The rebuilding roster of the Dallas Wings has finally found its momentum. Despite a seven-game losing streak, the roster managed to perfect their offences and emerged on the brighter side of the Western Conference standings with 5 wins in their belt. After a horrendous last season, GM Curt Miller envisioned better days for the Wings. So, when the No.1 overall pick Paige Bueckers joined the locker room, followed by a string of rookies and a fresh head coach in Chris Koclanes, the Wings looked ready to soar this season.

While the team looked perfect on paper, not all was well in the locker room. The Wings captain, Arike Ogunbowale’s locker room struggles reflected adversely in the team’s overall performance this season. And if this was not enough, guards Paige Bueckers and Tyasha Harris were sidelined during the most crucial point in the game. But as Bueckers’ 35-point comeback reinstated a positive belief in the locker room, their miniseries were far from over.

The Wings decided to trade NaLyssa Smith mid-season. Unfortunately, as the team focused on winning, their roster kept shrinking, owing to injuries. After DiJonai Carrington’s rib injury emerged, the recent player to join the bench is none other than Arike Ogunbowale. The captain will remain absent after undergoing a thumb injury. These injuries has currently left the team with 5 players sidelined as of July 03, 2025.

Despite the ensuing locker room chaos, there is a silver lining for the Dallas Wings. The official WNBA account to X (former Twitter) to provide an exciting update surrounding Bueckers. “Paige Bueckers of the @DallasWings is your @Kia Rookie of the Month. Bueckers went off in the month of June and put up big time stats where she averaged 21.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG and 5.0 APG.” The UConn alum has officially been declared the 2025 Rookie for the month of June.

Paige Bueckers has delivered a spectacular performance in her debut regular season. However, she missed 4 games owing to a concussion protocol followed by an unnamed illness. But her 35-point comeback against the Phoenix Mercury was enough to turn heads and garner praise from all quarters.

Needless to say, the rookie stepped up as the forerunner for the Wings and dictated them from across the paint. And despite the Wings’ 80-93 loss, Bueckers leadership won hearts of fans and teammates alike. And despite her first season with the Wings’ Bueckers is currently leading the franchise in both offence and defence departments.

With an impressive average of 18.4 points, 5.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game, it was only natural for Bueckers to wear the crown. Moreover, the recent news ironically comes before the second showdown between the Dallas Wings and the Phoenix Mercury. As the 2025 Rookie of the Month gears up to face the Mercury Big 3:  Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas, and Kahleah Copper with an incomplete roster, it will be exciting to watch if the home court favors the Wings.

The Dallas Wings GM secures the franchise’s future with a mid-season trade

While the NaLyssa Smith trade came as a major shock to everyone in the league, especially her partner and teammate DiJonai Carrington, Dallas Wings GM Curt Miller had a different strategy in mind. “The unintended consequence of trying to maneuver through five post players that can all deserve minutes, that all would’ve liked to play,” Miller said. “Our move now opens up even more minutes for Luisa, opens up minutes for Myisha.”

According to the GM, her departure opens fresh avenues for the remaining players on the roster. Especially Luisa Geiselsoder and Myisha Hines-Allen. While Luisa is set to return after her stint in the 2025 EuroBasket, Myisha has recently been on a GTD.  Hinting at the roster rotations after Smith’s trade came through, Miller said, “So I look forward to watching those four in our rotation in the post.”

Moreover, the two forwards did not spend enough time in the paint, as per the management. Having said that, Smith had a remarkable three-year stint in the Indiana Fever before being traded under a blockbuster four-team deal that came through in February 2025. Despite promising a better performance, Smith failed to meet the desired expectations under the Dallas Wings.

It will be interesting to see if the GM’s sudden yet planned move will pan out in favor of the Wings. While the future of the franchise seems safe in Paige Bueckers’ hands, the team cannot afford another loss at this point in the game. But can Miller’s massive change help get Dallas back on track? Only time will tell.