Tag: dallas wings

Which city should host future WNBA All-Star games?

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said that Indianapolis could potentially host in future years.

The 2024 WNBA All-Star Weekend is taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, home of the Mercury. This is the third time the Mercury have hosted the event. There are current W teams who have never hosted an All-Star weekend. Could they be a target in the years to come?

In the history of the WNBA All-Star Game, Indianapolis, which hosted the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, is one of four cities with a W franchise that has never hosted the weekend, joining Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert commented that perhaps Indianapolis could be in the cards to host in future years.

“No doubt about it,” Engelbert said when asked if the league would consider a WNBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis. “Summer’s nice here; we won’t have that snow in July. Absolutely. I have been so impressed with the branding of the city, the support of the city … I know that in the state, in the city, basketball is so popular. I mean, it’s pretty incredible.”

See what cities could potentially host WNBA All-Star Weekend.

Dallas Wings sign multiple important pieces ahead of 2024 season

The Wings also recently signed Stephanie Soares, re-signed Kalani Brown and All-Star Satou Sabally.

In the Dallas Wings’ latest signing, they entered into a contract with veteran forward Emma Cannon on Monday. Most recently, Cannon spent the 2023 season with the Indiana Fever and appeared in 30 games while averaging 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds.

“My family and I are thrilled to be joining the Dallas Wings franchise,” said Cannon. “This is a place where the possibilities are endless and I’m happy to be a part of it. I can’t wait to connect with my teammates, staff and the amazing Dallas fans. See you soon! Let’s go, Wings!”

While Cannon has spent multiple seasons in the WNBA, she is equally as versed in playing internationally. She currently plays for Nesibe in Turkey, averaging 19.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and two assists per game. Cannon was the 2022 All-Israeli League Finals MVP, the 2022 All-Israeli League Forward of the Year, the 2021 All-Eurocup Forward of the Year and the 2014 All-German DBBL Forward of the Year.

Cannon has been on multiple championship-winning teams, including the 2022 and 2023 Israeli League winners Elitzur Ramla and three-time DBBL winners Wasserburg (2013-15). Along with impressive showings in Israel, Turkey and Germany, Cannon has also enjoyed successful professional stints in Russia, Poland and Australia.

“We are excited to announce the signing of Emma Cannon,” Wings head coach Latricia Trammell stated.  “Her experience, versatility, and commitment to excellence align perfectly with our organization’s goals. Emma’s presence will positively elevate our team on and off the court.”

The Wings also recently signed Stephanie Soares and re-signed Kalani Brown and All-Star Satou Sabally.

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Jasmine Thomas announces retirement and new position with the Dallas Wings staff

Thomas and the Wings announced she would be joining the staff as Director of Player Programs and Development Coach.

Guard Jasmine Thomas has been busy from expanding her business with American Express to retiring from the WNBA to announcing a new position within the Dallas Wings’ coaching staff. On Thursday, Thomas announced she would be retiring after 13 seasons in the league.

Thomas shared her retirement announcement on Instagram.

“Came a long way from the 9-year-old girl that picked up basketball for fun to make friends. I feel so blessed to have had such a long and successful career on the court. I’m grateful for how my journey has shaped me as a person, I wouldn’t change it for anything. To my family, friends, teammates, coaches, staff, venue personnel and fans around the world — thank you for being a huge part of an incredible experience of a lifetime. What’s coming in this next chapter? Stay tuned….”

Then, on Friday, Thomas and the Wings announced she would be joining the staff as Director of Player Programs and Development Coach.

“The most important part of my decision to retire was having a valuable opportunity to continue significantly impacting women’s basketball in this next chapter of my life,” Thomas stated. “I’m excited to join the Dallas Wings organization in a unique role that aligns with my passion for empowering athletes on and off the court. I’m looking forward to working with a fun group of dynamic players alongside Greg Bibb, Amber Cox, Coach Trammell and the Wings staff to bring a WNBA championship to Dallas.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2QRX9dONr_/?hl=en

She will focus on the roster’s on-court skill development in her role. She will also be a member of the Wings front office, working on the development and execution of programs centered around player services and support. This includes career development, mentorship and philanthropic interests, among other areas.

“These are exciting times for our Dallas Wings organization as we welcome Jasmine Thomas to our coaching staff,” head coach Latricia Trammell stated. “Bringing a seasoned professional basketball player into our coaching ranks is a dynamic shift that enriches our team with firsthand experience, skill, and a winning mentality. We look forward to Jasmine’s passion impacting our players on and off the court.”

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Dallas Wings hire Pam Flenke from Big East Conference

The Wings have hired Pam Flenke as vice president of communications and broadcasting.

The Dallas Wings hired Pam Flenke as vice president of communications and broadcasting, the team announced today. Flenke spent over 10 years at the Big East Conference and most recently served as the associate commissioner of women’s basketball communications and operations.

Flenke will begin her duties with the Wings on Jan. 30.

“Pam is one of the most well-respected communications professionals in women’s basketball,” said Wings Chief Operating Officer Amber Cox. “Her work with the Big East Conference over the past decade has helped elevate team and player profiles, as well as create an unmatched student-athlete experience. I have no doubt that Pam’s experience and skillset will amplify the Wings’ efforts on and off the court in the Metroplex, as well as nationally and internationally.”

Flenke had many roles and responsibilities during her time with the Big East Conference, including playing a “pivotal role in the development of the national television schedule, which was among the most robust in women’s college basketball.”

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Arike Ogunbowale leads Wings to most wins for a single season in team history

The Wings picked up their 19th win of the season, the most they’ve had in a single season since moving to Dallas in 2016.

On Sunday, the Dallas Wings eliminated the Phoenix Mercury from playoff contention with their 77-74 win on the road. This was the Wings’ 19th win of the season, the most they’ve had in a single season since moving to Dallas in 2016.

Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale led the team in scoring with 29 points, which included four 3-pointers. Earlier this season, Dallas head coach Latricia Trammell mentioned that Ogunbowale is the leader of the team and is ready for the challenge. With performances like this, Ogunbowale is proving her coach correct.

After the win, coach Trammell shared her thoughts on the 19-win milestone.

“The great team that I have, every one of those players in that locker room has been a major factor in some way,” said Trammell when asked how she got the team to 19 wins. “I think the buy-in, the will to win, the love for one another, the connection they have – I have to give them all the credit because they’re the ones sacrificing. These young ladies have done a lot to get us in this position.”

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Watch: Arike Ogunbowale signs autograph after being ejected from game

There’s one way to make a statement.

Tuesday’s game between the Dallas Wings and Atlanta Dream was historic for the wrong reasons. A WNBA record 10 technical fouls were called between both teams. Two of those were attributed to former Notre Dame star [autotag]Arike Ogunbowale[/autotag] as she sat on the bench, meaning she was ejected with 1:42 left in the Wings’ 85-73 victory. With the Wings’ win assured thanks in part to her 21 points, Ogunbowale decided she would make a spectacle as she headed back to the locker room:

When asked to comment on the technicals, Ogunbowale said this:

She also took to Twitter for some more unfiltered thoughts, sort of:

But she also probably was still on a high from this ankle-breaking move she executed during the game:

Ogunbowale, who scored a career-high 41 points as the Wings lost their previous game to [autotag]Jewell Loyd[/autotag] and the Seattle Storm, is well on her way to another All-Star selection. If the season ended today, she would have career highs of 23.3 points and 4.2 assists a game. There’s no reason to think she’ll drop off. As we just saw, she’ll bring attitude and a little creativity with her, too.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Wings’ Satou Sabally makes franchise history with triple-double

Sabally becomes the first Wings player to record a triple-double since the team relocated to Dallas in 2016.

Dallas Wings forward Satou Sabally recorded her first career triple-double on Friday in a 90-62 win against the Washington Mystics. Sabally also becomes the first Wings player to record a triple-double since the team relocated to Dallas in 2016.

Sabally had 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, which contributed to Dallas’ 29 assists, their second highest of the season. Her 10 assists represent a career high. The Wings shot a season high in this win with 58.7% from the field, which was led by 81.8% shooting from Teaira McCowan.

Dallas rolled deep in this game and had two players from the bench reach double figures, a first this season. Awak Kuier and Maddy Siegrist each recorded double figures in the last 10 minutes of the game and combined for 91% of the team’s points in the final quarter.

This game proved why the Wings lead the league in second-chance points (14.7) and fast break points (14.4). Dallas is on a bit of a hot streak and has won eight of their last 10 games. They also defeated the Las Vegas Aces on July 7, who lead the league in games won.

The Wings again take on the Aces Sunday on the road at Michelob ULTRA Arena with the game being broadcast locally on Bally Sports Southwest and nationally on CBS Sports Network at 5 p.m. CT.

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Arike Ogunbowale advances to WNBA 3-Point Contest finals

The former Notre Dame star can say she was a part of history.

[autotag]Arike Ogunbowale[/autotag] was busy when it came to tipping off WNBA All-Star Weekend. The Notre Dame legend and current Dallas Wings star, who now is a three-time All-Star selection, participated in both of Friday’s events that served as precursors to Saturday’s game in Las Vegas. After her and Wings teammate Satou Sabally’s 52.6 seconds were not enough to advance in the Skills Challenge, it was time for the 3-Point Contest.

In the first round of the 3-Point Contest, Ogunbowale made four of five shots on her “money ball” rack, and her 21 points were enough to advance to the finals. Fellow former Notre Dame star [autotag]Jackie Young[/autotag], who leads the WNBA with a .480 3-point shooting percentage, had a chance to eliminate Ogunbowale as the last first-round competitor. The Las Vegas Aces guard only scored 15, and her elimination surely was a disappointment to the hometown crowd.

Ogunbowale was off the mark in the championship round, scoring a contest-low 11 points, but she would have had to be almost perfect to win anyway. The New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu turned in a historic performance with 37 points while missing only two shots and making 14 straight in between misses. That’s a record for either a WNBA or an NBA 3-Point Contest. In fact, you need to see it to believe it:

If Ogunbowale was going to lose this contest, at least it happened in part because of a performance like that. Now, the 2021 All-Star MVP can focus on the game itself. That should be fun for her, Young and [autotag]Jewell Loyd[/autotag].

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Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Three former Notre Dame guards to start WNBA All-Star Game

The Irish will be well-represented in the WNBA’s annual showcase of top talent.

We’ve mentioned several times on this site that Notre Dame has an influx of former players in the WNBA. We’ve also mentioned before that several of those players are pretty darn good. 2023 has been no exception. The latest evidence of that is that three of this year’s All-Star Game starters are former Irish guards.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise as all three guards are among the top five WNBA scoring leaders. And while some of them have been professionals longer than others, it doesn’t change the fact that Notre Dame is and will continue to be a hotbed for women’s basketball talent. Heck, there are at least a couple of players on the Irish’s current roster also destined for the WNBA.

Here are the three former Irish who will get to flaunt their skills among the rest of the best the WNBA has to offer July 15 in Las Vegas:

Satou Sabally named as a WNBA All-Star once again

For just the second time in her four-year career, Satou Sabally is a WNBA All-Star.

The Unicorn strikes again.

Satou Sabally, the former Oregon Ducks women’s basketball standout and all-conference performer and current Dallas Wings starter, was named to the WNBA All-Star team for the second time in her short four-year career.

She was named an All-Star for the first time in 2021.

Sabally is having her best season as a WNBA player as she is averaging career-highs with 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds a game. She is also shooting nearly 30 percent from the three-point stripe and 42 percent from the field.

The Wings are currently 6-7 in the young season and hovering around for a possible playoff spot.

This year’s WNBA All-Star Game will be held in Las Vegas on July 15.