They say when it rains, it pours, and right now, that’s exactly what’s happening in Dallas. Aziaha James and Luisa Geiselsoder both had to leave the game against the Connecticut Sun early after picking up injuries. And honestly, it’s been that kind of season. The number of players they’ve lost to injuries is staggering. According to ESPN, their current injury list is up to seven players, including big names like Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale. This is definitely not what coach Chris Koclanes imagined when he first took the job, but he has found help in the unlikeliest of places: Hardship contract players like Haley Jones

The Dallas Wings’ night went from bad to worse against the Connecticut Sun. First, Luisa Geiselsoder went down with a right shoulder injury and never returned. Then, in the fourth quarter, her replacement, Aziaha James, exited the game with a leg scare of her own. To top it all off, they fell 101-95 to a Sun team that’s now won five of their last seven games. For the Wings, the loss doesn’t change much; their season was already over. But this also gave the coach the perfect chance to figure out which pieces are worth holding onto for next season.

Chris Koclanes might not have had the luxury of a full roster at any point this season, but what he did have was a few solid hardship contract players, smartly scouted by Wings GM Curt Miller. The Wings organization has been one of the best this season at maximizing the potential of their hardship signees, using them to perfection. One of those hardship players, Haley Jones, has made a huge impact for Dallas, putting up 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists in her last 2 games. And she believes the success of the Wings’ hardship players is no coincidence. When asked about their performance in the postgame press conference, Haley said, “I’d like to think they picked good pieces, and I’m one of those… Yeah, I think it speaks a lot about the culture here. I talk about the locker room with the staff , they come in and instill you with confidence.” Big praise for the Dallas organization, especially the head coach and his staff!

Jones, who is averaging 6.8 points and 3.3 assists per game this season, isn’t the only hardship contract player making waves for the Wings. Take Amy Okonkwo, for example. She joined the team after Li Yueru was ruled out for the season with an ACL sprain, and she’s made an instant impact. In just three games, Okonkwo has already put up 34 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, proving to be a solid addition for Dallas.

Besides Jones, the Wings also have Grace Berger, who, along with Haley, earned an end-of-season contract. Berger has started 7 of the 12 games she’s played for Dallas this season, averaging 2.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. She’s been a quiet but key presence, acting as a tempo controller for the team. Her low average of just 1.2 turnovers per game has been huge in helping the Wings limit their transition mistakes. And this Wednesday, another new hardship player made her debut for the Wings.

Haley Jones’ newest teammate makes her debut

After news broke that JJ Quinerly would miss the rest of the season with an ACL sprain, Dallas found itself in a tight spot. The guard rotation was razor-thin, with only Paige Bueckers, Aziaha James, and Grace Berger available. Arike Ogunbowale was sidelined with knee tendinitis, and Tyasha Harris was already out for the year with her own ACL injury. That meant GM Curt Miller had to act, and act fast.

He did so by bringing in Serena Sundell. The 6-foot-2 guard was the 26th overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm but didn’t stick with the roster, getting waived before the season. Instead of slowing down, she stayed sharp, suiting up for the USA 3×3 Women’s Nations League Team in Chile this July. In her debut against the Connecticut Sun, Sundell logged just two minutes, according to ESPN, but she’s definitely a name to watch in the coming games as her role could grow in lieu of all the injuries.

Chris Koclanes now has a golden chance to figure out which pieces truly fit this squad. Some of these hardship players have stepped up and proven they can deliver, making a strong case to stay next season. It’ll be interesting to see which of them earns a permanent spot. Who do you think deserves to stay in Dallas next year? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!