Grieving Mavericks fans, it’s time to meet the Dallas Wings!

To say the basketball world was stunned at the news that Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic was traded for Anthony Davis is perhaps the understatement of the century. Most fans’ initial reaction to the trade, first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, was that the NBA insider was hacked. Even NBA players, like Joel Embiid and Jalen Brunson, turned to social media to express their disbelief. And, thousands of Mavericks fans have already rebuked their fandom.

So, if you’re a Dallas sports fan who loves basketball but can’t stomach your NBA team right now given how they stunningly blind-sided their franchise player, may I introduce you to the Dallas Wings?

The Wings aren’t a championship contender, as currently constructed. And, they haven’t been the best-managed WNBA team to date. But they have a new front office and new head coach, and they’re in the midst of an offseason overhaul worth clueing into.

Dallas Wings general manager Curt Miller has been busy in his first few weeks at the helm. Just a few weeks after Miller — the former head coach of the Connecticut Sun (2016-22) and Los Angeles Sparks (2023-24) — assumed front office responsibilities in Dallas, the organization won the WNBA Draft Lottery. That means they’ll have the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, which will be used to draft UConn star guard Paige Bueckers.

Miller hired a new head coach, Chris Koclaines, a defensive stalwart from USC’s coaching staff. Then, they cored Satou Sabally, who had publicly stated she wanted out, and flipped her for Ty Harris and NaLyssa Smith.

Incoming Wings players: Myisha Hines-Allen, DiJonai Carrington, NaLyssa Smith, Ty Harris, Paige Bueckers (?)

The new-look Wings will still be led by franchise-scoring leader Arike Ogunbowale next season. Ogunbowale, if you’re not familiar, is one of the most exciting players in the sport. She’s one of the premier scorers in the WNBA, and in college, she hit back-to-back game-winners in the Final Four and NCAA championships. Last year, at a record-breaking the WNBA All-Star game, she exploded for 34 second-half points.

Though Ogunbowale is already the Wings’ all-time leading scorer, the franchise hasn’t seen much success during her tenure. Their only winning season came in 2023, when the Wings finished with a 22-18 record. They didn’t find much success last year, finishing with a 9-31 record, good for second-worst in the WNBA. But the team coming back next season is brand-new and should be fun to watch from the jump.

They’ve added DiJonai Carrington from the Connecticut Sun and NaLyssa Smith from the Indiana Fever. Carrington and Smith — former Baylor teammates — are in a public relationship, adding another fun layer to the transaction. Carrington is one of the best guard defenders in the NBA; she was named to the All-Defensive Team last year, and was awarded Most Improved Player in 2024.

Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images

They’ve also acquired former Sun guard Ty Harris, an elite shooter and playmaker who is just entering her prime after her first year as a starter. Harris went from bench contributor to one of the Sun’s starters last year, and the former South Carolina Gamecock shot 39.5% from three last year.

Forward Maddy Siegrist, who is entering her third WNBA season, is also expected to be a major contributor. Siegrist averaged 9.4 points last fall and was an early Most Improved Player candidate before breaking her finger and missing 8 weeks. Siegrist was one of the greatest scorers in NCAA history, scoring nearly 3000 points in Villanova. Last year was hampered by injuries, but Siegrist is poised for a breakout year in Dallas.

And, joining in on the fun is Myisha Hines-Allen, a 6’ 1 veteran forward and formidable post player, has also signed with the Wings.

Outgoing Wings players: Satou Sabally, Natasha Howard, Jacy Sheldon, Sevgi Uzun, Kalani Brown

It’s no surprise that Satou Sabally and Natasha Howard won’t be in Dallas next season. Howard made her free agency plans known just days after the conclusion of the WNBA season, and Sabally shared she wanted out during her first Unrivaled media availability last month.

Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images

But, both players were unrestricted free agents, so it wasn’t clear what kind of return the Wings would get for them. Smith/Carrington/Harris is a solid core to work around for Dallas.

Jacy Sheldon, the No. 5 pick in the 2024 draft who had an up-and-down rookie season, was also sent. They also swapped their 2025 No. 8 draft pick with the Sun’s 2025 pick.

Paige Bueckers and what to expect from the Dallas Wings next year

The Wings won’t be a championship contender next season, but they could make a playoff push with this new core, particularly if NaLyssa Smith can return to her 2023 form and Carrington can continue improving on both ends.

Most notably, the Wings have the top pick in the 2025 draft — and if they use it to bring Paige Bueckers to town, it would likely help revitalize the franchise and add an all-around player to an already-promising lineup.

It probably won’t make Dallas Mavericks fans feel a whole lot better. But, a core of Ogunbowale, Bueckers, Siegrist, Carrington, and Smith is an exciting one. It just might be a good time to check out the Dallas Wings.