On the 29th, Wings Preview: Can Li Yuanyuan bounce back in a back-to-back? Will Paige return to help the team out of trouble?

On July 29th at 8 AM Beijing time, the Dallas Wings will host the New York Liberty, marking the second game of their back-to-back. In the first game of the back-to-back on the 28th, the Wings suffered a heavy defeat against the Aces, losing 80-106. The top pick Paige sat out, and Li Yuanyuan had her worst performance so far, shooting 1 for 7 and scoring only 4 points. As they face the Liberty next, Paige is expected to return; can Li Yuanyuan achieve a turnaround?

In the 14 games since joining the Wings, Li Yuanyuan has averaged 8.1 points and 6.8 rebounds, showing a significant improvement compared to her time with the Storm (2.8 points and 1.6 rebounds). However, in the last two games, her offensive form has been poor, scoring only 4 points in each game, with a combined shooting of 2 for 11. The Wings have also struggled recently, losing 6 of their last 7 games, with their only win being a 24-point victory over Li Yuanyuan's former team, the Storm.

Paige is the Wings' leading scorer (averaging 18.1 points) and assist leader (averaging 5.6 assists). Due to the back-to-back games, the Wings' coach decided to rest Paige in the first game against the Aces, and she is expected to return for the second game against the Liberty.

In the loss to the Aces, the Wings' defense collapsed, allowing their opponents to score 106 points, which is the highest single-game score for the Aces this season. Facing a stronger opponent in the Liberty will not be easy for the Wings to secure a win. The Liberty currently have a record of 17 wins and 7 losses, ranking second in the league. After starting the season with a 9-game winning streak, their recent form has declined, going 8 wins and 7 losses in the last 15 games.

The Liberty's 7-time All-Star Stewart is expected to miss the game against the Wings due to injury; she is the team's leading rebounder (6.5 rebounds) and shot-blocker (1.4 blocks). However, they still have Ionescu, who contributes an average of 19.3 points and 1.5 steals per game, making her the team's leading scorer and thief.

The Wings have lost 6 of their last 7 games, currently standing at 7 wins and 19 losses, ranking second to last in the league. After the loss to the Aces, the Wings' coach discussed how to break free from their struggles, stating, "First and foremost, it's about defense... Offensively, we occasionally show great performances, but we need to be more consistent on both ends. What we need to be clear about is that we must create opportunities for ourselves defensively every night. Right now, that's not the case... First and foremost, it's about defense."