Scouting Report | Lynx vs. Wings

Todd Barin

Web Editorial Associate

Twitter

The Minnesota Lynx will host the 3-3 Dallas Wings on Saturday night and will looking to tally their seventh straight win to begin the 2016 WNBA season.

Formerly the Tulsa Shock, the Wings are scoring the ball well so far this year and have a couple of close losses already on their record.

Before tuning into tonight’s matchup, be sure to keep these interesting tidbits in mind regarding this evening’s game:

– Minnesota has been playing stellar defense to start off the season and currently rank second in the WNBA in points allowed per game with 74.2.

– The Wings, as previously stated, haven’t had any trouble at all putting the ball in the hoop this season and rank third in the league in points per game with 85.0.

– Maya Moore was recently honored with the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month award and for good reason, the Lynx forward is averaging 22.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per matchup.

Coming Off Of…

The Wings have had a nice layoff since their last game when they fell to the Chicago Sky, 92-87, on the afternoon of May 29th. Wings’ guard Odyssey Sims put up an impressive 23 points, while Erin Phillips and Karima Christmas combined for 27 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Forward Jordan Hooper contributed nicely off of the bench with 14 points as well.

Minnesota walked out of Madison Square Garden with a victory on May 31st when they defeated the New York Liberty, 79-69. Moore continued setting the net on fire with 25 points and six rebounds, Seimone Augustus played efficiently with 13 points and five rebounds, and Renee Montgomery once again performed very well off the bench with 10 points, four assists and two steals.

Last Matchup:

These two franchises, last year the Wings were the Tulsa Shock, last battled it out on Saturday, August 1st, 2015, and it was the Lynx who secured the W, winning 86-80.

Maya Moore led all Lynx scorers with 20 points, Rebekkah Brunson had a big game with eight points and 12 boards, Sylvia Fowles has a great overall game with 19 points and six rebounds, and Tricia Liston had a great game off the bench with 13 points.

Guard Riquna Williams had a massive game and led all scorers with 35 points for the Shock, while Sims and Plenette Pierson combined for 32 points and 12 boards.

Key Matchup: Lindsay Whalen vs. Odyssey Sims

The 5’9 Wings guard has been the complete package offensively so far this season, averaging 18 points, four rebounds and three assists per game.

The 13-year veteran on the other side of the court has been very reliable to begin the year, averaging 9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per matchup.

Projected Starters:

DAL: G- Sims, G- Christmas, G- Phillips, F- Pierson, C- Paris

MIN: G- Whalen, G- Augustus, F- Moore, F- Brunson, C- Fowles