The Dallas Wings have signaled that they’re ready for some massive changes, making a major staff move on the eve of the WNBA Finals to solidify the future for their star, Paige Bueckers.
Dallas Wings Make Franchise Dominoes Fall With Their Surprise Staff Move
The Wings struck gold by acquiring Connecticut Huskies point guard Paige Bueckers with the first pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Despite Bueckers’s strong season, it wasn’t enough, as the Wings missed the postseason. This set the stage for a major change, as the team announced the firing of head coach Chris Koclanes after just one season.
Chris Koclanes will not return as head coach of the Dallas Wings. pic.twitter.com/bk1ewqqc3M
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) September 30, 2025
The team announced the move on Tuesday (Sept. 30) in a simple post on X. “As we enter a pivotal point in our team’s future, we felt a change in leadership at this time was best for our organization,” wrote Dallas general manager Curt Miller in a separate statement. “The Dallas Wings remain dedicated to their pursuit of WNBA Championships and building upon the strong culture established on and off the court.”
Koclanes was brought in to replace Latricia Trammell, who had coached the Wings for the last two seasons. Under his watch, the Wings missed the playoffs for the second straight season with a 10-34 record after dropping 11 of their first 12 games, tying the Chicago Sky for the worst record in the league.
The Wings’ move is a sign that they have a grand plan to construct the team around Bueckers, with all eyes on four-time All-Star guard Arike Ogunbowale potentially leaving Dallas as a free agent in the offseason. Bueckers averaged 5.4 assists and 19.2 points per game this past season, and her success did cut into Ogunbowale’s numbers as she saw her touches decrease.
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In an article for Fansided, writer Chelsea Leite picked Ogunbowale as a definite departure, but also noted that Dallas will have a lot of flexibility to change the roster given that they have 10 other free agents, including Myisha Hines-Allen and Tyasha Harris.
The team is guaranteed a high draft pick in 2026, and if they get the top selection, they could take UCLA’s Lauren Betts or Buecker’s former Huskies teammate, Azzi Fudd.
Another sign of the Wings’ deepening commitment to Bueckers and building a championship team is their $49 million practice facility currently being built and the team’s decision to play in the Dallas Memorial Arena instead of Arlington upon its completion.
thank you god for listening to the peoples prayers 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/L3DLXPqpwR
— mel (@cmckittle) September 30, 2025
Koclanes’ dismissal makes him the third head coach parting ways with their team after the WNBA’s regular season ended. The New York Liberty split with Sandy Brondello, and the Seattle Storm parted with Noelle Quinn. Wings fans met the news online with exultation, with one X user posting a meme of Bueckers with the caption “smiling through it all, can’t believe this is my life.”
