Dallas Wings head coach Chris Koclanes is keeping all options open as he fine-tunes his lineup for the upcoming WNBA season. After finishing 13th in the standings and winning just nine of their 40 regular season games, Koclanes has been tasked with reviving this sleeping giant that was considered one of the league’s juggernauts in the early-2000s.
Koclanes’ job will not be easy, but he will be accompanied by top-tier talent along the way. Arike Ogunbowale is a four-time All-Star who ranked second in the WNBA in scoring last season. 6’7 center Teaira McCowan offers an established post player capable of rebounding and blocking shots at a high level. DiJonai Carrington and NaLyssa Smith were brought in this offseason to add some experience and depth to the lineup.
The Wings also landed the No. 1 pick in 2025, with the highly sought-after college star Paige Bueckers signing with Dallas.
Koclanes Reveals Strategy As He Aims To Find ‘Balance’ Within Wings’ Rotation
It will be interesting to see how Koclanes approaches the first few games of the season. The former USC assistant has plenty of options with a deep Wings roster to turn to.
Ogunbowale, Carrington, Bueckers and Tyasha Harris are all talented guards. Forwards Smith, Maddy Siegrist and Myisha Hines-Allen are over 6 feet tall and are all capable starters. In McCowan, Aaronette Vonleh and Luisa Geiselsoder, Dallas has three bigs that can be rotated into the lineup.
Koclanes was recently asked by WNBA reporter Joey Mistretta how he plans to rotate his lineup and what his approach will be for the upcoming season.
“We’re going to explore lots of different ways to play. There’s something about a rhythm that players like understanding if they’re starting, around what time in the game they’re coming in. So there’s a balance, right?” Koclanes said.
“Giving them some predictability, but also as a staff having some sort of flexibility to respond to what’s happening in the game and throw different combinations at them.”
I asked Wings HC Chris Koclanes about how he plans to balance small and big starting lineups in 2025:
“We’re going to explore lots of different ways to play. There’s something about a rhythm that players like understanding if they’re starting, around what time in the game…
— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) May 5, 2025
The main question surrounding the Wings lineup remains Ogunbowale and Bueckers chemistry on the court. Ogunbowale was the central figure in the Wings offense last season and should be the No. 1 option once again. Bueckers is entering her rookie season, but as a point guard, she is accustomed to bringing the ball up and running the offense.
Koclanes has a few different routes he can take. His approach could be to start a smaller lineup with more of a run-and-gun style of play. The newly-appointed coach could also go in another direction, selecting a bigger lineup and prioritizing defense.
For now, Koclanes remains flexible and the first few weeks of the season should be key in determining which players earn their spot in the starting lineup.