The Dallas Wings have had incredible luck over the past two seasons, landing the first overall pick two years in a row. In 2025, they selected Paige Bueckers first overall, who was the universally accepted pick for the top pick in her class and is quickly proving to be a leader for the Wings. In 2026, they will change the game with this top pick, but there is less consensus on who will be the best prospect come April. With picks, the Wings can choose someone who complements Paige and continues to strengthen their roster.
It wasn’t that long ago that Dallas picked No. 1 in the draft most recently before this chance. In 2021, they had the same honor, choosing Charli Collier as their No. 1 pick. Yet it was less fortunate than it seemed, because five years later, Collier isn’t even on a WNBA roster yet. The team waived its No. 1 pick in 2023.
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But despite securing the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks in 2021 and picking in the lottery or early in the first round most years, Dallas hasn’t been able to get its team off the ground. They have only made the playoffs in 5 of the last 10 seasons and don’t appear to be able to become a popular free agency destination. Even on the coaching side, the buzz around the league was that the Wings had let their 2025 head coach, Chris Koclanes, go in part because Sandy Brondello had become available. But whether or not Dallas was trying to make a big move for a championship-level coach for the Bueckers, Brondello ultimately decided to go to the Toronto Tempo instead.
Ultimately, there’s a lot going against the Wings as they try to build a championship team, even with their recent lottery luck. And this week’s news doesn’t help, as construction of their practice facility and new arena is now delayed by at least a year.
That’s probably the most important factor in attracting free agents to Dallas to play with Bueckers and the eventual No. 1 pick in 2026. The WNBA now finds itself in a situation where the hottest free agency markets are those that offer the best amenities for their players. This makes sense: It’s strange that some of these WNBA teams don’t have dedicated locker rooms, practice facilities and treatment centers for their players. It’s no surprise that, given the choice, the best players in the league want to play for the teams that have the best facilities.
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There’s also the fact that WNBA markets like Dallas and Los Angeles, which until recently (infamously) had no public plans to build state-of-the-art training facilities, appear to be doing so only because it will likely become mandatory for teams in the next CBA.
The reality is that Dallas is running out of time to turn its franchise into a championship-caliber destination. Bueckers is entering her second year as a WNBA player, the second of four seasons she has on her current rookie contract. There are also rumors that the WNBPA is proposing to shorten rookie contracts in the new CBA, in order to give players more freedom and free agents earlier in their careers. If that happens, the time Dallas has to convince Bueckers to make it its long-term team is already slipping away, if this rule ends up applying retroactively to players currently on rookie contracts.
The reality is that Bueckers is currently one of the best players in the WNBA, even as a rookie, and will only get better. She can win championships, MVP awards, gold medals and much more in her career. If anyone has the power to want to be treated well, it’s her. If Dallas isn’t willing to give her everything she needs and wants as a professional player, any other team in the league will happily do whatever they need to do to sign or trade for her.
She’s also just one person, and the Wings need to start attracting the right players to take their team from a fringe playoff/lottery team to contenders. With over 80% of the league heading to free agency once a new CBA is agreed upon, this is a perfect year for Dallas to attract solid players. Yet if they can’t offer the same amenities and experience as other markets with state-of-the-art facilities, it won’t work.
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Time is running out for Dallas to make the most of the opportunity they’ve been given, and they may now have one less year to do so.
