The Dallas Wings have the No. 1 total choose within the upcoming WNBA Draft, and their newly minted Normal Supervisor Curt Miller is able to win. The previous head coach now turned full-time entrance workplace govt for the Wings has loads of disgruntled and emotional basketball followers in Dallas to please this summer season after the way in which the Mavericks season has gone. However with the untimely departure of 1 generational basketball participant in Luka Doncic, the period of town’s subsequent generational basketball is about to start.
Except one thing groundbreaking occurs between now and Monday, the plain alternative for Dallas might be to draft Paige Bueckers first total out of UConn. The previous Freshman of the Yr, Nationwide Participant of the Yr, and now Nationwide Champion is a generational expertise who has the power to show the Wings right into a playoff group — instantly. That’s precisely what Miller expressed the need for in a press convention held by the WNBA Thursday as all 4 lottery crew’s common managers spoke to the media.
“Winners are necessary to us,” Miller stated in response to a query on what the Wings have prioritized within the offseason. “By way of our trades we added quite a few collegiate nationwide champions, or at minimal, (gamers who) competed within the Remaining Fours on the collegiate stage. We additionally added WNBA Champions.”
The Wings have been extraordinarily energetic in free company, not transferring their No. 1 total choose however nonetheless having the ability to usher in DiJonai Carrington, NaLyssa Smith, Ty Harris and Myisha Hines-Allen. They may be part of Arike Ogunbowale, Maddy Siegrist and Teaira McCowan — the gamers the Wings retained from the 2024 season. And Dallas won’t solely draft first, but additionally have the No. 12 and No. 14 picks as nicely — picks that Miller stated might make the opening day roster, which he thinks makes his crew uniquely engaging for rookies.
“You’d need to hear your identify if you happen to’re in [the late first round or early second round range] for Dallas, as a result of there may be completely a reliable likelihood to make our opening day roster,” he famous, including, “that’s not the case across the league.”
“So we’ve invested loads of time on making ready to select 12 and 14, and we’re enthusiastic about it,” he ended.
That leaves the Dallas Wings with a core of veteran winners, a generational No. 1 total choose, and the possibility so as to add some impactful rookie growth initiatives to their roster. That’s particularly necessary going into subsequent season’s free company, given a lot of the gamers within the league might be free brokers. With the CBA expiring after this season, gamers have been positive to barter contracts that additionally expired this season, making certain that after they signal forward of subsequent season, they’ll accomplish that underneath the phrases of the upcoming, expected-to-be-more-player-friendly CBA.
The one hope groups have of retaining gamers on these present contracts is to draft them now and maintain them into subsequent yr. These draft picks could find yourself being the long run cores of sure groups.
However for this season, Miller is aware of eyes might be on his group. Not solely domestically from followers hoping to distract themselves from the plight of their NBA crew’s selections in 2025, however Dallas can also be ready for nationwide consideration. Anticipate video games to be moved to larger venues and extra media consideration to return as Bueckers brings her throngs of loyal followers together with her to the group.
That comes with loads of stress to win, which is why Miller stated that was the buzzword for his entrance workplace this winter. But, there may be additionally extra stress to verify gamers are protected as they proceed to achieve recognition and fame.
“All of us took discover round our league [the need for] one thing so simple as safety for our gamers and easy methods to navigate the elevated viewership, the elevated fandom,” Miller stated. “Our gamers need to be protected and amplified on the identical time, actually taken care of. Our job throughout the league is to create an unimaginable surroundings for these gamers.”
That’s change into a precedence within the league as there have been a number of cases of gamers needing further safety already. A person plead responsible to stalking expenses earlier this yr when he traveled cross nation to “give Paige Bueckers an engagement ring” after posting about doing so a number of instances on social media. He should abide by a protecting order in place till 2064. As a part of his sentence, he isn’t allowed to enter the state of Connecticut or enter any facility the place WNBA video games or practices are held.
Enhanced safety was additionally wanted final season when followers the place attempting to method each Caitlin Clark and Brittney Griner at airports. Quickly after, the WNBA authorized chartered flights for your entire league — one thing the gamers had been advocating for over a few years. They cited each security considerations in addition to efficiency considerations after groups constantly skilled airline delays and cancellations throughout shortened WNBA seasons.
In order the Dallas Wings attempt to sustain with these different profitable WNBA groups, rising a successful tradition is being prioritized. They acquired the nod from the basketball gods in getting that No. 1 choose, and now they’ll attempt to put within the work to take advantage of out of their luck. They’ll additionally should do a greater job than their NBA counterpart crew of maintaining their celebrity in Dallas lengthy sufficient to win a championship, however given how far down in hell the Mavs left that bar, Miller needs to be set to clear it.
