The Dallas Wings are stepping into one of the most unpredictable offseasons in WNBA history! With more than 100 players heading into free agency and the league’s ongoing CBA negotiations, every team is in a wait-and-watch mode. Yet amid the uncertainty, a new era has begun for the Wings. With the franchise hiring veteran head coach Jose Fernandez, general manager Curt Miller has revealed his vision for Paige Bueckers and the team’s young core.

In his first appearance since announcing Fernandez as the coach, Miller shed light on how they plan on tackling the upcoming expansion draft and the fast-approaching free agency period. In the introductory presser, he said, “We know with the upcoming expansion draft that we’re going to lose some players that we don’t necessarily want to lose. But we have such a young core base after the trade deadline last year. We were the youngest team in the league.”

“So, we’re very excited about that and building on that. But we have to add veterans in this free agency. We have to continue to add talent to that locker room because a lot is right, that Jose and his new staff will walk into in that locker room,” the GM said, emphasizing building around the young core.

However, that wasn’t the only front that needed addressing. “But we’ve got to continue to raise the talent level. But there will be tremendous collaboration going into decisions around expansion draft, decisions around free agency, and then ultimately decisions that we’ll find out later this month where we land in the draft with the exciting draft lottery coming up here weeks away,” Miller continued.

The Dallas Wings will be among the teams most impacted by the 2026 free agency, with veteran star and franchise face Arike Ogunbowale, who has been with the team since 2019, leading the list of players with expiring contracts. Ogunbowale just wrapped up one of the most challenging seasons of her career, averaging 15.5 points per game, marking it as her lowest mark to date.

The 28-year-old star’s future in Dallas remains uncertain, leaving the front office with a major decision on whether she still fits alongside Paige Bueckers as the centerpiece of the team. The Wings’ offense looked seriously lethargic last season, and one would imagine they’d need a fresh approach to things. On the other hand, Ogunbowale, a seasoned professional, can become someone an expansion team like the Tempo or Fire might target.

Joining Ogunbowale as unrestricted free agents are Myisha Hines-Allen and Tyasha Harris. With so many key roster decisions (a whopping 10 players hitting free agency) looming over the Wings empire, all eyes now will be on how new coach Fernandez shapes the next chapter of the franchise.

Paige Bueckers will lead the new era for the Wings, currently in major flux

Following a challenging 2025 campaign that ended with a 10-34 record, the Dallas Wings are aiming to turn the page in the upcoming season with new leadership and fresh hope. While the franchise finished as the last seed, Paige Bueckers was the standout player. Averaging 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, Bueckers secured the title of Rookie of the Year, and Jose Fernandez will definitely look to build his plans around her.

“Paige is special… Great players want to be coached,” Fernandez said in his introductory press conference. “She wants to be coached and held accountable. And I think the things that we’re going to do in the half-court and the open floor are going to suit her. So I’m really excited to get to work with her.”

Alongside Paige Bueckers, the Wings already have a solid young foundation to build on. Aziaha James is emerging as a promising two-way wing, while Maddy Siegrist and Diamond Miller bring plenty of upside at the forward spots. JJ Quinerly, on the other hand, has quickly earned a reputation as a gritty defender who sets the tone on that end of the floor.

The Wings might target getting a center on their roster, and the 2026 draft is likely to present at least two reliable names in that regard. Awa Fam and Lauren Betts, the latter in particular, is precisely the kind of big that, when paired with Paige Bueckers, her rebounding and rim protection could make the team all the better.

But can the Wings turn into a playoff contender next season?