26:04Looking for another double-double.
26:07Amor, they give her way too much room and she buries it.
26:10Scout.
26:11Scout.
26:12Scout.
26:12You cannot.
26:14You cannot ignore your scout just because you have some success in the game.
26:17You know the players that you have to get out on and contest that shot.
26:21And that's one of them.
26:21You've talked a lot about know your personnel.
26:24Beautiful pass inside Smith and Washington is going to have to call a timeout.
26:33Unselfish basketball.
26:36He said it.
26:37Jessica Shepard with the assist.
26:39That is her second.
26:40This is pretty.
26:43Atlanta Smith.
26:44She's in double digits with 10.
26:50Here is Bea Menace on defense.
26:53But she's got a little offense to go along with that.
26:55And that's made the difference for Dallas tonight.
26:57Ten points, four rebounds, two blocks for Smith.
27:01The Wings with 11 assists on 18 baskets made.
27:04And they lead it by six.
27:07Biggest lead has been seven.
27:08Austin Smith giving her a lot of room out front.
27:13Yeah, AZ staying with Sutron.
27:15I think I see my eyes are not to see him.
27:17Oh, that's a tough move.
27:20Got to have those 50-50 balls, though.
27:23And that's what Washington got the last meeting.
27:25Citron.
27:26Great find inside to Austin.
27:29Citron with her third assist of the game.
27:31That's what you call, I've got the shot.
27:33And it's going to be a great shot, a good shot.
27:36But I found somebody who got a greater shot.
27:38And that was her pitching it down low for a post player.
27:42Citron averaging just under four assists a ball game and a whistle.
27:45Says Catherine Chang.
27:52You and I were talking during the break how this has been a pretty complete first quarter for the Wings.
27:58It really has.
27:59They've played solidly on the defensive end.
28:03They've looked smooth on the offensive end.
28:05And everybody's gotten into the flow offensively for the Wings.
28:09Washington has not played since beating the Wings six days ago.
28:15Looking for the latest Dallas Wings merchandise?
28:17Head over to ShopDallasWings.com for exclusive products, jerseys, tees, and accessories,
28:22including the new 2026 Rebel Edition merchandise.
28:26ShopDallasWings.com.
28:28It has everything you need to rep the Wings wherever you go all season long.
28:32And a lot of people out of the Destin area asking me about the Dallas Wings because that's all I
28:38wore.
28:39Must have dismayed my family.
28:44That'll be three seconds.
28:47Ron, what's the 10th year anniversary?
28:49Is that paper?
28:50Is that silver?
28:51What is it?
28:52In my family, it's wine.
28:55Well, I mean, we need to touch to the Dallas Wings.
28:58I may be wrong.
28:59In their 10th season.
29:00What is that?
29:01We need to know.
29:02Oh, we need to start celebrating that for the rest of the season.
29:05You're going over my – let's just put on a Hallmark movie.
29:08I don't know.
29:09You and Lifetime TV in Hallmark.
29:11I'll tell you.
29:12Here's Paige.
29:13AZ gets a step on a more tough pull-up jumper.
29:17No.
29:18Rebound bets.
29:19Yeah, see, you got – I love AZ picking her up right now.
29:22Don't back up.
29:23She can knock it down.
29:25But the pick up early is what the Wings needed to do.
29:28And fighting over the screen, too.
29:30To help defense.
29:30I am impressed with the health defense of the Dallas Wings.
29:34I'm going to just get that on record right now.
29:36They've been outstanding and healthy tonight.
29:39Good defensive series right there.
29:43Cassandra Prosper can't get the shot to go down.
29:45Here's Jess working on bets.
29:47Hands off Paige over bets.
29:49Can't get it.
29:50Down the boards.
29:51Austin the rebound.
29:52That is only her third.
29:58Good job, AZ just using that backside to make sure she block boxes out.
30:03Here's Arike.
30:03Oh, that's nice.
30:04Closed by the defense.
30:07Great move to the basket.
30:09Acceleration made that move happen.
30:12That is a great cross-up.
30:13Quick acceleration to get past the defender to the basket.
30:17Here it just goes.
30:18The steder.
30:19Pull it through.
30:21A little more lift would have gotten that in.
30:23But that's a great move.
30:24Earlier in her career here in Dallas, she had to make harder shots.
30:28Now she has four other players who can shoot.
30:30It's made it a little bit easier for her.
30:32It's made it a lot easier for her.
30:34I mean, think about Arike's shot 80%.
30:38I'm making that number up.
30:39But let's just say a lot more three-pointers last year than she shot this year.
30:44Because, you know, she needed to score a lot of points.
30:47This year, she's diversified her game.
30:50And as a result, she's been more effective.
30:54By the last six games, she has scored 20.
30:57Been really good.
30:59And that's helping Dallas.
31:00That's helping Dallas because the more threats you have on the floor,
31:02the easier it is for everybody else to be productive offensively.
31:06What a play by Jess Shepard.
31:09Gives it over to Arike.
31:11And she's got it.
31:12And Arike goes to double figures with 10.
31:14Sweet.
31:15This is easy basketball for the Wings right now, the way they're playing.
31:20Biggest lead of the ball game for the Wings at 10.
31:25Good help.
31:26Wings out, scoring Washington 21-14 here in the second.
31:30Three Wings players around the ball.
31:33Great defense.
31:35And finally, Atlanta Smith reaches in and ties him up.
31:40How about Jess Shepard tonight?
31:4212 points, three rebounds, three assists.
31:45This is the best assist of the night.
31:46A little point guard.
31:47Play right here.
31:48Finding your swing.
31:50The swing not trying to get to the basket.
31:52Just a sweet little jumper on the baseline for Arike Gumbawale.
31:57Dallas on a 14-5 run.
32:00With that, we're going to take a timeout.
32:02Now, 2-53 left to play in the second quarter.
32:05The Dallas Wings have opened up.
32:06Wings play at American Airlines Center this season.
32:09Coming up on Friday night, the Wings are going to play host to the Golden State Valkyries
32:13before the much-anticipated showdown against the Indiana Fever.
32:17That'll be on August 20th.
32:19Tickets are going fast.
32:20You need to go to DallasWings.com to get yours today.
32:24Dallas actually out-rebounding Washington 13-12.
32:28Washington, a league-best 12 games with 10-plus rebounds over their opponents.
32:34Fast break points.
32:35Dallas 14, Washington 2.
32:38That's the Dallas Wings we like seeing.
32:40That's the ones we know for sure.
32:42When they are in transition or something special.
32:48But I'm saying at the break also that I haven't noticed Cody McMahon as much as I normally see in
32:55this game.
32:55I wasn't thinking she was playing, but she's played, what, 10 minutes or so?
32:5810 minutes.
32:59All right, Dallas.
33:00I love the best story about Cody McMahon.
33:02When she was in 7th grade, Xavier offered her a scholarship.
33:06Okay.
33:077th grade.
33:08I was eating paste in 7th grade.
33:12Here's Alana Smith.
33:14What a job she has done tonight.
33:1610 points, 4 rebounds.
33:21Alana Smith's performance tonight shows you why you need somebody playing opposite your other post player to compliment you.
33:29You know, when you've got just 3 players, it's very hard to be a real threat to a team.
33:37But when you've got trouble at every position, now you're doing something special.
33:42Nice smooth switch on Citron.
33:44Arika handing off to Azee.
33:47Shot clock at 5.
33:49Austin has to give it up.
33:51That's nice move.
33:51And the reverse, no.
33:53Rebound, Jess Shepard.
33:55Fourth board for Jess.
34:00And the wings quickly get into their actions.
34:03They want to force Washington to guard that second and third action.
34:10I think a lot of the games we've seen in which they've lost, they stay one side on offense.
34:15You've got to make a 2 and 3 side.
34:16Yeah.
34:16I mean, that's what Coach Jose Fernandez said.
34:21He says, we've got to make defenses play defense longer.
34:24That's the point.
34:26Don't just give them an open shot.
34:28Don't bail them out with a foul.
34:30Make them play longer through the shot clock.
34:33Make them swing the basketball.
34:35Make them work for what they're getting.
34:37Citron back on top.
34:39Betts.
34:41Shot clock at 3.
34:43Austin inside.
34:44Jess puts up the hands.
34:46Washington will get another opportunity.
34:49They fight on the boards.
34:50You've got to take them off the boards on the first one.
34:53Good hands.
34:55And it was the original hands before Smith did the pickpocket that just caused things to kind of go off
35:00the rails.
35:03Here is Paige.
35:04Pull up from 18.
35:08And Irina makes the save.
35:10Reset the shot clock inside of 1.30.
35:13Atlanta for 3.
35:14Got it.
35:15Her second 3-pointer tonight.
35:17She's got 13 in the ballgame.
35:19And that is a season high for Atlanta Smith.
35:22Just the patience to find a shot that's open.
35:27A higher quality shot.
35:28Offensive boards good.
35:30Yeah.
35:30Wings 6 of 10.
35:31Fran from 3.
35:33Clean looks.
35:35Wings haven't shot well from 3 over the last couple of games.
35:39Less than 25%.
35:40Tonight much better.
35:43Foul is going to be on R.E.K.
35:55Foul is going to be on R.E.K.
35:55That step up right there.
35:56You can't go under that.
35:59She's so strong.
36:01I mean, it's like when you're guarding Shakira Austin, it's like a pinball machine.
36:08Yeah.
36:08Defenders just bounce off of her because she's so strong.
36:12She's so sturdy.
36:13She's so athletic.
36:16It's like she didn't even feel them.
36:17Like two or three defenders bounced right off of her before she got that foul.
36:2115th time.
36:22The Wings have scored 50 points and a half this season.
36:25The previous 14, they're 14-0.
36:30Austin now with a dozen points in the ballgame.
36:37Balance and mobility gives a lot of credit to her dad.
36:41Growing up, said,
36:42My dad always stressed me to play defense before offense.
36:46I like that.
36:48What's scary is she's still developing.
36:52AZ.
36:54Thought she had a step on the defense.
36:55Whistling a foul is going to be called.
36:58Yeah, I like to see AZ do that.
36:59That's one area of her game that I believe will truly elevate it.
37:04We know she's a great shooter.
37:05We've seen that.
37:06But you have to always ask yourself,
37:08Where else can I go?
37:09What else can I do to contribute to my team?
37:11And that's one area, aspect of her game,
37:13that I think she really can improve on.
37:15I think she can get to the line a lot more than she does.
37:17Yes, I agree.
37:18100%.
37:19Like, she's quick.
37:20She's strong.
37:20She's sturdy.
37:22And she can shoot.
37:23So she can finish.
37:24Yes, she can shoot the wide open three.
37:26But when she starts going to the basket,
37:28she reminds me of Cynthia Cooper.
37:30Like, Cynthia was played on our championship team
37:32at the Commons in 97.
37:34And Cynthia could really shoot.
37:35But when she got past you,
37:37she was going to foul.
37:38And she was going to get fouled and get an and one.
37:40And that's where I see AZ's game going.
37:41Three of the five wing starters already in double figures.
37:44AZ could be the fourth.
37:46She's got nine.
37:48Final 30 seconds.
37:50Dallas up by 13.
37:51That is their biggest lead.
37:54Go by.
37:56Now Paige started to go by.
37:58The pull-up rolls it over the front.
37:59She's got seven.
38:01See how open the game can get for Dallas
38:03when everybody's contributing?
38:05I mean, when you've got top guns at every position,
38:09offense is going to get progressively easier for them.
38:1314 assists in the first half.
38:15Dallas on a 12-2 run.
38:17Austin took her eye off it.
38:20I'm sure I would have tried to save that.
38:22Why are we saving that?
38:23I know.
38:24And that's the way the first half is going to come to an end
38:27with the Dallas wings up by 15.
38:29They shoot 68% of the ball game.
38:33They out-rebound Washington.
38:36A complete turnaround from the left.
38:39He had to get a shot off,
38:40and it made all the difference in the world in the first half.
38:42Well, two-thirds of the baskets made have come off assists
38:47as Dallas had 14 assists in that first half.
38:52You know, a lot of Smith, we see her,
38:54and we knew about the broken nose and what she went through,
38:57but she also had a leg injury.
38:59And when I went to practice, she worked with Preston Smith,
39:02strength and conditioning,
39:03and she worked extremely hard to get back on this court.
39:07And now we're seeing the results of the hard work.
39:10How about that?
39:11Another rejection.
39:11That's her third block.
39:13New season high for Smith tonight.
39:16Sit down the pull-up jumper.
39:18She struggled in the last meeting between these two teams.
39:21She's one of four shooting tonight.
39:24Paige, from way outside, knocks down the three.
39:30I wasn't ready for that.
39:32I was getting settled in my seat, Paige, Beckers,
39:34and you just started shooting threes.
39:37Wings six of ten from three tonight.
39:41Austin, 15-footer, and she rattles at home.
39:45She's got 13 in the ballgame,
39:48but the wings still lead it by 16,
39:50and this is the point I think all of us say,
39:52keep the pedal down.
39:53Yeah.
39:54Can you counter their counter?
39:55You know they talked at half court
39:56about protecting home court, playing better.
39:59Can you counter that by remaining consistent?
40:02Nice.
40:03Is he on the drive?
40:04No.
40:05Here he is in the rebound.
40:12Wings have done a good job with the bigs tonight
40:15as opposed to giving up 50 points
40:17with Harriet Fenn and Austin in the last meeting.
40:22Georgia Amor from the outside.
40:23She's having a nice game with the nine points.
40:28Wings have to remember that they're playing a team
40:30that relies a lot on three.
40:31They got three-point shooters,
40:32so they did not shoot well.
40:34They're going to come out
40:35and try to do a lot better this second half.
40:37I think Jess looked up and said,
40:38nobody's going to come out and guard.
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