The 2024 WNBA season wasn’t very type to the Dallas Wings. They completed the yr with a 9-31 report, only one victory greater than the league-worst Los Angeles Sparks.
On account of their lack of success, Dallas went via an entire rebuild in the course of the offseason. They cleaned out their administration, introduced in a brand new basic supervisor in Curt Miller and employed Chris Koclanes as their new head coach.
Then, some of the important moments in current WNBA historical past occurred when the Wings gained the 2025 draft lottery, guaranteeing them the chance to draft generational expertise Paige Bueckers. Miller, understandably, was ecstatic at that chance when he heard the information.
The Wings didn’t complicate issues and drafted Bueckers No. 1 total. Now, her period in Dallas will start.
Enter Paige Bueckers
With coaching camp underway, Bueckers is rapidly assimilating to Texas life. She was rocking the cowboy hat throughout her introduction to the franchise, and the one factor brighter than her future within the WNBA is the infectious vitality she brings to the group.
Bueckers isn’t simply sizzle, she’s the steak. She averaged 19.9 factors, 4.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds in her ultimate yr at UConn, serving to them win the nationwide title.
It’s that degree of play and limitless potential that has Miller saying she might be a 50/40/90 participant within the WNBA. That will require her to shoot 50 % from the sector, 40 % from deep and 90 % from the charity stripe.
Whether or not she will get to these numbers or not, precedence numbers one, two and three for the Wings shall be to develop Bueckers and get her used to WNBA play. However, that begs one query…
How does Arike Ogunbowale match?
Rivalry gained’t occur in a single day for the Wings. Final yr, the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark didn’t make it out of the primary spherical of the playoffs, and the Chicago Sky couldn’t attain the playoffs, regardless of a robust season from rookie Angel Reese.
Dallas shall be rebuilding whereas additionally making an attempt to win video games. Bueckers is perhaps a very powerful participant on the roster, however she nonetheless may not be the most effective. They’ve a famous person guard in Arike Ogunbowale, and he or she’s nonetheless one of many high gamers within the WNBA.
Final yr, she averaged 22.2 factors, 5.1 assists and 4.6 rebounds. Dallas wasn’t in lots of high-stakes video games, however every time Arike obtained an opportunity to showcase her means, she did. Within the 2024 WNBA All-Star recreation, she torched Crew USA, scoring 34 factors, shelling out six assists and successful the sport 117-109.
She gained her second WNBA All-Star MVP award, and Dallas named August 28 “Arike Ogunbowale Day” resulting from her efficiency.
So, how will the Wings mix her expertise with that of Bueckers? On the one hand, it’s an thrilling proposition. Alternatively, you must handle egos and construct chemistry, all whereas making an attempt to construct for the long run and win within the current. These are arduous and complex issues to handle concurrently.
If Dallas can determine the way to get this dynamic “Parike” duo clicking, this yr won’t solely be successful by way of participant improvement, however the group may also rack up wins. If not, issues might be irritating for the Wings.
No matter the way it goes, the Wings shall be a group each WNBA fan wants to observe. You’ve gotten star energy, the thriller of how good Bueckers shall be and with so many gifted groups to compete in opposition to, it’ll be enjoyable to see how Dallas figures this all out.
They won’t contend, however the Wings gained’t be boring in 2025 and past.
