The Dallas Wings are 16-14, the 4th seed in the WNBA, and the only team in the league that’s beaten the Aces, Liberty, and Sun.
While the record is similar to last season’s team, this year has a different air about it in Dallas. Satou Sabally has broken out as a consistent, healthy, star power. Arike Ogunbowale is an electric force and likely All-WNBA candidate who gives the Wings their lift. Natasha Howard has been vital as a two-way star in her first year in Texas.
Fourth-year guard and 2020 Rookie of the Year, Crystal Dangerfield, ties things together for the Wings, providing a stalwart and veteran presence beyond her years.
Playing point guard at the professional level is an almighty balancing act; score enough to be a threat, but don’t be so aggressive that you bog down the offense. But, don’t be so pass first that the defense doesn’t worry about you. Oh, and be able to be a threat without the ball too.
Crystal Dangerfield is in a groove! 💪@DallasWings | #VoltUp | 📺: BSSW Extra pic.twitter.com/G2RiGtcKVy
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) August 13, 2023
Dangerfield excels at toeing the line for Dallas, initiating sets and then flowing off the ball, excelling as a cutter, getting teammates touches in their spots at the right time. She’s crafted herself into one of the finest mid-range players in the league, fourth in the W in efficiency on off the dribble two-pointers amongst high-volume players (two or more attempts per game), shooting 46.3% on pull-ups per Synergy Sports.
She’s starring in her role, noteworthy given how much of her role is derived from stabilizing the team.
“You know, I’ve failed somedays,” says Dangerfield with a laugh.
“And other days, I’ve handled it the best I could, but I think that’s the beauty of what we do here. You get to come back another day and try again. Right now, that’s my job, figuring out how we can get another win coming in tomorrow.”
Her role was up and down and inconsistent after her rookie season, making it difficult to find comfortability on the court. She categorizes herself as a free-flowing player, which is evident if you’ve seen her play from the youth scene on up; that changed up after her rookie year.
Outside forces impacted her play and mindset. She felt robotic and hesitant. She didn’t have the same scoring aggression. After a circuitous route that wound up with her signing multiple hardship contracts with the Liberty in the middle of last season, and then a rest-of-season contract, she found some footing again on the court.
“I was questioning myself and that’s not how I play,” Dangerfield said. “That’s not how I’m ever going to be successful out here on this floor.”
Then in the off-season, Dangerfield was involved in the four-team trade that sent former MVP Jonquel Jones to New York, moved to Dallas alongside Natasha Howard.
She was immediately excited at a new opportunity. She didn’t have much connection to the team outside of Howard, but Arike reached out: “Let’s get to work.”
Dallas signed Dangerfield to a multi-year contract in early February, and first-year Head Coach Latricia Trammell was in her ear shortly after the agreement. She wanted to get to know her new point guard, establish a connection, and let her know that she was there for her however she could be on and off the court.
“She’s been like that since day one, genuine,” Dangerfield said. “I really appreciate that, because when you’re a young player, you want to build as many genuine relationships as possible. Especially being a point guard, you want to have a good one with your head coach.”
It was a new team to Dangerfield, and many on the roster, but communication has been open and honest between staff and players since both came together. Roles were clearly defined, as was how success would come for the group this season.
Trammell and Dangerfield watch film together routinely, something that matters a lot to Dangerfield, who refines herself constantly through rewatching her own games, learning by watching others, and scouring opponents’ tape to get a better understanding of how they play.
CD 🤝 🦄 pic.twitter.com/YeECo0QbsS
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) August 13, 2023
She’s enjoying perhaps the best passing season of her young career, no surprise considering that was a primary focus for her in the off-season and at present.
“I try to slow down and really pay attention to the angles, tell my teammates “put your hand here”, flat-out going up and asking them, ‘Where do you want it?'” Dangerfield said. “Because, I know that’s a really big responsibility and I’ve got great scorers around me… Seeing the spots where we can get them the ball to get easy baskets, that’s half the battle right there.”
Lineups featuring Dangerfield, Ogunbowale, and Sabally are beating opponents by 7.3 points per 100 possessions per PBP Stats, including a 112 offensive rating (slightly above the New York Liberty’s 2nd ranked offense). She’s assisted Ogunbowale more than anyone on the team, which is vital considering how the Wings empower so many different players to initiate the offense.
Being able to thrive on and off the ball while still bringing lead guard skills to Dallas has been massive for keeping the offense humming and connected.
Crystal feels comfortable on court again, the word she’d use to most describe her season. She’s embracing the never-too-high, never-too-low mentality that Trammell and this Wings’ team has adopted and reinforced.
She feels free and in the flow. She makes it clear as well, that there’s another level she can get to.
“There have been a number of games this season where that’s the kind of Crystal that people get to see again,” Dangerfield said. “And that’s the kind of Crystal that deserves to be in this league and is successful in this league.”
