On Wednesday, the Dallas Wings launched its new additions of gamers acquired by the 2025 WNBA Draft.
First spherical alternatives guards Paige Bueckers and Aziaha James, second spherical alternatives guard-forward Madison Scott and guard JJ Quinerly, and third spherical choice heart Aaronette Vonleh have 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 proficient draft class, permitting them to study 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 now have a number 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 have been hopeful of touchdown the highest choose to pick Bueckers.
Miller was thrilled to study that the crew gained the draft lottery, given their 22.7% probability of profitable earlier than it passed off in November. He additionally praised Bueckers’ type of play and her impression 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 choose, however within the huge image, on the large choice was [choosing] Paige Bueckers,” Miller stated on the Wings profitable the draft lottery. “So, [that was an] thrilling second.”
Wings Head Into The New Period By 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 file, 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 powerful 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 wish to come and keep in Dallas,” Miller stated. “And thru free company, by trades, we’ve achieved a number of our targets of bringing in nice gamers, however extra importantly, nice folks that different individuals across the league would wish 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 taking part in in 2026 after taking part in at their present enviornment, School 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. Nevertheless, there’s a silver lining: the Wings chosen Paige Bueckers because the primary choose 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 won’t 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 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
Throughout the introductory press convention, Miller expressed his need for Bueckers to turn into a participant who can obtain a 50/40/90 stat mark. He highlighted her outstanding stats and accomplishments from her time with the Huskies, describing her as “one of the embellished and environment friendly gamers in faculty basketball historical past.”
All through her collegiate profession, Bueckers confronted adversity and accidents, culminating in a excessive notice as she led the Huskies to their first Nationwide Championship since 2016.
“Clearly you do not wish to take something without any consideration, 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 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 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 every little thing that is occurred that is been thrown my means. It is hold me humble to not take something without any consideration, and it is simply helped me benefit from the journey and be current in each single second.”
“It hasn’t all the time been fairly, however we have turned it round, and every little thing works for the better 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 means and clutch performances in late-game conditions, is one thing followers will likely be watching carefully. Their on-court chemistry will likely be key as they work to develop their teamwork all through the season.
All through the offseason, Ogunbowale took to social media to precise 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 trying to help her so much, house the ground, get her open appears to be like. 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 high 4 of the standings and gained their first playoff sport since 2008, after they have been nonetheless often known as the Detroit Shock. They superior to the semifinals however have been swept by WNBA Champions, the Las Vegas Aces.
With a revamped roster this season, the Wings purpose to return to the playoffs and proceed constructing their crew momentum and tradition.
“I am simply excited to play on the subsequent stage and be capable to study from such an incredible group of vets and have an incredible crew,” stated Vonleh, who was chosen thirty first total within the 2025 WNBA Draft out of Baylor. “And Dallas is a tremendous 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 entire crew 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 Could 16 when they are going to face the runner-up, the Minnesota Lynx, at house.
