The most visible season in WNBA history was not a fun one for the Dallas Wings.
The team slumped to a 9-31 record on the heels of three straight playoff appearances, firing coach Laticia Trammell after the worst season for the franchise by winning percentage since 2011—when they were known as the Tulsa Shock.
However, Sunday provided a light at the end of the tunnel as the Wings won the WNBA draft lottery. In all probability, Dallas will use the pick on highly touted Connecticut guard Paige Bueckers.
In the estimation of future Hall of Fame guard Sue Bird, that potential selection would make the Wings a team to watch right away.
“If Dallas does have Paige because of the No. 1 pick, (guard) Arike (Ogunbowale) who is already there, and they re-sign (forward) Satou (Sabally), that big three will be up there with all the other big threes,” Bird said on her podcast A Touch More With Sue Bird & Megan Rapinoe.
Ogunbowale has been an All-Star each of the last four seasons, while Sabally was the league’s Most Improved Player in 2023 before a shoulder injury cost her most of ’24.
If the stars align for Dallas as Bird suggests, it will have a dangerous squad in 2025 indeed.