On Wednesday, the Dallas Wings launched its new additions of gamers acquired by the 2025 WNBA Draft.
First spherical choices guards Paige Bueckers and Aziaha James, second spherical choices guard-forward Madison Scott and guard JJ Quinerly, and third spherical choice middle Aaronette Vonleh had been launched by normal supervisor Curt Miller and head coach Chris Koclanes.
With the brand new acquisitions, Dallas enhanced the crew by bringing in a gifted draft class, permitting them to study from the veterans and acquire expertise within the league.
“It is all about that connection that we will create,” Miller mentioned Wednesday. “We’ve got lots of vets, however they’re youthful vets. We’re a younger crew, and that steadiness 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’ve got all these nice expertise as nicely.”
On the day of the 2025 WNBA Draft lottery passed off, members of the Dallas Wings group had been hopeful of touchdown the prime choose to pick Bueckers.
Miller was thrilled to study that the crew gained the draft lottery, given their 22.7% probability of successful earlier than it passed off in November. He additionally praised Bueckers’ fashion 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 mentioned, “The ping-pong gods smiled upon us.”
“The large image is we knew what that meant at that second, that we’d have a chance to draft the primary choose, however within the large image, on the large determination was [choosing] Paige Bueckers,” Miller mentioned 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 modifications within the entrance workplace and participant motion following a difficult season. They handled quite a few accidents, resulting in a disappointing 9-31 report, 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 crew’s new normal 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 crew.
Moreover, Dallas strengthened its roster in the course of the offseason by including a robust draft class from this yr’s draft. Even Miller referred to the Wings’ acquisition of this draft class as a “house run.”
“We are attempting to create a player-first atmosphere and appeal to future gamers to need to come and keep in Dallas,” Miller mentioned. “And thru free company, by trades, we’ve got achieved lots of our targets of bringing in nice gamers, however extra importantly, nice those who different individuals across the league would need to play with.”
One yr in the past, the Wings introduced that they might additionally transfer to downtown Dallas in a brand new enviornment, the place they might begin enjoying in 2026 after enjoying at their present enviornment, Faculty Park Heart, for a decade since relocating from Tulsa.
2025 has been difficult for devoted basketball followers in Dallas, primarily as a result of Mavericks’ surprising commerce of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Nonetheless, there’s a silver lining: the Wings chosen Paige Bueckers because the primary choose within the draft, bringing a way of optimism to the town.
“I feel sports activities brings everyone collectively, however I feel the positivity, the momentum, simply look across the constructing,” Miller mentioned. “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 larger time to be a ladies’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
In the course of the introductory press convention, Miller expressed his want for Bueckers to develop into 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 “one of the vital adorned and environment friendly gamers in faculty basketball historical past.”
All through her collegiate profession, Bueckers confronted adversity and accidents, culminating in a excessive observe as she led the Huskies to their first Nationwide Championship since 2016.
“Clearly you do not need to take something as a right, be entitled to something,” Bueckers mentioned. “You need 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 choose, final choose, 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 long run.”
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 mentioned. “It is saved me in a spot the place I have been grateful for all the things that is occurred that is been thrown my method. It is preserve 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 things works for the larger good and simply leaning on his function. 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 in regards to 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 potential and clutch performances in late-game conditions, is one thing followers might be watching carefully. Their on-court chemistry might 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 mentioned on Ogunbowale. “I am seeking to help her lots, area the ground, get her open appears. However I am excited to be with everybody on this crew. 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 crew.”
What Are The Expectations For The Wings This Season?
🤠🤠🤠🤠 pic.twitter.com/ZzYmdP3hY0
— 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, after they had been nonetheless often 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 intention to return to the playoffs and proceed constructing their crew momentum and tradition.
“I am simply excited to play on the subsequent degree and be capable of study from such a terrific group of vets and have a terrific crew,” mentioned 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 mentioned on her expectations as a member of the Dallas Wings group. “Simply being that canine and sponge, studying from my vets. And this complete crew is filled 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 may face the runner-up, the Minnesota Lynx, at house.
