On Wednesday, the Dallas Wings launched its new additions of gamers acquired via the 2025 WNBA Draft.
First spherical picks guards Paige Bueckers and Aziaha James, second spherical picks guard-forward Madison Scott and guard JJ Quinerly, and third spherical choice middle Aaronette Vonleh had been launched by basic supervisor Curt Miller and head coach Chris Koclanes.
With the brand new acquisitions, Dallas enhanced the workforce by bringing in a gifted draft class, permitting them to be taught from the veterans and achieve expertise within the league.
“It is all about that connection that we are able to create,” Miller stated Wednesday. “We’ve got numerous vets, however they’re youthful vets. We’re a younger workforce, and that stability is thrilling. They’ve all these experiences, and so they’re nonetheless very youthful. We’ll problem the rookies and empower them to be rookies and lean on the vets, and on the identical time, you will have all these nice expertise as effectively.”
On the day of the 2025 WNBA Draft lottery befell, members of the Dallas Wings group had been hopeful of touchdown the highest decide to pick out Bueckers.
Miller was thrilled to be taught that the workforce gained the draft lottery, given their 22.7% likelihood of successful earlier than it befell in November. He additionally praised Bueckers’ type of play and her affect for the UConn Huskies over the previous 5 years regardless of coping with accidents and adversity.
Dallas Wings CEO Greg Bibb stated, “The ping-pong gods smiled upon us.”
“The large image is we knew what that meant at that second, that we might have a possibility to draft the primary decide, however within the large image, on the large choice was [choosing] Paige Bueckers,” Miller stated on the Wings successful the draft lottery. “So, [that was an] thrilling second.”
Wings Head Into The New Period By way of Offseason Acquisitions
All through the offseason, the Dallas Wings skilled adjustments within the entrance workplace and participant motion following a difficult season. They handled quite a few accidents, resulting in a disappointing 9-31 document, which left them ending second-to-last within the league for the 2024 season.
After the season, Dallas changed Latricia Trammell with Koclanes as the brand new head coach and introduced in Miller because the workforce’s new basic supervisor.
The Wings traded ahead Satou Sabally to the Phoenix Mercury and, in return, acquired DiJonai Carrington, Ty Harris, and NaLyssa Smith in a historic four-team commerce in February. This transfer marked the start of a brand new period for the workforce.
Moreover, Dallas strengthened its roster throughout the offseason by including a powerful draft class from this yr’s draft. Even Miller referred to the Wings’ acquisition of this draft class as a “house run.”
“We try to create a player-first setting and entice future gamers to wish to come and keep in Dallas,” Miller stated. “And thru free company, via trades, we’ve got completed numerous our targets of bringing in nice gamers, however extra importantly, nice people who different folks across the league would wish to play with.”
One yr in the past, the Wings introduced that they’d additionally transfer to downtown Dallas in a brand new enviornment, the place they’d begin taking part in in 2026 after taking part in at their present enviornment, Faculty Park Middle, for a decade since relocating from Tulsa.
2025 has been difficult for devoted basketball followers in Dallas, primarily because of the Mavericks’ stunning commerce of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Nonetheless, there’s a silver lining: the Wings chosen Paige Bueckers because the primary decide within the draft, bringing a way of optimism to town.
“I believe sports activities brings everyone collectively, however I believe the positivity, the momentum, simply look across the constructing,” Miller stated. “The thrill that the Wings have proper now. We will not wait to construct on that momentum and construct it with the fanbase within the DFW space. There’s by no means been a better time to be a girls’s basketball fan. Catch the wave, catch the momentum! It is coming.”
The Metropolis Of Dallas Welcomes Paige Bueckers With Open Arms
Official! Paige Bueckers in a Stetson Cowboy hat.
#dallaswings pic.twitter.com/q6d4KXUrYv
— Sam Gannon (@SamGannon87) April 23, 2025
Through the introductory press convention, Miller expressed his want for Bueckers to turn out to be a participant who can obtain a 50/40/90 stat mark. He highlighted her exceptional stats and accomplishments from her time with the Huskies, describing her as “some of the embellished and environment friendly gamers in school basketball historical past.”
All through her collegiate profession, Bueckers confronted adversity and accidents, culminating in a excessive be aware as she led the Huskies to their first Nationwide Championship since 2016.
“Clearly you do not wish to take something as a right, be entitled to something,” Bueckers stated. “You wish to proceed to remain motivated to work to be in that place to get drafted. Simply excited for regardless of the future held, wherever I ended up, first decide, final decide, it did not actually matter to me. However now that we’re right here, we’re within the current, we’re in Dallas, I am tremendous excited for the longer term.”
Bueckers credit her religion for expressing gratitude and for serving to her to be in a state of peace and happiness.
“My religion has actually grounded me,” Bueckers stated. “It is saved me in a spot the place I have been grateful for all the pieces that is occurred that is been thrown my manner. It is maintain me humble to not take something as a right, and it is simply helped me benefit from the journey and be current in each single second.”
“It hasn’t at all times been fairly, however we have turned it round, and all the pieces works for the better good and simply leaning on his goal. For me, leaning on his plan for me, giving up my very own understanding of life has actually helped me simply be in a state of peace and pleasure and gratitude.”
How Will Paige Bueckers Pair With Arike Ogunbowale?
Paige Bueckers talks concerning the pleasure behind teaming up with 4x All-Star Arike Ogunbowale, and embarking on a brand new journey with the @DallasWings franchise
pic.twitter.com/gMQ3oPR2QO
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 23, 2025
Pairing Paige Bueckers with two-time WNBA All-Star MVP and scoring champion Arike Ogunbowale, identified for her scoring capacity and clutch performances in late-game conditions, is one thing followers can be watching intently. Their on-court chemistry can be key as they work to develop their teamwork all through the season.
All through the offseason, Ogunbowale took to social media to specific her pleasure about being Bueckers’ new teammate after the Wings gained the Draft lottery.
“She’s electrical, can rating on all ranges, only a bucket getter,” Bueckers stated on Ogunbowale. “I am seeking to help her so much, area the ground, get her open seems to be. However I am excited to be with everybody on this workforce. We have got some dawgs. I am excited to construct that in camp — construct the eagerness, construct the thrill of a brand new system, a brand new teaching employees, a brand new workforce.”
What Are The Expectations For The Wings This Season?
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) April 23, 2025
Two years in the past, the Dallas Wings completed within the prime 4 of the standings and gained their first playoff sport since 2008, once they had been nonetheless generally known as the Detroit Shock. They superior to the semifinals however had been swept by WNBA Champions, the Las Vegas Aces.
With a revamped roster this season, the Wings goal to return to the playoffs and proceed constructing their workforce momentum and tradition.
“I am simply excited to play on the subsequent degree and be capable to be taught from such an ideal group of vets and have an ideal workforce,” stated Vonleh, who was chosen thirty first total within the 2025 WNBA Draft out of Baylor. “And Dallas is an incredible metropolis, so excited to be right here full time.”
As coaching camp begins league-wide on Sunday, the query is how the Wings’ finalized roster look by the beginning of the common season
“I really feel like my coronary heart,” James stated on her expectations as a member of the Dallas Wings group. “Simply being that canine and sponge, studying from my vets. And this complete workforce is stuffed with canine. I am able to be part of it [and] proceed to see legacy that the Dallas Wings have.”
The Dallas Wings will start their season on Might 16 when they are going to face the runner-up, the Minnesota Lynx, at house.
