Here’s something you might’ve missed in Dallas’ first win. Yes, it was a homecoming for Paige Bueckers in Connecticut, but it was also the first time since college that the last five BIG EAST Player of the Year winners, Bueckers and Maddy Siegrist, shared the floor at Mohegan Sun. This time, not as rivals, but as teammates. Of course, it ended in a W. And of course, we were all a little heartbroken that we didn’t get to see that duo click for longer. But the college rivals turned pro teammates are back. However, Maddy’s return might’ve just come at the cost of Caitlin Clark’s ex-teammate.

For the Dallas Wings, this season has been one long road of injuries, rotation tweaks, and hard decisions. But finally, they’ve got a piece back. One that might just help them turn a corner. After a 17-game, seven-week absence, forward Siegrist is officially available to play in Friday’s matchup against the Indiana Fever. Siegrist had been sidelined since mid-June with an anterolateral tibial plateau fracture. Though ruled out consistently on injury reports, she never quite disappeared from the scene. In recent days, her full participation in the shootaround hinted that her return was imminent. And now, it’s here. But it came with the waiving of Grace Berger, just a day after she made her debut with the team in a win over Seattle.

Signed to a seven-day hardship deal on July 17, Berger clocked 10 minutes off the bench in that game. It marked her first WNBA appearance since her earlier stint this season with the Indiana Fever. Ironically, the very team the Wings will now face next. But the move was less about performance and more about logistics, though.

With Siegrist’s return giving Dallas 11 active players, the most they’ve had since May, they’re no longer eligible for hardship signings. Berger’s second seven-day deal expired July 30, and the Wings had no choice but to clear room. Still, for fans who’ve followed her journey from Indiana to Dallas, it stings a bit. But the Wings fans know what they’re getting back in Siegrist. She brings far more than just depth.

Before her injury, Siegrist was averaging 9.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in 11 games. Her hustle on the offensive glass and ability to drive through lanes made her a critical part of Dallas’ rotation. And now, after spending nearly two months working on her shooting and conditioning, she’s re-entering the fold with something to prove.

Beyond the numbers, there’s another reason her return matters – chemistry with Buckers. Wings coach Chris Koclanes is already sold on what this pairing can become. “Their chemistry, their relationship is budding, and they’re really leaning on each other a lot,” he said. “So [I] just love the energy that they bring — their consistency and their effort, day in and day out, in practice and in the game. So lucky to have both of them.”

But with Siegrist back in the mix, Dallas suddenly has a logjam on the perimeter. Haley Jones has recently carved out a starting role, while DiJonai Carrington continues to thrive off the bench. Throw in Arike Ogunbowale, Bueckers, and now Siegrist, and the Wings have a depth chart that’s full of potential but also difficult decisions. The timing of Siegrist’s return, just days ahead of the WNBA trade deadline on August 7, adds another bit of intrigue. Dallas could now be in a position to make a move, not out of desperation, but from strength. That is, if all goes well. 

Carrington emerges as a key name ahead of WNBA deadline

As the WNBA trade deadline approaches, the Dallas Wings have found themselves in a familiar position of juggling talent, potential, and tough decisions. And quietly, DiJonai Carrington has become one of the more intriguing names to watch across the league.

According to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, Carrington’s name has started circulating in WNBA circles as a possible trade piece, despite Dallas already making a major move by trading away NaLyssa Smith. “Dallas is one of [the teams]… They’re a team that, you said, already made an in-season trade to offload NaLyssa Smith,” Philippou shared. “I’ve heard the name DiJonai Carrington brought up in some WNBA circles as someone who could also potentially be on the move beyond Dallas.”

The 27-year-old joined the Wings this offseason and has had a rollercoaster of a season, struggling to find her rhythm amid a packed backcourt rotation. While she began the year as a starter, Paige Bueckers’ return recently pushed her into a bench role. Still, Carrington continues to be a crucial piece of Dallas’ defense. But with Carrington set to hit free agency after the 2025 season, the Wings may consider flipping her now for future assets as part of a longer-term rebuild.

Dallas is facing contract decisions on multiple key players, including Arike Ogunbowale and Teaira McCowan, both of whom are also headed toward free agency. Of course, none of this guarantees Carrington will be moved. Her value as a defender and locker room presence keeps the door open for her to remain in Dallas beyond the deadline. 

But with the August 7 deadline nearing, she’s a name worth keeping an eye on.