Tulsa's Candice Wiggins said playing her first five seasons with Minnesota helped her as a defender. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World
Shock guard Candice Wiggins said playing her first five WNBA seasons with the Minnesota Lynx made her a better defender.
"They have three Olympians - Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen - and I was fortunate enough to go against them in practice," the former Stanford University four-time All-American said.
"You kind of learn how to take on those challenges and take pride in meeting those challenges."
Wiggins has developed into one of the league's top perimeter defenders. She tied for third in a poll of WNBA general managers in that category.
Traded to Tulsa in the offseason, she continues to relish the role.
"She's just a warrior," Shock coach Gary Kloppenburg said. "Every team in this league has that (outside) superstar and she guards every one of them. She's very conscientious in trying to lock 'em down."
Wiggins held Kristi Toliver to 11 points on 5-for-16 shooting in last Sunday's double-overtime loss at the Los Angeles Sparks. She also posted season highs for points (20) and rebounds (eight).
In the improbable win at first-place Minnesota two weeks ago, she paved the way by holding Moore to 14 points on 5-for-14 shooting.
In last Friday's 73-67 home victory over San Antonio, she held the Silver Stars' leading scorer, Jia Perkins, to six points.
Wiggins is hopeful for a repeat Friday when the Silver Stars return to the BOK Center at 7 p.m., tipping off a three-game homestand. The Shock plays host to the New York Liberty on Sunday afternoon and Los Angeles on Sept. 6.
With six games left, Tulsa can ill afford another loss if it hopes to overtake Seattle for the final Western Conference playoff spot.
The Shock may be forced to play Friday without 6-foot-8 Liz Cambage, who rolled her left ankle in the fourth quarter at Los Angeles. San Antonio guard Danielle Robison missed last week's game against the Shock and hasn't played since injuring her right knee at Indiana three nights earlier.
Wiggins, along with her defensive-stopper play, has stepped up her offensive production.
She had four 3-pointers in last week's win over the Silver Stars and has raised her scoring average by a full point over the past 11 games.
"I'm usually looking for the best shot for our team, but I've really gotten more confident with my one-on-one abilities lately," she said.
She wishes it translated into more wins for the young, developing team. The Shock, relying on five first- and second-year players, has lost eight times in the closing seconds of regulation or overtime.
"It's tough that the record doesn't really reflect the season we've had and how good and talented we are," Wiggins said.
"We're still getting to know each other and learning the system. I think next year, with a little continuity, it's going to be great."
Shock schedule practice for Sequoyah's gym
The Shock has scheduled next Tuesday's practice at Tahlequah Sequoyah High School - rookie guard Angel Goodrich's alma mater.
The session will run from noon to 2 p.m. in Sequoyah's arena, The Place Where They Play. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. and there is no admission charge.
Goodrich, who led Sequoyah to three consecutive Class 3A state championships (2005-07), is averaging 4.3 points and 2.8 assists in her first WNBA season.
"Angel is an excellent role model for our students and an inspiration for our student-athletes, especially our girls," Sequoyah athletic director Marcus Crittenden said.
Goodrich played collegiately at the University of Kansas, and finished last season as the school's all-time assist leader.
Chosen 29th overall by the Shock in the 2013 WNBA draft, she is the highest-drafted Native American athlete in league history.
An autograph session for Sequoyah students and drawings for Shock merchandise will follow the practice.
WNBA
Silver Stars at Shock
BOK Center
7 p.m. Friday
Radio: Chrome fm93.5
San Antonio (10-18)
|
|
Ht. |
Pt. |
Rb. |
| F |
Adams |
6-1 |
13.5 |
4.8 |
| C |
Appel |
6-4 |
5.8 |
8.5 |
| G |
Johnson |
5-11 |
10.4 |
4.0 |
| G |
Perkins |
5-8 |
13.4 |
3.2 |
| G |
Whyte |
5-11 |
4.6 |
1.9 |
Tulsa (9-19)
|
|
Ht. |
Pt. |
Rb. |
| F |
Johnson |
6-3 |
15.4 |
9.1 |
| F |
Powell |
6-2 |
7.7 |
4.2 |
| C |
Cambage |
6-8 |
16.3 |
8.3 |
| G |
Goodrich |
5-4 |
4.3 |
2.8* |
| G |
Wiggins |
5-11 |
9.8 |
3.0 |
*assists per game
Notes: Cambage is questionable after injuring her left ankle in the fourth quarter of Sunday's double-overtime loss at Los Angeles. ... Tulsa's Riquna Williams (.402) and Nicole Powell (.388) are sixth and seventh, respectively, in the league in 3-point shooting percentage. ... Over her last six games, Wiggins is shooting 50 percent (12-for-24) on 3s.
Shock up next
Vs. San Antonio 7 p.m. Friday
Mike Brown 918-581-8390
mike.brown@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Wiggins leading defense
Pro W Basketball (WNBA)
9 p.m. Saturday
Basketball Australia manager Tamara Sheppard was in town to meet with Shock officials Thursday and discuss the responsibilities of Australian national players in international competition the next three years.
