The Dallas Wings just can’t seem to catch a break. The team had just broken their four-game loss streak against Seattle on Wednesday. But the Golden State Valkyries handed Wings their eighteenth loss this season on Saturday. Despite a standout performance from Paige Bueckers this season, the team is still fumbling in crucial moments. Amidst this, all eyes turned towards the Dallas Wings head coach Chris Koclanes.

In his first season as head coach, Koclanes’ record is nothing to sing praises for. Wings have a score of 7-18 currently, only edging over the Connecticut Sun in the leaderboards. It could have been even worse if they hadn’t had the offensive powerhouse rookie, Paige Bueckers. While the team is figuring out their woes, there is another test coming for them in the W.

The testing time in question is the tight schedule of the WNBA. Talking about this, after the game against the Valkyries, Koclanes said in the postgame interview, “Health and safety is the number one priority. We’re constantly collaborating with our medical team, with our players, and trying to put them in positions to be able to perform to the best of their ability every single night.” 

In the 2024 season, each team had to play a total of 40 games. But this season the expectations are higher! Each team is scheduled to play a record-high 44 games. With the addition of the Golden State Valkyries as the thirteenth team in the W, teams now have a tight schedule of 22 home and 22 away games to play. Dallas Wings also has a jam-packed schedule ahead of them. They are scheduled to play five games in just 10 days. The Dallas Wings head coach has a game plan prepared for it, too.

Paige Bueckers and the team are preparing for testing times ahead

Koclanes is mindful of the tight schedule they have ahead of them. Paige Bueckers and her team will have to win most of the upcoming matches to have a strong foothold. Along with doing that, they would have to avoid injuries in these back-to-back clashes. How will they do it? Well, Koclanes is putting a player-first approach here.

“It’s not an easy schedule, and so you know there are days when players may need to just take the whole day off, and on strict minute limits. So those are conversations that are had,” said the Dallas Wings head coach. Koclanes, along with his coaching staff, is looking for optimal ways to rotate their rosters during these 10 days. Furthermore, they are also looking into the availability of players and, if needed, subbing them in matches with minute restrictions.

This adds another layer of planning for the Wings, who are already suffering from a high loss percentage. An injury during these crucial five matches will be detrimental to the Dallas Wings. They can’t afford to lose their offensive spearhead, Paige Bueckers, to injury right now. Their lead rebounder, Myisha Hines-Allen, is already out due to a right lower leg injury.

With the internet sensing there to be a divide between Bueckers and the coaching staff, it will be interesting to see how Koclanes navigates through this. Furthermore, the question about the team choking in crucial moments still remains. Whether Wings emerge victorious or not following this situation is still up in the air. But one thing they can bank on is the standout performance Bueckers is giving in each match. They would hope she continues this streak to give them better odds at winning.