The Future of Dallas in Limbo
How can the Wings have a successful rebuild?
We’re nearing a month into the 2025 WNBA season, and the Dallas Wings look worse than they did last year. This time, a year ago, the Wings were (3-7) with 5 of those 7 losses by single digits. Fast forward to now, the Wings are (1-9) with four of those losses by 10 or more points. Many fans were excited to see the backcourt of Arike Ogunbowale and rookie Paige Bueckers, but so far, the duo has gotten off to a slow start. Bueckers, who has missed the last four games due to concussion symptoms and an illness, is averaging 14 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block per game. Ogunbowale is leading the team in scoring at 16 points per game (a career low) while shooting 36% from the field and 32% from 3 (also both career lows). It’s safe to say that the clock is ticking for Ogunbowale’s time in a Wings uniform.
Not A Quick Fix
In sports, but specifically the WNBA, we’ve seen several franchises turn things around relatively quickly. In 2024, the Phoenix Mercury (19-21), Indiana Fever (20-20), and Seattle Storm (25-15) all made the playoffs after finishing at the bottom of the league in 2023 (Fever finished 13-27, the Storm finished 11-29, and the Mercury finished 9-31). The Fever were able to draft No.1 pick Caitlin Clark to change the outlook of their franchise. The Storm added veterans Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins to turn the ship around. The Phoenix Mercury added veterans Natasha Cloud and Kahleah Copper, two dogs, to get back into the playoffs. While the Wings selected Bueckers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 Draft, it’s becoming clear that the Wings won’t have a one-year turnaround like the three mentioned franchises. Bueckers has shown to be a good addition so far, but it’s clear that there are other problems in Dallas. Let’s take a closer look at the Wings roster and possible ways Dallas can turn things around.
It’s Time for a Change
As the roster is currently constructed, the Wings will have 8 players who are free agents when the season comes to a close. Included in that eight are Ogunbowale and DiJonai Carrington. If I were Dallas, I would look into moving Ogunbowale so that she doesn’t walk for nothing in return. In the past year, we’ve seen several players like Ariel Atkins, Jewell Loyd, and Satou Sabally be moved for draft picks or other players in return. With Ogunbowale’s numbers dropping, the Wings at the bottom of the league, and a new face in town in Bueckers, it makes sense to move on from the four-time All-Star selection. If the Wings choose to move on from Ogunbowale following the season, the 2026 free agency class is loaded with talent. For Bueckers and the Wings to get back to their winning ways, they will need to target a dominant big and add more shooting on the perimeter. The Wings are 9th in three-point field goal percentage (31.9%) and struggle to close out possessions and get stops on the defensive end. When looking at the free agency market, a few names that come to mind that could help the Wings right away are players like Kayla McBride, Brittney Sykes, Alanna Smith, Gabby Williams, and Dearica Hamby. If they don’t address their needs in free agency, the Wings can also look into the Draft. They should have at minimum a top 5 pick, and could even trade Ogunbowale to a team with a high draft pick, similar to the Mystics trading Ariel Atkins to the Chicago Sky for the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 Draft.
Out of the eight players who can become free agents following the season for the Wings, Carrington is the piece they need to bring back. In her second year as a consistent starter, Carrington is averaging 12 points and is still a menace on the defensive end. She’s added toughness, grit, and another scoring option alongside Bueckers and Ogunbowale this season. Having her defensive presence and ability to score when needed will be a valuable asset for the Wings. Dallas ranks 12th in the league in opponents’ fast break points, allowing 14 fastbreak points per game. With Carrington in the backcourt setting the defensive intensity on a nightly basis alongside Bueckers is a nice building block moving forward.
That brings us now to five players on the Wings roster who they have rights to, including Bueckers, fellow rookies JJ Quinerly and Aziaha James, as well as third-year players Lou Lopez Senechal (sitting out this season), and Maddy Siegrist. With a bigger role, Siegrist has continued to improve her game in her three seasons in Dallas and looks to be a formidable piece in the Wings’ rotation. James and Quinerly have each shown flashes in limited play and are expected to see their minutes rise with the season-ending injury to Ty Harris. As we look forward to next season, both will hope to make the roster again and be valuable pieces off of the bench.
The New Regime
It is only fair to highlight that the Dallas Wings have a new front office led by Curt Miller and a new head coach in Chris Koclanes. Similar to several other teams around the league, there’s a new sheriff in town in Dallas under Koclanes. Players learning a new system while also trying to gel with new faces on the floor can be a reason why the team is struggling in the first month of the season. On the defensive end under Koclanes the Wings rank 11th in opponents points per game (88.1), 11th in opponents field goal percentage (46.3%), 11th in defensive rebounds (24.4), 9th in opponents points off turnovers (16.2), and 9th in opponents points in the paint (35.6), all signs that the low post play has to be better moving forward. Koclanes, who served as the defensive coordinator under Miller with the Los Angeles Sparks and is known for his ability to scout opponents and put together a defensive strategy, is not living up to his calling card. If Koclanes hopes to stick as the Head Coach in Dallas, it will have to start on the defensive end, getting stops and closing out possessions.
Big Picture
The Wings 2025 season is already cooked, and we’re just a month in. It’s time to think about the future and what that looks like, led by Bueckers. Dallas currently has the highest odds for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, and with Ogunbowale set to be a free agent, they should consider trading her for another high draft pick or a player in return. The true rebuild will begin once Ogunbowale is off the Wings roster. As we look forward to building around Bueckers, bringing back Carrington should be a top priority, as well as finding a dominant big and perimeter shooters through free agency and the draft. On the court, Koclanes has to find the personnel to defend at a high level and execute his brand of basketball. He has to be able to have a squad that can show how much of a defensive guru he truly is; if not, his time in Dallas will be coming to a close sooner than he hopes.
Do you think the Wings should move on from Ogunbowale? Is Koclanes the right person to lead the squad? What do you think the Wings should do in free agency and the draft? As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments!