Daily Briefing — July 17, 2022: Meesseman, Copper lead Sloot-less Sky past Wings

But first, read:

• WNBA.com’s Mark Schindler, in the context of All-Star weekend, considers the media’s role in growing the W while talking to Nneka Ogwumike and Sylvia Fowles

W Roundup

Dallas: I forgot to include this on Friday’s TDB, but wing Allisha Gray will “most likely” be traded this offseason, per Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports TV. Gray is only 27, a top-25 player in the sport, highly scalable on both ends and being paid over $30,000 below a max salary. This is, in no uncertain terms, the kind of deal you would make only if you were trying to tank or sabotage a franchise.

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Watch List, Sunday, June 17

(All times in Eastern, Game Of The Day in bold)

Las Vegas @ Connecticut, 1 p.m., ABC

Minnesota @ Washington, 3 p.m., League Pass/Facebook (Local: Bally Sports North Extra, Monumental/NBC Sports Washington)

Atlanta @ Phoenix, 6 p.m., Amazon Prime video (Local: Bally Sports Southeast, Bally Sports Arizona Extra)

Indiana @ Seattle, 6 p.m., CBS Sports Network (Local: Facebook, FOX13/Amazon Prime video)

Saturday, July 16 recap

Chicago (19-6) beat Dallas (11-14), 89-81. The Sky led by eight after seven minutes, gave up that lead, then led by eight again in the mid-third; the Wings responded with 12-straight points but allowed an 18-6 run for Chicago across the mid-fourth. The Sky shot 7.9 percentage points better overall, but Dallas hit 22.1 better from three and took 13 more free throws; Chicago won the rebounding battle by 16; the teams only committed a combined 15 turnovers; the Sky committed 20 fouls.

Big Emma Meesseman led Chicago with 23 points on 10-for-14 FG, eight rebounds (five offensive) and seven assists against two turnovers; wing Kahleah Copper recorded a 23-point, career-high-14-rebound double-double on 9-for-16 shooting (2-5 3pt.), plus three assists against five fouls in 31 minutes; combo guard Allie Quigley had 16 points on 4-for-10 from the field (1-4 3pt.) and 7-for-7 from the line and five assists.

The Wings were led by wing Marina Mabrey’s season-high-tying 22 points on 8-for-16 shooting (3-5 3pt.), four rebounds and three assists without a turnover; off-ball guard Arike Ogunbowale had 15 points on 4-for-16 from the field (2-5 3pt.) and 5-for-6 from the line and two assists.