Dallas Wings coach Jose Fernandez slams team for its ‘selfishness’

Fernandez has faced criticism for bringing the 2026 first-overall pick, Azzi Fudd, off the bench to start the season. However, as far as he’s concerned, his players should focus less on minutes and more on maximizing whatever time they’re given on the floor.

“Minutes here, minutes there. Whatever minutes [Awak Kuier] gets, with her size, she can protect the basket,” he said. “Correct? So, I don’t know. Whatever minute she gets, or Maddy [Siegrist] gets, or [Alanna Smith] gets, or Fudd gets, just defend. Make use of your minutes, make shots, play the right way.”

Siegrist, who has seen her minutes drop from 27 last season under Koclanes to 14 this year, said in her own presser that she doesn’t know what her role will be moving forward.

“I don’t really know. So, I think you just gotta stay ready. You know, I’ve been in a lot of different roles in my career, whether I was coming off the bench, starting the game. So, just trying to provide a boost, whether that’s scoring, offensive rebounds, just trying to get back in transition, whatever is needed.”

For his part, Fernandez wants his team to focus less on individual roles and more on buying into the team as a collective.

“People can’t be concerned — really, really good teams and championship teams, they don’t care who starts, they don’t care how many minutes they play. They don’t care if the ball’s not going in for them; they can do different things on the defensive end. When we start doing that, and we don’t get in our feelings — because body language never whispers. Championship teams, you play for the guy next to you.

“And it doesn’t matter if the ball’s not going in, you can do so many other things. You can defend, you can share it, you can go get stuff off the glass. When that changes, then you don’t lose these type of games.”

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