The Dallas Wings are optimistic about the upcoming 2026 WNBA season, fueled by the talents of Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd. The team's management is hopeful that this trio can lead them to success after years of instability.
Key points
Dallas Wings optimistic for 2026 WNBA season
Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd are key players
Team management is hopeful for success
High spirits and competitive atmosphere at practice
The Wings were shooting 3-pointers in two groups at the end of practice. Players in each group were supposed to be counting their collective streak of shots made, but Bueckers turned the group challenge into an individual contest.
When Dallas center Li Yueru missed a shot and collapsed on the court in exaggerated dejection, Bueckers stuck out her tongue, hooked her thumbs inside her Wings practice jersey and skipped backward in celebration.
Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 pick in Aprilâs WNBA draft who is Bueckersâ former UConn teammate, glanced over from where she was shooting on the opposite basket. Accustomed to Bueckersâ antics, Fudd smiled and returned to her own shooting line.
On the sideline, the Wingsâ brain trust â CEO and managing partner Greg Bibb, general manager Curt Miller and first-year head coach Jose Fernandez â laughed together. Spirits in the gym were high, equaling the optimism the Wings might be on track to contend following years of instability. The start of a new season means a clean slate.
âItâs kind of âfirst day of schoolâ feeling,â Bibb said.
The Wings needed a reset after they tied for the leagueâs worst record last season. Now, with Fernandez guiding a retooled roster highlighted by a pair of No. 1 picks in Fudd and Bueckers, the Wings are hoping to get their rebuild off the ground and return to the playoffs.
The franchise won three WNBA championships as the Detroit Shock in 2003, 2006 and 2008, but hasnât won a title since relocating, first to Tulsa in 2010, and then Dallas in 2016. The Wings have made the playoffs six times in the past 16 season but missed the postseason in 2024 and 2025, a period defined by coach and player turnover.
Q&A
What impact will Paige Bueckers have on the Dallas Wings in 2026?
Paige Bueckers is expected to significantly enhance the Wings' performance and competitiveness in the 2026 WNBA season.
Who are the key players for the Dallas Wings in the 2026 season?
The key players for the Dallas Wings in the 2026 season include Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and Li Yueru.
What are the Dallas Wings' expectations for the 2026 WNBA season?
The Dallas Wings aim to contend for a championship in the 2026 WNBA season, marking a turnaround after years of instability.
How did Azzi Fudd perform during practice with the Dallas Wings?
During practice, Azzi Fudd showcased her skills while maintaining a positive rapport with her former UConn teammate, Paige Bueckers.
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2000: Ann Wauters, Cleveland Rockers (USV Olympic, France)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
1999: Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington Mystics (Tennessee)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
1998: Margo Dydek, Utah Starzz (Fota Porta Gdynia, Poland)
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WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
1997: Tina Thompson, Houston Comets (Southern California)
The Wings made it to the WNBA semifinals, where they lost to the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces, three seasons ago. But the next season, Dallas was hit hard by injuries to multiple players including Satou Sabally, the franchiseâs No. 2 overall pick in 2020. The Wings went 9-31 and fired coach Latricia Trammell at the end of the 2024 season.
âThe train kind of came off the track,â Bibb said.
Dallas hired Miller, who had previous WNBA head coach and GM experience, to rebuild. The Wings started the 2025 season with Bueckers as the new face of the franchise and Millerâs hire, Chris Koclanes, as first-time head coach. Despite Bueckersâ Rookie of the Year campaign, the Wings won 10 games and fired Koclanes.
âIt was tough mentally, just to be in a different space,â Bueckers said, âgoing from the highs of the highs (winning the 2025 NCAA title with UConn) and then going to a losing season. But just to remain consistent and disciplined in who I am and how I go about my process, and knowing that if I continue to stick with it the right way, the results will come.â
Dallas Wings guards Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers played together at UConn.
Dallas Wings guards Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers played together at UConn.
The Wings made an immediate splash this offseason by drafting Fudd and signed reigning co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith and frontcourt standout Jessica Shepard to multi-year deals in free agency. Dallas also brought back forward Awak Kuier and franchise cornerstone guard Arike Ogunbowale, who enters her eighth season with the Wings prepared for more change â the positive kind.
âDefinitely a come-up,â Ogunbowale said of the teamâs trajectory. âEven from last year, a lot of stuff is like night and day. Itâs just evolving and the organization is really pouring into us and Iâve been seeing that these past couple years. Skyâs the limit, honestly.â
Dallas Wings eye playoffs with roster 'hungry for success'
While Bueckers had a busy WNBA offseason jet-setting around the world and working on her game, she was also working the phones.
She and Ogunbowale teamed up to pitch multiple players, including Shepard and Smith, on joining the Wings.
âI was probably blowing their phone up a little more than they wouldâve liked, but just to stay in constant communication,â Bueckers said. âTalked to them at Unrivaled, talked to them through USA Basketball and competing there. But definitely was heavy on the communication side.â
Bueckers and Ogunbowale also talked to each other about their budding partnership in Dallas and how much they wanted to win together.
âLast year a lot of things happened through trades, but this is like, people wanted to be here,â Ogunbowale said. âYou can tell everybody wants to be here. Theyâre hungry for success.â
Ogunbowale, the Wingsâ all-time scoring leader, was an unrestricted free agent this offseason but chose to return to Dallas on a discounted contract. Before Ogunbowale led Notre Dame to the NCAA title in 2018, the Fighting Irish had won one national championship in womenâs basketball. She relishes the opportunity to rewrite a narrative.
âI like to be one of the first, one of the ones that paved the way,â Ogunbowale said. âA lot of people, obviously, have left Dallas. That couldâve been a route I took, but I like the hard way. I like to work for greatness, so hopefully we can do that under Jose.â
Guard Arike Ogunbowale is a cornerstone of the Dallas Wings' franchise.
Guard Arike Ogunbowale is a cornerstone of the Dallas Wings' franchise.
Fernandez previously coached for 25 years at South Florida, where he amassed a .605 winning percentage and became the programâs all-time winningest head coach. Under his leadership, USF appeared in 10 NCAA Tournaments and produced seven WNBA draft picks. Fernandez also served as an assistant coach for USA Basketballâs junior national teams.
Miller said he thought the Wings would benefit from Fernandezâs head coaching experience and no-nonsense leadership style. Ogunbowale described Fernandez as a âmastermindâ of Xâs and Oâs, while Smith and Fudd appreciate Fernandez balancing fun and demanding accountability.
Bueckers drew similarities between Fernandez and her former college coach, Geno Auriemma.
âTheyâre both tough-nosed, old-school coaches that hold you accountable and bring the best out of you,â Bueckers said.
When it came to roster construction, Miller said the Wings prioritized improving overall depth, bolstering post presence and addressing the teamâs lack of 3-point shooting.
Fernandez installed an up-tempo style predicated on ball and player movement, floor spacing and versatility at every position. Shepard and Smith are respected defenders who anchor the frontcourt, with Kuier and Yeuru providing formidable size on the interior.
In the backcourt, Ogunbowale and Bueckers are high-volume scorers and mid-range savants who benefit from having Fudd as a release valve on the perimeter. Maddy Siegrist and Aziaha James add guard depth off the bench.
This year's No. 1 draft pick was a crucial piece of the puzzle. Dallas coaches and executives relied on a three-pronged, âEyes, ears and numbersâ approach to evaluate prospects. They traveled to watch Spanish prospect Awa Fam, TCU guard Olivia Miles and UCLA center Lauren Betts multiple times but quickly zeroed in on Fudd.
âEverything always kept coming back to Azzi,â Miller said. âNot only on the court, with her archetype of how unselfish she is, how incredible a shooter and her shooting release, her movement off the ball â on top of being a great human and being a great teammate and the type of character we want in the locker room, it made it the obvious choice as the No. 1 pick.â
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Azzi Fudd who was selected first overall by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards.
Azzi Fudd (R) of UConn hugs WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the 1st pick in the first round by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
Azzi Fudd of UConn celebrates after being selected with the 1st pick in the first round by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Olivia Miles who was selected second overall by the Minnesota Lynx during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards.
Olivia Miles of TCU celebrates after being selected with the 2nd pick in the first round by the Minnesota Lynx.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Awa Fam Thiam who was selected third overall by the Seattle Storm.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Lauren Betts who was selected fourth overall by the Washington Mystics.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (right) poses for photos with Gabriela Jaquez who was selected fifth overall by the Chicago Sky.
(L-R) Azzi Fudd of UConn and Cotie McMahon of Ole Miss pose prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
(L-R) Angela Dugalic of UCLA, Kiki Rice of UCLA, Gianna Kneepkens of UCLA, Lauren Betts of UCLA and Gabriela Jaquez of UCLA during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
(L-R) Awa Fam Thiam of Spain and Nell Angloma of France pose prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft.
Raven Johnson of South Carolina, left, Madina Okot of Kenya, center, and TaĂNiya Latson of South Carolina pose prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
2026 WNBA Draft prospects pose for a group photo before the event at The Shed at Hudson Yards in NYC on April 13, 2026.
2026 WNBA Draft prospects pose for a group photo before the event at The Shed at Hudson Yards in NYC on April 13, 2026.
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Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Azzi Fudd who was selected first overall by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards.
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Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Azzi Fudd who was selected first overall by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards.
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Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
Azzi Fudd (R) of UConn hugs WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the 1st pick in the first round by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
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Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
Azzi Fudd of UConn celebrates after being selected with the 1st pick in the first round by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
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Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Olivia Miles who was selected second overall by the Minnesota Lynx during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards.
5 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
Olivia Miles of TCU celebrates after being selected with the 2nd pick in the first round by the Minnesota Lynx.
6 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Awa Fam Thiam who was selected third overall by the Seattle Storm.
7 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Lauren Betts who was selected fourth overall by the Washington Mystics.
8 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (right) poses for photos with Gabriela Jaquez who was selected fifth overall by the Chicago Sky.
9 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
(L-R) Azzi Fudd of UConn and Cotie McMahon of Ole Miss pose prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
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Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
(L-R) Angela Dugalic of UCLA, Kiki Rice of UCLA, Gianna Kneepkens of UCLA, Lauren Betts of UCLA and Gabriela Jaquez of UCLA during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
11 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
(L-R) Awa Fam Thiam of Spain and Nell Angloma of France pose prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft.
12 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
Raven Johnson of South Carolina, left, Madina Okot of Kenya, center, and TaĂNiya Latson of South Carolina pose prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
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Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
2026 WNBA Draft prospects pose for a group photo before the event at The Shed at Hudson Yards in NYC on April 13, 2026.
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Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
2026 WNBA Draft prospects pose for a group photo before the event at The Shed at Hudson Yards in NYC on April 13, 2026.
At the end of the 2025 season, Dallas was the youngest team in the WNBA. Miller said the Wings wanted to add veteran players who could complement the young core without sacrificing chemistry cultivated last season. Besides Smith and Shepard, the Wings signed three-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark and 12-year WNBA guard Odyssey Sims, who was originally drafted by the franchise No. 2 overall in 2014.
Fudd said the Wingsâ veteran players have helped her transition to the pros.
âHaving vets on the team that are vocal, experienced, willing to pull me aside and just tell me what they see without me having to ask for it, is incredible,â Fudd said. âThey can see the wheels in my brain turning. Theyâre like, âOK, do this, do that. I see this.â But just having people who have been around the game longer than you, know the game better than you, itâs always gonna help.â
Challenges remain. The Wings must figure out how to minimize turnovers within their fast-paced offense, and how Bueckers, Fudd and Ogunbowale will share touches. The defensive connectivity also needs work.
To facilitate team bonding during the short preseason, Wings players shared a meal, went to a movie and line danced together. And though there are still kinks to work out, players are beginning to click.
âWe all have come from different paths in life, in basketball, and so we all have value to bring and I think what we do really well is that we respect what everyone has to say, we listen and we try and put it into action,â Smith said. âThe end goal is to win a championship and we have the pieces to do that.â
Wings making strides on and off the court
The Wingsâ chance at reinvention coincides with the WNBAâs period of accelerated growth. The 2025 WNBA season set ESPN viewership records as the most watched in history. In March, the league ratified a landmark CBA that led to several players â including Ogunbowale â earning $1 million or more and later secured a long-term media rights deal with CBS Sports.
In Dallas, excitement abounds for the basketball and business. The Wingsâ social media following skyrocketed last season after drafting Bueckers and again this spring with Fudd. The Wings sold out of season ticket memberships in 2026 for the third season in a row. Bibb said the team saw a 411% increase in local viewership from 2024 to 2025 and expects another jump.
The Wings also landed sponsorships for the 2026 season with three Fortune 500 companies: CVS, Geico and Kroger. Fuddâs preexisting relationship with Geico opened the door for the Wings to make a deal, an example of how the team can capitalize on the marketability of its star players with companies and fans.
At the same time, assembling a dynamite roster fans want to watch means little if players donât want to stay. The Wings have invested heavily in improving player experience. Dallasâ basketball operations department nearly doubled in size between 2024 and 2026, which included adding performance and medical staff at Millerâs request. Assistant general manager Jasmine Thomas, a 13-year WNBA veteran, is specifically focused on supporting players off the court and preparing them for careers after basketball.
The Wingsâ biggest selling point to free agents is yet to come. The team is planning to move from the College Park Center, an arena it currently shares with UT Arlington, into a new practice facility in 2027 and arena in downtown Dallas in 2028.
âFor those of us that have been around for a long time, we never really had our own locker room,â Clark said. âSo to be able to be in a space where you feel settled, where it feels like home, where you feel comfortable and you can come work whenever you want to come work, itâs crucial.â
Clark, 38, is the oldest active WNBA player and the only current Wings player to win a championship. She won in 2018 and 2020 with Seattle and 2023 with Las Vegas. She said every championship team must have common ingredients.
âFirst and foremost, accountability from top down,â Clark said. âAnd then just camaraderie. Thatâs one of the keys thatâs underestimated when it comes to championship teams. When I look back across the three that Iâve been a part of, we thoroughly just enjoy being around each other. We have really great humans in the locker room and thatâs something thatâs here as well.â
If WNBA history is any indication, the Wings are on a favorable path. Every franchise that has drafted No. 1 picks in consecutive years, and kept those players, has won a championship within four seasons.
Bibb is putting no such timeline on the Wingsâ rebuild.
âI have not given a charge to the basketball leadership that says, âYou need to be holding a trophy by X day,ââ Bibb said. âThat being said, I will also tell you that they are challenged every day to win basketball games, to be the best that they can be.â
Bibb runs the Wings with three driving principles: generate revenue, win multiple championships and make a positive impact in the community.
âUltimately, in terms of on-court performance, winning the championship is the ultimate goal and as soon as we win one, then weâre going to start focusing on winning two,â Bibb said. âBut thereâs a lot of steps between now and then. Weâre on that path, but weâre early on that path.â
Miller said the Wingsâ goal this season is to get back to the playoffs. He said last season in Dallas and his two seasons as head coach in Los Angeles taught him a valuable lesson: The best teams donât always win; the healthiest teams do.
âA successful season to us looks like a team that remains very unselfish and team-oriented, a locker room thatâs cohesive and has great chemistry, and ultimately, we want to win,â Miller said. âIf we can get to the playoffs it would be a huge step in our process.â
