Dallas Wings fans were still coming to terms with one delay when another quietly surfaced. After learning earlier this year that the franchise’s long-awaited move into a renovated downtown arena would take longer than expected, the focus shifted toward what was supposed to arrive sooner: a state-of-the-art practice facility that symbolized a fresh chapter for the team.

However, as Paige Bueckers and the Wings deal with the Arike Ogunbowale free agency horror amid CBA uncertainty, that timeline has also taken an unexpected turn.

The Dallas Wings are in the middle of constructing a nearly $48.6 million practice facility in West Oak Cliff. The facility, located at Joey Georgusis Park, officially broke ground in September and is designed to serve as the team’s permanent training home. However, the latest construction updates indicate that the facility is now tracking toward a 2027 completion, rather than being ready ahead of the 2026 WNBA season as initially anticipated.

According to ENR Texas & Southeast reports, the project is currently in the post–design development phase, with budget refinements ongoing before updated plans are presented to the Dallas City Council. Once complete, the facility will feature two indoor courts, advanced recovery and wellness spaces, strength and conditioning areas, team dining, front offices, and community-focused programming, including youth clinics and local events.

While the project remains fully intact and funded, the revised timeline represents an unfortunate shift for a team entering a new era led by Paige Bueckers.

This unfortunate news comes just months after the franchise CEO and managing partner, Greg Bibb, told The Dallas Morning News that the Wings would play at least one more season at the University of Texas at Arlington, which is about 20 miles from downtown Dallas, where they have played since moving from Tulsa, Oklahoma, back in 2016.

Why? Well, the team’s move to the historic Dallas Memorial Auditorium (a part of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center complex) was postponed by a year because of construction delays.

Jeff Helmreich, project executive at the Beck Group, the firm overseeing both projects in the Dallas area, also addressed the reasons behind the renovation delays. Speaking recently about the challenges involved, Helmreich pointed to structural limitations tied to the arena’s design.

“The challenges with the concrete dome roof reinforcement are access to the work due to the convention center being connected to two sides of the arena. Maintaining the historical integrity of the 1957 concrete dome while layering in features for the modern sports and entertainment marketplace is a unique and energizing opportunity for the entire team,” he said.

With the updated project timelines, the completion of the practice facility is now targeted for 2027, rather than opening ahead of the 2026 WNBA season as initially anticipated. That delay means the early stages of the Paige Bueckers era in Dallas will unfold without the benefit of the new complex.

But even with all this free agency drama, CBA negotiations, delays in construction, and a wave of Wings-related uncertainty swirling around, Paige Bueckers still managed to make headlines for something truly special this year.

Paige Bueckers ends 2025 as a year to remember

At just the age of 24, Bueckers has already proven herself as a generational talent. The former Gatorade Player of the Year capped off a historic 2025 by leading UConn to an NCAA National Championship and becoming the WNBA’s No. 1 Overall Draft pick, landing with the Dallas Wings. In her rookie season, she left an indelible mark, highlighted by a 44-point game against the LA Sparks.

She also went on to become the fastest rookie in league history to reach 500 points and 100 assists, and a first-year All-Star selection.

Yet, while on an individual level, she was averaging an amazing score of 19.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, her franchise recorded one of its worst seasons in the league, as they finished last overall. But coming off the court, Bueckers’ influence has been impressive. Through the Paige Bueckers Foundation, she’s donated sports equipment to underserved youth programs, supported initiatives like Restore Play LA, and used her platform to amplify marginalized voices.

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This year also saw Bueckers publicly confirm her relationship with UConn teammate Azzi Fudd. At such a young age, the pair have become models of authenticity in women’s sports while securing major brand partnerships, including Nike, Gatorade, and Bose.

So, combining her on-court excellence with off-court impact, Bueckers’ accomplishments this year have earned her the distinction of Outsports 2025 Female Athlete of the Year, as she continues to set the standard for what it means to be a star in the modern WNBA.

For fans who are eager to see her back on the court, Paige Bueckers will be gearing up for her next on-court chapter very soon, as she is set to make her debut in Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 league founded by former UConn standouts Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, marking her first competitive action since the 2025 WNBA season.