On their road to rebuilding, the Dallas Wings are making the moves so rapidly that only a few expected. The Jose Fernandez-led team is making its decisions clear, aggressively trimming the roster on its way to a final 12-player squad and subsequently waiving two more players, just a few days after cutting off Shyanne Sellers and Grace Sullivan.

Recently, the Wings announced on X that they have waived formidable collegiate picks Zee Spearman and Kyla Oldacre from their training camp roster. “Thank you, Zee 💙. The Dallas Wings have waived forward Zee Spearman,” the post read. “Thank you, Kyla 💙. The Dallas Wings have waived center Kyla Oldacre,” remarked another post.

Going into the camp with 22 players, it was quite certain that the Wings would need to make some massive cuts to their roster. But it wasn’t expected that they would do it even before the team had played its first preseason games. Furthermore, both Oldacre and Spearman have been seasoned campaigners at the collegiate level, making their decision all the more eyebrow-raising.

Oldacre, a 6’6 center who was picked on a training camp contract by the Wings. She built a good reputation as a formidable rebounder and a volume scorer on occasion. In her four-year collegiate career, she has averaged 7.6 ppg, shooting 58% and 5.2 rebounds per game. And quite naturally, it’s quite certain that the Wings brought in Oldacre for a similar post-presence.

Unfortunately, the former Texas guard was recovering from an injury and couldn’t contribute much to training camp. Meanwhile, Spearman was supposed to be one of their steals from the draft. The Wings picked her in the third round as the 31st overall pick. A formidable frontcourt player who contributes in both rebounding and scoring, Spearman could have been a valuable addition to the Wings team.

She has reinforced her strengths time and time again in her collegiate teams: Miami and Tennessee, scoring 10.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in her final season for the Lady Volunteers. Even in the Dallas Wings training camp, Spearman was navigating her way pretty well. Her early sessions showcased her skillset perfectly even though she was trying to cope with the physicality at this level.

“I think the first day. The physicality got me, I can’t lie. Somebody hit me in the stomach and I said, ‘Okay, they’re a little strong out here,” she said. “But I kept my feet, kept playing through it. I couldn’t show that it really got me. I had to keep going.”

But immediately after, Spearman was cut off from the Wings roster. But it isn’t the end of the road for these players in the season. Both Zee Spearman and Kyla Oldacre can sign with any WNBA team. And notably, can even fill the team’s developmental roster spots if they clear waivers. With both Oldacre and Spearman out of the roster, Fudd remains the only college pick in the Wings roster for now.

Furthermore, with a reliable center and forward cut off the roster, the depth of players to choose from at those positions will also become pretty slim. As the Wings approach their preseason business in a full-fledged fashion, the team also has a few positives to hold on to from their training camp.

Paige Bueckers and Aziaha James Impress in Dallas Wings Training Camp

While the Wings are expected to continue waiving more players to finalize their roster before May 7, their few undeniable constants, like Paige Bueckers and Aziaha James, are doing pretty well in the camp. Bueckers is already establishing herself as a vocal locker room leader for the team.

The Wings’ backcourt player has herself clarified that she’s trying to set an example for the team. “I hold myself to the highest standard,” Bueckers had said. “I’m really my toughest critic. So, to be able to know that and hold high, I hold my standard. That’s how I want to be in the Dallas Wings

As a result, Bueckers has been firmly competitive in practice from an on-court perspective. Additionally, she is also expected to be at the helm of tactical decisions. According to reports, Fernandez is also exploring a scheme that would not restrict Bueckers in that perimeter-volume scoring role. Rather, he also wants her to get involved off the ball, create space, and use her physicality to screen opposition players.

On the other hand, James has delivered a strong defensive performance in training camp. Head coach Jose Fernandez himself has shed light on James’ momentum in this training camp. “She’s electric in the open floor,” Fernandez said. “Now it’s about spacing and putting her right positions in the halfcourt.”

Bueckers and James’ momentum in camp is a major silver lining for the Wings as they head into the preseason games and the regular season. After all, they will form the main core of the franchise along with Arike Ogunbowale and Alanna Smith. Their No.1 pick from the 2026 WNBA Draft, Azzi Fudd, is doing pretty well, too.

The former UConn guard isn’t as seamless as we expect from her. But reports have it that she’s taking some pretty decent shots from beyond the arc to impress the Wings management. The Dallas Wings will have the best opportunity to put this to the test during the preseason. Their first is on April 30 (Thursday) against the Indiana Fever, a team that thrashed the New York Liberty in their first practice game.