Appropriately perched atop the WNBA’s offensive rebounding leaderboards in two of the last three years, the Dallas Wings used their 2024 season opener to introduce a player capable of helping them fly high in that statistic once again. Healthy and ready to make an immediate impact in her long-awaited debut, Stephanie Soares positions herself near the rim, joining a crowded fray of both teammates and opponents in the hunt for a loose ball. Blending swift reflexes with a powerful move to match, Soares snags the basketball as soon as it enters her vicinity before barreling into the paint and banking it off the glass through traffic. A heartfelt redemption story given her long road back from injury, the former 2023 No. 4 pick helped the Wings soar their way into 60 points in the paint, en route to an eight-point home victory over the Chicago Sky on May 15, 2024. Playing an important role among the Wings’ second unit, Soares contributed four points, three rebounds, and a perfect two-of-two from the field in eight minutes. · May 16, 2024