Despite leading in the first half, the Dallas Wings ultimately fell to the Indiana Fever 98-87 on Friday. But while Paige Bueckers’ 29-point effort grabbed plenty of attention, Awak Kuier also made her presence felt on the defensive end. The 6-foot-6 forward finished the night with 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks, while helping keep Indiana’s offense in check for long stretches. Yet, when Jose Fernandez was asked about Kuier’s effort and contribution, the Wings head coach offered a rather vague response.

“She’s got a good opportunity to go to Golden State and rebound and defend and protect the basket,” he said during the post-game press conference.

Now, that response did not sit well with the Dallas fan base, as many questioned why Jose Fernandez appeared to focus on what she could do in the upcoming game rather than acknowledging what she has done for the Wings in recent weeks.

“I’m sorry, he couldn’t think of ONE positive thing to say about her?? Even if he didn’t love her performance, he could’ve simply said he wants her to keep improving & working hard or something 😭 just disrespectful as hell,” one fan wrote on X. “The disrespect towards Awak is very nasty woah 🫩,” another added.

Kuier has seen her role expand significantly since Jessica Shepard suffered a right ankle injury against the Minnesota Lynx on August 9. So with Shepard sidelined, the 24-year-old has finally received the kind of opportunity she had been waiting for, and in this period she has shown why she deserves an even bigger role in Dallas’ rotation.

She scored 14 points in a much-needed win over the Toronto Tempo, and although the Wings came up short against Indiana, her performance on Friday was another example of her defensive impact. Her length and presence around the basket made life hard for the Fever, particularly early in the game.

And that only made Jose Fernandez’s response harder for some fans to understand.

“He’s defended every other frontcourt player, but Awak never gets the same grace. She’s gonna be gone next year, and there goes their defensive anchor 🤷🏽‍♀️,” one fan wrote. “This doesn’t sound like someone who instills confidence in his player at all,” another pointed out.

Awak Kuier’s history with the Wings makes this situation even more interesting. Dallas originally drafted her in 2021, and she spent three seasons with the franchise before returning to Europe. After playing in the EuroLeague, she rejoined the Wings ahead of the 2026 season as Dallas desperately needed a rim protector.

Yet just like during her first stint in Dallas, Kuier’s opportunities have remained limited until an injury opened the door. And that is particularly confusing considering what she has done overseas.

In the 2024-25 EuroLeague season, she averaged 16.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

But rather than seeing the opportunity and turning it into a consistent role, fans are once again left questioning whether the Wings are making the most of her abilities.

“I’m confused bc I thought Awak did a good job at protecting the paint today,” another fan added.

With the Wings fighting to secure their playoff position, Kuier’s emergence could be crucial in this stretch. But for now, Jose Fernandez’s comments have left Dallas fans wondering whether the coaching staff sees the same potential in her that they do.