Sun @ Wings preview: Bueckers vs. Lacan (we hope)

Yeah, you can have your playoffs and title runs, but we have the Battle of the Century in the WNBA Wednesday night in Arlington, Texas.

Paige Bueckers vs. Laila Lacan.

They have never met because both meetings (neither in Texas) earlier this season happened while Lacan was still in France, and - somewhat predictably - Bueckers dominated in both meetings, with the Wings averaging 97 points per game in two victories.

Lacan has been the Sun’s stopper, and even with a gruesome black eye suffered Saturday came out two days later and gave the defending champs a proverbial run for their money. Officially, she’s second behind Seattle’s Gabby Williams in steals, but it’s by a razor thin margin and Lacan is now officially eligible because she’s played enough games.

She also has the size to matchup with Bueckers, the runaway Rookie of the Year in the WNBA this season. But Bueckers scored 44 against Los Angeles last week, shooting 17-for-21 from the field. She’s struggled from the field in her last two games, but did post nine assists against Golden State and has just two turnovers in her last two contests.

Paige Bueckers has already beaten Saniya Rivers and the
Sun twice this season (Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)

Lacan is extremely aggressive, however, currently leading the WNBA (just ahead of Angel Reese) at 3.4 fouls per game, something Bueckers will absolutely try to take advantage of. She doesn’t have her usual cast of characters, as Arike Ogunbowale is out as is Li Yueru and JJ Quinearly. Of course, the Wings have already traded NaLyssa Smith and Dijonai Carrington, and you wonder where the rebuild is going to start around Bueckers when this season is over.

Late breaking news as well, we might be robbed of our Bueckers vs. Lacan matchup because Bueckers is now questionable with an illness. That would obviously leave them extremely thin, Amy Okonkwo - whom the Sun waived in the preseason - got 17 minutes against Golden State and played fairly well.

Connecticut is favored for the first time on the road all season and rightfully so, even though a little may stem from the Bueckers news.

Can the Sun take advantage and win a game they are supposed to-ish?:

SUN @ DALLAS WINGS

Time: Wednesday, 8 p.m. EDT

Place: College Park Center; Arlington, Texas

Records: Connecticut 9-28; Dallas 9-29

TV: WNBA League Pass, NBC Sports Boston

Line: Connecticut -3.5 

Absences: Connecticut- NONE.

Dallas - Paige Bueckers (questionable, illness); Arike Ogunbowale (out, knee); Li Yueru (out, season ending knee); JJ Quinerly (out, season ending knee).

 

History between them: Dallas has won both meetings this season (both at Mohegan Sun Arena), but the Sun swept the season series 3-0 last season, including putting up 109 points (the same they allowed in May) in a 109-91 win in Dallas on August 16, but the Sun barely beat the Wings 74-72 at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 31, 2024 as Arike Ogunbowale scored 21 points. Overall, the Sun led the series 41-31.

What to look for: I mean, if Bueckers doesn’t play, the Sun don’t have many excuses, although people like Maddy Siegrist are playing to be included in the Wings’ future. Siegrist is averaging 12.1 points per game this season, hitting double figures in her last six, including 22 against Indiana and 23 against Las Vegas. The Sun should defend her accordingly, and also know Luisa Geiselsoder is shooting 34% from behind the arc at a pretty high volume. Dallas did only have three turnovers against Golden State.

At the other end, Dallas has actually done a decent job of forcing turnovers this season (a lot of that is Bueckers), but has the worst field goal defense in the league, although the Sun still have the worst two-point defense. But with the current makeup of Dallas, there aren’t much in the way of excuses for the Sun to have a good offensive night, except maybe that they’re due to have a bad one with how they’ve played recently.

Key players:  Connecticut: Saniya Rivers - I mentioned she had a rough night Monday that included a technical against New York, but this should be a good matchup for her, and allow her to get to the rim against almost anyone the Wings are going to match up with her. Her outside shot has shown confidence as well, and if she can get both of those going, along with her transition game, it could be a big night.

Dallas: Diamond Miller - With all of Dallas’ injuries, you would think Miller would get more minutes, but she only played 11 against Golden State. If Bueckers is out or even limited, it could unleash Miller, who is capable of a big performance. She was the second overall pick in the WNBA Draft just two years ago, after all.

Advanced stat:  1.101 - Points per possession Connecticut is now allowing this season, which has moved them up to 10th overall, ahead of Dallas, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Tactical spotlight: Dallas has been decent at defending in the paint, but pretty brutal at getting out on shooters, which could be a problem for the Sun if they are cold. However, Rachid Meziane has been good about running DHO action to get Lacan and Rivers (and a little of Aneesah Morrow) downhill and to the rim. The passing from the rookies has not been perfect, but it’s getting better, especially Lacan.

With Dallas limited, they have no choice but to run pick and pop action for Geiselsoder, Siegrist, and Grace Berger, and those actions should not fool Connecticut, who needs to make those players attack the rim. Berger and Siegrist have had some success in that realm, but more than half of Geiselsoder’s shot attempts have been from behind the three-point arc. Siegrist boasts a miniscule turnover rate of 3.6%, so we’ll see how many she has against Connecticut’s pressure.

Inside the numbers: 29 - Age of Myisha Hines-Allen, the oldest player on Dallas’ roster. They are obviously rebuilding, but we’ll see which way they go after the season.

Prediction: 88-78 Connecticut