Dallas Wings Spiral to 1-8: Is Missing Paige Bueckers the Real Issue—or Just the Start?
Coming into the 2025 WNBA season, the Dallas Wings were expected to be a team on the rise. With a new coach at the helm, a blend of experienced names like Arike Ogunbowale and DiJonai Carrington, and fresh energy from rookie star Paige Bueckers, fans hoped for a turnaround. Yet, nine games in, the team sits at 1–8, riding a four-game losing streak and struggling to find consistency.
The most recent loss came against the LA Sparks, and it was anything but close. Dallas began the game sluggishly, conceding 11 unanswered points. The Sparks shot a blistering 55.6% from the field and dominated inside with 50 points in the paint. While Dallas won the rebound battle 35–30, their interior defense crumbled. Transition defense wasn’t much better—Sparks outscored them 19–13 on fast breaks, capitalizing off Dallas’ missed shots and turnovers.
Even though both teams had 15 turnovers, LA converted theirs into 16 points. Meanwhile, Dallas struggled with communication and direction, particularly due to the absence of a true point guard.
Paige Bueckers, who averages 14.2 points per game, missed another contest, and the team again turned to Carrington to fill the PG role. While she led in scoring and notched four assists, she also committed seven turnovers—an indication that she’s playing out of position.
Coach Chris Koclanes was candid postgame. “We can’t get everyone on the same page… it hurts when you don’t have a Paige or a Ty Harris. Now you’re asking DiJonai to play point guard… but tonight she struggled.” He emphasized that despite the setbacks, the team is committed to fighting and eventually turning things around.
Arike Ogunbowale echoed the frustration: “It’s tough not having a point guard. Hopefully we’re gonna get Paige back, and we get a little bit of rhythm.”
But even with Bueckers sidelined, deeper issues are clear. The Wings have one of the worst defensive ratings in the league (107.1), and the starting lineup has drastically underperformed. Ogunbowale, a seasoned veteran and last season’s scoring leader, managed just eight points on 4-of-10 shooting. NaLyssa Smith was nearly invisible, finishing with zero points and just two rebounds in seven minutes. Other starters—Natasha Howard, Kalani Brown, and Maddy Siegrist—also failed to make significant impact.
Coach Koclanes didn’t hold back: “We have depth. We should not be afraid to play it… if we’re not consistent in our details… there are players on the bench who are going to go out there.”
Indeed, the bench delivered 47 of the team’s 79 points—over 60% of the total offense. J. Quinerly led with 14 points in 16 minutes, while Teaira Geiselsöder posted a strong double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Her energy and consistency earned praise from the coach and could signal a shift in rotation if the starters don’t respond soon.
While the absence of Bueckers is a major factor, the Wings’ problems are systemic. Defensive breakdowns, poor starts, and ineffective rotations are plaguing this team—and fixing them will require more than one player’s return.
Still, with capable scorers on the bench and a coach willing to shake things up, there’s reason to believe a turnaround is possible. But time is running out, and Dallas needs to find its identity fast—or risk another lost season.