THE Dallas Wings named twice WNBA Coach of the Year Curt Miller will be their next general manager, the team announced Friday.
Miller, who coached the last two seasons with the The Sparks of Los Angeles and the previous seven seasons with the Connecticut Sunwill fill a void left in Dallas as part of a broader organizational shakeup. In mid-October, Dallas announced that it was firing head coach Latricia Trammell and that president and CEO Greg Bibb would hire a general manager who would oversee the franchise’s day-to-day basketball operations.
Seven franchises, not including the new Golden State Valkyries, made head coaching changes this offseason, including the Sparks following Miller’s departure. Dallas was also one of three franchises — the Washington Mystics And The Aces of Las Vegas being the others – to have an opening from GM.
Miller has general manager experience, having held coaching and general manager positions with the Sun beginning in September 2016. Under his tenure with the Sun, Connecticut made two WNBA Finals appearances and four other semifinal appearances. .
“With a new arena and practice facility on the horizon, a roster of talent making an impact both on the field and in the community, exciting positioning in the upcoming draft, a passionate fan base and loyalists, a fully invested ownership group and a dedicated front office. “Staff, the time is right for the Wings,” Miller said in a statement. “As a veteran head coach and general manager of the WNBA, I look forward to bringing my experience, passion and leadership to Texas as we strive to hang a WNBA championship banner in Dallas.”
Miller almost came to Dallas two offseasons ago, when he was a finalist for the Wings head coaching job in 2023 before accepting the Sparks job, league sources said. He will also serve as Dallas’ executive vice president of basketball operations.
In Los Angeles, Miller was brought in to preside over a rebuild, but was nonetheless fired after two seasons in which he went 25-55.
Bibb said in a statement that he believes Curt’s “ability to build winning teams as well as his success as a coach in the WNBA and beyond will prove invaluable.”
One of Miller’s first priorities will be hiring a new head coach and preparing the franchise for the upcoming expansion draft, scheduled for Dec. 6.
On November 17, the Wings will also know their place in the draft. Despite having the second-worst combined record over the past two seasons, they enter the lottery with the best chance of landing the No. 1 pick, as they have a 22.7% chance of winning the selection via their own choice, and an additional 22.7%. percentage chance of winning the selection via the rights to a choice exchange with the Chicago Sky. That gives them a combined 45.4 percent chance of landing the top pick, while the Sparks have a 44.2 percent chance of landing the pick.
Miller and the Wings will have a number of key decisions to make this offseason. Veteran forward Natasha Howard has already stated that it will test the free agent market and is looking forward to a new team. Satou Saballya 2023 All-WNBA first-team forward, is also an unrestricted free agent and could sign elsewhere.
The Wings finished last season with a 9-31 record, but are just one year removed from a fourth seed in the playoffs.
As part of broader organizational changes, the franchise also announced promotions to longtime assistant general manager Travis Charles, who will now serve as senior vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager, as well as as well as former WNBA player turned Wings development coach Jasmine Thomas, who will now serve as vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager.
Dallas is also targeting a move to a new practice facility by the start of the 2026 season, as well as a move from Arlington to a renovated arena in downtown Dallas for this season as well.
This article was originally published in Athletics.
Dallas Wings, WNBA, Sports Business
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