2018 Dallas Wings season

Last updated

2018 Dallas Wings season
Coach Fred Williams (fired)
Taj McWilliams-Franklin (interim)
Arena College Park Center
Attendance4,752 per game
Results
Record1519 (.441)
Place5th (Western)
Playoff finish8th seed, Lost in First Round to Phoenix 83–101
Team Leaders
Points Liz Cambage – 23.0 ppg
Rebounds Liz Cambage – 9.7 rpg
Assists Skylar Diggins-Smith – 6.2 apg
Media
Television Fox Sports Southwest [1]

The 2018 WNBA season will be the 21st season for the Dallas Wings franchise of the WNBA. This will be the franchise's 3rd season in Dallas. The season tips off on May 18. [2]

Contents

Dallas had an up and down start to the season, posting a 2–3 record in May followed by a 5–4 record in June. However all but one of these seven losses came to eventual playoff teams. The team posted an 8–5 record in July, including winning 7 of 8 games in the middle of the month. The three straight losses at the end of the month were the beginning of a nine-game losing streak.

In the midst of that losing streak, on August 12, 2018, the Wings fired their head coach Fred Williams. The team had a 14–17 record and was in the 8th and final playoff spot at the time of firing. Assistant Coach Taj McWilliams-Franklin was named the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. [3]

McWilliams-Franklin posted a 1–2 record in her three games in charge. This saw the Wings finish 1–7 in August. However, the one win was an important one. The win was against the Las Vegas Aces, the Wing's playoff rivals. The Wings secured the 8th seed in the 2018 WNBA Playoffs by one game over the Aces. The team lost to the 5th seeded Phoenix Mercury 83–101 in the first round of the playoffs to end their season.

Transactions

WNBA draft

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country
16 Azurá Stevens Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Connecticut
218 Loryn Goodwin Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Oklahoma State
330 Natalie Butler Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States George Mason

Trades and roster changes

DateDetails
February 1, 2018Re-signed F Kayla Thornton [4]
February 2, 2018Re-signed F Theresa Plaisance [5]
February 5, 2018Signed C Liz Cambage [6]
February 28, 2018Re-signed F Karima Christmas–Kelly [7]
June 3, 2018Signed C Cayla George [8]
July 23, 2018Traded F Aerial Powers to Washington Mystics in exchange for G Tayler Hill and 2019 WNBA draft second round pick and the rights to swap first round picks. [9]
August 19, 2018Signed Maggie Lucas. [10]

Roster

2018 Dallas Wings roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
C 8 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Cambage, Liz 6' 8" (2.03m)216 lb (98kg)08-18-1991 Australia 2
F 13 Flag of the United States.svg Christmas-Kelly, Karima   Cruz Roja.svg 6' 0" (1.83m)180 lb (82kg)09-11-1989 Duke 7
G 3 Flag of the United States.svg Davis, Kaela 6' 2" (1.88m)170 lb (77kg)03-15-1995 South Carolina 1
G 4 Flag of the United States.svg Diggins-Smith, Skylar 5' 9" (1.75m)145 lb (66kg)08-02-1990 Notre Dame 5
C 22 Flag of Australia (converted).svg George, Cayla 6' 4" (1.93m)192 lb (87kg)05-01-1989 Australia 2
G 15 Flag of the United States.svg Gray, Allisha 6' 0" (1.83m)167 lb (76kg)10-20-1992 South Carolina 1
G 2 Flag of the United States.svg Hill, Tayler 5' 9" (1.75m)145 lb (66kg)10-23-1990 Ohio State 5
F 25 Flag of the United States.svg Johnson, Glory 6' 3" (1.91m)170 lb (77kg)07-27-1990 Tennessee 5
G 33 Flag of the United States.svg Lucas, Maggie 5' 10" (1.78m)158 lb (72kg)11-29-1991 Penn State 3
F 55 Flag of the United States.svg Plaisance, Theresa 6' 5" (1.96m)200 lb (91kg)05-18-1992 LSU 4
G 10 Flag of Spain.svg Romero, Leticia 5' 8" (1.73m)143 lb (65kg)05-28-1995 Spain R
F/C 30 Flag of the United States.svg Stevens, Azurá 6' 6" (1.98m)180 lb (82kg)02-01-1996 Connecticut R
F 6 Flag of the United States.svg Thornton, Kayla 6' 1" (1.85m)190 lb (86kg)10-20-1992 UTEP 2
Head coach
Flag of the United States.svg Taj McWilliams-Franklin (St. Edward's)
Assistant coaches
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Erin Phillips (Australia)
Athletic trainer
Flag of the United States.svg Allison Russell (Tulsa)
Strength and conditioning coach
Flag of England.svg Danny Wardell (Huddersfield)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Game log

Pre-season

2018 pre-season game log
May: 2–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1May 7vs. New York W 76–69 Stevens (19) Stevens (9) Chong (3) Mohegan Sun Arena
N/A
1–0
2May 8@ Connecticut L 58–79 Tied (12) Cambage (9) Hamblin (2) Mohegan Sun Arena
3,695
1–1
3May 13 Las Vegas W 68–55 Stevens (12)4 Tied (6) Chong (4) College Park Center
N/A
2–1
2018 pre-season schedule

Regular season

2018 game log
Total: 15–19 (Home: 10–7; Road: 5–12)
May: 2–3 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1May 18@ Phoenix L 78–86 Tied (18) Cambage (9) Diggins–Smith (9) Talking Stick Resort Arena
11,210
0–1
2May 20 Atlanta W 101–78 Diggins–Smith (25) Christmas–Kelly (10) Davis (5) College Park Center
5,907
1–1
3May 23@ Minnesota L 68–76 Cambage (14) Cambage (12) Diggins–Smith (7) Target Center
7,834
1–2
4May 26@ Atlanta W 87–80 Diggins–Smith (24) Cambage (14)Tied (4) McCamish Pavilion
4,749
2–2
5May 29@ New York L 89–94 Cambage (28) Cambage (16) Diggins–Smith (7) Westchester County Center
1,516
2–3
June : 5–4 (Home: 3–2; Road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
6June 2 Seattle W 94–90 Diggins–Smith (27)Tied (7) Diggins–Smith (7) College Park Center
5,191
3–3
7June 8@ Indiana W 89–83 Diggins–Smith (35) Diggins–Smith (12) Diggins–Smith (6) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
5,675
4–3
8June 12 Phoenix L 72–75 Diggins–Smith (16) Thornton (8) Diggins–Smith (4) College Park Center
4,026
4–4
9June 15 Las Vegas W 77–67 Cambage (28) Cambage (18) Diggins–Smith (6) College Park Center
4,549
5–4
10June 19@ Minnesota L 83–91 Diggins–Smith (17) Cambage (9) Diggins–Smith (7) Target Center
8,023
5–5
11June 22 Los Angeles W 101–72 Cambage (20) Powers (8) Diggins–Smith (11) College Park Center
5,672
6–5
12June 24 Seattle L 76–97 Cambage (23) Cambage (9) Diggins–Smith (7) College Park Center
4,084
6–6
13June 26@ Los Angeles L 83–87 Cambage (25) Cambage (14) Diggins–Smith (5) Staples Center
10,002
6–7
14June 27@ Las Vegas W 97–91 Diggins–Smith (29) Cambage (11) Diggins–Smith (8) Mandalay Bay Events Center
5,246
7–7
July : 8–5 (Home: 6–3; Road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
15July 1 Minnesota L 72–76 Diggins–Smith (16) Johnson (8) Diggins–Smith (7) College Park Center
4,448
7–8
16July 3 Chicago W 108–85 Cambage (37) Cambage (10)Tied (5) College Park Center
4,012
8–8
17July 5 Indiana W 90–63 Stevens (26) Johnson (11) Diggins–Smith (7) College Park Center
4,043
9–8
18July 8@ New York W 97–87 Diggins–Smith (32) Cambage (12) Gray (6) Westchester County Center
1,719
10–8
19July 10 Phoenix W 101–72 Diggins–Smith (20) Johnson (9)Tied (4) College Park Center
4,034
11–8
20July 12@ Los Angeles W 92–77 Diggins–Smith (22) Johnson (7) Diggins–Smith (11) Staples Center
13,502
12–8
21July 14@ Seattle L 84–91 Cambage (23) Stevens (9) Diggins–Smith (7) KeyArena
9,686
12–9
22July 17 New York W 104–87 Cambage (53) Cambage (10) Diggins–Smith (7) College Park Center
6,459
13–9
23July 19 Washington W 90–81 Cambage (35) Cambage (17) Diggins–Smith (7) College Park Center
4,411
14–9
24July 20@ Chicago L 99–114 Cambage (23) Stevens (9)Tied (5) Wintrust Arena
4,962
14–10
25July 22 Connecticut L 75–92 Cambage (25) Cambage (10)Tied (5) College Park Center
4,935
14–11
26July 31 Chicago L 91–92 Cambage (33) Johnson (14) Gray (10) College Park Center
3,696
14–12
August : 1–7 (Home: 1–2; Road: 0–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
27August 2@ Indiana L 78–84 Cambage (37)Tied (9)4 Tied (3) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
5,981
14–13
28August 5 Washington L 74–76 Tied (16) Cambage (14)Tied (4) College Park Center
5,623
14–14
29August 8 Connecticut L 92–101 Cambage (29)Tied (9) Cambage (4) College Park Center
3,483
14–15
30August 11@ Atlanta L 82–92 Diggins–Smith (26) Stevens (6) Diggins–Smith (10) McCamish Pavilion
4,937
14–16
31August 12@ Washington L 80–93 Diggins–Smith (17) Gray (12) Diggins–Smith (6) Capital One Arena
6,362
14–17
32August 14@ Connecticut L 76–96 Gray (18) Cambage (13) Diggins–Smith (8) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,365
14–18
33August 17 Las Vegas W 107–102 Cambage (43) Cambage (13) Diggins–Smith (8) College Park Center
6,209
15–18
34August 19@ Seattle L 68–84 Johnson (16) Johnson (7) Diggins–Smith (4) KeyArena
12,574
15–19
2018 season schedule

Playoffs

2018 playoff game log
WNBA First Round: 0–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1August 21@ Phoenix L 83–101 Diggins–Smith (23) Cambage (12) Diggins–Smith (7) Wells Fargo Arena
4,976
0–1
2018 playoff schedule

Standings

# Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 Seattle Storm (1)268.76513–413–411–5
2 Phoenix Mercury (5)2014.58869–811–68–8
3 Los Angeles Sparks (6)1915.559711–68–99–7
4 Minnesota Lynx (7)1816.52989–89–89–7
5 Dallas Wings (8)1519.4411110–75–127–9
6e Las Vegas Aces 1420.412128–96–114–12

Playoffs

First round:
Single elimination
(Aug. 21)
Second round:
Single elimination
(Aug. 23)
Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(Aug. 26 – Sept. 4)
WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 7 – Sept. 12)
1 Seattle Storm 9191668494
4 Connecticut Sun 865 Phoenix Mercury 8787868684
5 Phoenix Mercury 1015 Phoenix Mercury 961 Seattle Storm 897598
8 Dallas Wings 833 Washington Mystics 767382
2 Atlanta Dream 8478817681
3 Washington Mystics 963 Washington Mystics 8775769786
6 Los Angeles Sparks 756 Los Angeles Sparks 64
7 Minnesota Lynx 68

Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.

Statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per gameTeam leaderLeague leader

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Liz Cambage 323229.558.932.473.89.72.30.51.723.0
Skylar Diggins-Smith 323234.140.329.783.93.36.21.40.517.9
Karima Christmas-Kelly 6627.844.844.481.35.51.50.30.39.3
Kayla Thornton 343228.644.735.586.04.01.81.00.49.2
Allisha Gray 343426.740.327.086.33.42.41.30.29.2
Azurá Stevens 34920.643.031.878.84.61.30.91.18.9
Glory Johnson 291722.541.731.578.06.01.31.00.58.0
Theresa Plaisance 7011.638.947.40.03.70.70.30.35.3
Tayler Hill 7116.928.929.2100.03.70.70.30.35.0
Kaela Davis 27616.834.724.464.12.01.40.30.05.0
Cayla George 23110.743.630.850.02.80.70.10.23.6
Leticia Romero 2107.031.320.086.70.81.10.00.01.1
Maggie Lucas 1020.00.00.00.00.00.02.00.00.0

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
Liz Cambage WNBA Western Conference Player of the WeekJune 4, 2018 [11]
Liz Cambage WNBA All-Star SelectionJuly 17, 2018 [12]
Skylar Diggins-Smith
Liz Cambage WNBA Western Conference Player of the WeekJuly 23, 2018 [13]
WNBA Peak Performer – PointsAugust 19, 2018 [14]

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References

  1. "Wings Announce Broadcast Schedule With Fox Sports Southwest". wings.wnba.com. WNBA. April 2, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  2. "2018 Dallas Wings Schedule". Women's National Basketball Association. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  3. "Dallas Wings Relieve Fred Williams Of Coaching Duties". wnba.com. WNBA. August 12, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  4. "Dallas Wings Re-Sign Forward Kayla Thornton". wings.wnba.com. WNBA. February 1, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  5. "Dallas Wings Re-Sign Forward Theresa Plaisance to Multi-Year Contract". wings.wnba.com. WNBA. February 2, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  6. "Dallas Wings Sign Liz Cambage". wings.wnba.com. WNBA. February 5, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  7. "DALLAS WINGS RE-SIGN KARIMA CHRISTMAS-KELLY". wings.wnba.com. WNBA. February 28, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  8. "Dallas Wings Add Cayla George". wings.wnba.com. June 3, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  9. "Mystics Trade Tayler Hill To Wings For Aerial Powers". wnba.com. WNBA. July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  10. "Dallas Wings Sign Guard Maggie Lucas". wnba.com. WNBA. August 19, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  11. "Tina Charles, Liz Cambage Named Players of the Week". wnba.com. WNBA. June 4, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  12. "2018 WNBA All-Stars Announced; Elena Delle Donne, Candace Parker To Serve As Player-Captains". wnba.com. WNBA. July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  13. "Atlanta's Hayes, Dallas' Cambage Named WNBA Players Of The Week". wnba.com. WNBA. July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  14. "Cambage, Fowles And Vandersloot Earn 2018 WNBA Peak Performer Awards". wnba.com. WNBA. August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2018.