Dallas clinches playoff berth behind Mabrey’s career-high 31

Aug 8, 2022, 7:23 AM | Updated: 7:27 pm

Dallas Wings center Teaira McCowan (7) shoots as she is defended by New York Liberty center Stefanie Dolson (31) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. (Michael Ainsworth/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

(Michael Ainsworth/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, front left, and center Stefanie Dolson (31) defend against Dallas Wings guard Allisha Gray (15) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. (Michael Ainsworth/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

New York Liberty's Marine Johannes, left, passes the ball while on her back in front of Dallas Wings guard Allisha Gray (15) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. (Michael Ainsworth/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello directs her team as they play against the Dallas Wings during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. (Michael Ainsworth/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

Dallas Wings forward Isabelle Harrison (20) has the ball taken by New York Liberty's Crystal Dangerfield (3) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. (Michael Ainsworth/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

Dallas Wings forward Kayla Thornton, second from left, steals the ball from New York Liberty forward Michaela Onyenwere (12) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. (Michael Ainsworth/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Marina Mabrey scored a career-high 31 points, Teaira McCowan had 16 points and nine rebounds, and the Dallas Wings beat the New York Liberty 86-77 on Monday night to clinch a playoff berth.

Dallas (17-16), which has won five straight games for the first time since the 2018 season, can clinch the sixth playoff spot with a win over the Liberty on Wednesday.

New York (13-20) fell a game behind Phoenix for the final playoff spot despite an incredible second half by Sabrina Ionescu. She scored 32 points for New York, one shy of tying her career-high. Ionescu scored 18 of her points in the third quarter, including a four-point possession with a three-point play and a technical free throw.

Mabrey scored the first four points of the fourth quarter for a 67-64 lead and Dallas never looked back. Mabrey’s third 3-pointer of the game, to set a career-high for points, gave Dallas a 79-71 lead.

Allisha Gray added 18 points for Dallas. McCowan had her string of five straight double-doubles snapped and Arike Ogunbowale did not play due to an abdominal injury suffered on Saturday.

Marine Johannes scored 13 of her 19 points in the second quarter for New York (13-20). Ionescu made all 12 of New York’s free-throw attempts and reached 30 points for the fifth time this season.

Ionescu passed Teresa Weatherspoon for the Liberty’s single-season record with 208 assists. Ionescu is the first WNBA player to eclipse 500 points, 200 rebounds and 200 assists in a season.

New York trailed 24-13 in the first quarter after starting 3 for 16 from the field, and Dallas led 44-38 at halftime after Gray hit a 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left.

___

More AP women’s basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE - Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago