By Dorothy J. Gentry
Sports Editor
Photos/Videos: Dorothy J. Gentry
Odyssey Sims, who grew up in Irving, Texas and graduated from MacArthur High
School, was in Paris, France on Monday playing in a basketball tournament.
The 31-year-old unsigned WNBA guard – who last year played with her hometown
Dallas Wings – was a free agent in the offseason and did not sign with a team.
On Wednesday she was back in Dallas, at practice for the Wings who, hours
before, had signed her to a hardship contract in place of an injured player.
Thursday morning she helped lead the Wings to a 94-88 win over the Minnesota
Lynx – and helped the Wings snap an 11-game losing streak.
“I was in Paris when I got the call. Was a little jet lagged coming back but had to
come back and get ready to play and I’m happy we go the win,” said Sims, who is
on her third stint with the Wings. She was drafted second overall in 2014 out of
Baylor University by the Tulsa Shock who moved to Arlington a year later and
changed their name to the Dallas Wings.
“I’m happy to be back, happy, happy to be back, my third time now, but it’s
bittersweet,” she said. “We’re back in the win column so we will try to keep it
going. I will continue to play my part and do what is asked of me.”
Sims was the team’s second leading scorer with 18 pts, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 3
steals. Arike Ogunbowale led the way with 23 points, 4 rebounds and 9 assists.
Teaira McCowan had her sixth double-double of the season with 17 points and 12
rebounds. Monique Billings was also in double digits with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 1
assist and 2 steals.
“It was just a well-rounded game,” said Head Coach Latricia Trammell. “I told
them after the game tough times don’t last but tough people do. This was a great
team effort.
“I told Arike it was probably the best defense I’ve seen her play. Solid, calm in the
storm, knocking down big shots. This young lady (points to Odyssey) was out of
the country and just rolled in and acted like she’s been here with us.
Trammell also gave kudos to Wings center Teaira McCowan and rookie guard Jacy
Sheldon. “She (Teaira) had a great first half to keep us in it with her double-double.
Jacy’s big three at the end…I could go and say something positive about every
player but it was a huge win.”
The Wings were down most of the first quarter but then went on a 13-0 run late in
the second quarter to pull within two points at halftime against the Lynx – who are
13-4 and in third place in the league. That run is what shifted momentum for the
Wings, who have struggled all season with injuries and are currently at the bottom
of the standings with a record of 4-13.
“The defense was clicking,” said Ogunbowale. “We got like three stops in a row
and then we executed on the other end, so it really just started with our defense for
sure. Just picking up the intensity, not folding when times got tough, and we
finished the first half out strong; we cut that 15-point lead to two and we just kept
the momentum from there.”
As for Sims, who was awarded the team’s victory Drip chain, lives off of the old
saying – “staying ready so I don’t have to get ready.”
“I know when the season started, I wasn’t done playing in the league. I’m getting
older but I still have something left in my tank,” Sims said.
“Just being able to self-motivate myself, every day I wake up and go to the gym.
And I have a son. Even if I want to give up, days I get defeated or feel like I’m
defeated, I still have to push through because I have a son that’s looking up to me
to make him proud so just being able to motivate myself and not giving up.”
The Wings travel to Seattle for a two-game stint against the Seattle Storm. Tipoff is
Saturday at 8 p.m. CST with the game airing on Bally Sports Southwest and NBA
TV. The Wings-Storm will meet again less than 48 hours after on Monday night at
9 p.m.
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