Azzi Fudd, Alysha Clark And Jose Fernandez (May 17, 2026)
DHJ Quick Take: Wings Focus on Interior Presence Ahead of Mystics Clash
- Steady Rookie Integration: Azzi Fudd famous that the weekend practices supplied essential on-court reps to construct continuity throughout the offense. She highlighted studying the crew’s play-call terminology as her main every day focus.
- Refining the Matchup Plan: To appropriate lapses from Thursday’s loss, head coach Jose Fernandez Emphasized conserving main defenders matched up on the perimeter. After Minnesota capitalized on cross-matches down the stretch, the structural focus in opposition to Washington is navigating screens cleanly to restrict defensive switches.
- A Family Scouting Report: Having spent final season in Washington, veteran ahead Alysha Clark supplied firsthand perception into the Mystics’ rising stars. Clark praised the event of Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citronwarning that limiting Iriafen inside would require a disciplined, team-wide rebounding effort.
- Veteran Stability: In her management position with a younger roster, Clark is prioritizing educating preparation habits and scouting particulars to youthful teammates, conserving the locker room regular forward of a dense stretch of 4 video games in seven days.
- Re-establishing the Defensive Floor: Following a weekend break up between inner self-correction and heavy Washington preparation, Dallas enters Monday’s homestand finale targeted on containing dribble penetration and eliminating second-chance paint alternatives.
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Wings turned their consideration to the Washington Mystics On Sunday, closing two days of apply at some point earlier than they host Washington within the finale of a three-game homestand.
Dallas is 1-2 after a 90-86 dwelling loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday. head coach Jose Fernandez stated the Wings spent Saturday’s apply on their very own execution earlier than shifting to the Mystics’ scouting report Sunday.
“I thought it was great to be able to get in the gym and practice and worry about things that you can control and work on, and we did that today,” Fernandez stated. “Finding the right balance between how much you can do and how much you can get up and down the floor is important. We did that yesterday and we did that today.”
Fernandez stated the defensive work was easy. He pointed to the publish, the glass and a lane the Wings have left too open.
“Post defense, without a doubt, and the glass,” Fernandez stated. “We’ve also been hurt with dribble penetration, people getting in the lane and straight-line drives, just keeping people in front of us.”
Alysha Clark stated the 2 apply days, uncommon as soon as the season tightens, let the Wings rebuild a defensive commonplace for a roster nonetheless of their first weeks collectively.
“We knew our defense wasn’t great, and there was slippage. People were falling back to whatever baseline they were used to from previous organizations or previous seasons here,” Clark stated. “We wanted to reestablish a new baseline for this group so when stuff hits the fan, we all fall back to the same baseline. We have [four] games in seven days coming up, and you don’t really have time to practice, so you have to build good habits now.”
Azzi Fuddthe No. 1 choose on this yr’s WNBA Draft, stated the apply days gave the crew one thing movie classes can not.
“Just having more time, more reps, and time to actually go up and down and play through things instead of just talking about it,” Fudd stated. “Sometimes it’s hard to just talk about it. You actually have to go live, play through it, and go through those actions with the different lineups you’re going to see on the court.”
Fudd spent 5 seasons at UConn earlier than turning professional. She stated the play calls have been the toughest a part of the transfer.
“I was there for five years, so all of their play calls and defensive calls are ingrained in my brain,” Fudd stated. “We even have a couple plays here with the same calls as UConn, so it takes me a second to realize it’s not the UConn play I’m running. Just making that flip and adjusting on the fly when I hear a call and doing the right read, with time, I’ll get there.”
Fudd stated veterans odyssey sims and Clark have made the adjustment simpler.
“They can see my brain turning. They can see whatever just happened in that play, and they’re going to come to me and correct me, give me advice and tips on what to do and how to navigate things,” Fudd stated. “I’m so fortunate to be on a team with vets and people with experience who are willing to help me.”
Washington involves Arlington at 2-1. The Mystics wanted time beyond regulation to win their final recreation, 104-102 at Indiana. Fernandez stated a precedence is to maintain the ball away from the frontcourt of Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin.
“We’ve really got to fight, and there can’t just be direct entries. They do a good job freeing those guys up,” Fernandez stated. “But the most important thing is if the shot goes up, we can’t give them second and third opportunities, which they do a really good job of creating.”
Fernandez stated slowing Mystics guard Sonia Citron begins with denying her catches in the course of the ground.
“She can’t catch it in the elbow area. You can’t get caught topsiding her because Citron does a good job getting the ball to the elbow and curling around,” Fernandez stated. “You’ve just got to make sure you keep Sonia in front of you, and she can’t get wide-open looks. You can’t let really good players have uncontested shots.”
Fernandez additionally stated he doesn’t need his guards switched onto Washington’s bigs, pointing to Paige Bueckers‘s publish matchups in opposition to Natasha Howard within the Minnesota loss.
“We don’t want her on Natasha Howard or Kiki or Austin. As much as she probably thinks she’s got them bigger and she might, we’ve got to get our guards out of there,” Fernandez stated. “Especially in transition defense, we’ve got to get them out of the paint.”
Clark performed for the Mystics final season alongside Citron and Iriafen. She stated each have constructed on sturdy rookie years.
“They’re playing phenomenally right now, and it’s no surprise,” Clark stated. “Watching them this year, Kiki’s dominating on the boards, and I can see her confidence and where she put that work in during the offseason. Sonia’s poise even last year as a rookie was so impressive to me, and I see it elevated even more this year.”
Clark stated the Mystics’ younger guards will check the Wings for a full recreation.
“They have a lot of really young guards that play hard, and you have to match that energy for the entire game,” Clark stated.
Fernandez stated managing Fudd’s well being and minutes stays a precedence because the rookie will get up to the mark.
The Wings shut their three-game homestand Monday in opposition to the Mystics at College Park Center. Tip-off is about for 7 pm CT on Peacock.
Full interviews beneath.
