Dallas Wings Offseason Blueprint: Crafting a Championship Contender Around Arike Ogunbowale & Satou Sabally

by D’Joumbarey A. Moreau

The Dallas Wings already have a solid foundation with stars like Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally, but to take the team to the next level, strategic moves are essential.

With the recent hiring of Curt Miller as their new General Manager, the Wings have brought in a proven leader who has successfully built teams capable of reaching the WNBA Finals, most notably with the Connecticut Sun. Miller’s track record of assembling championship-caliber rosters gives the Wings a strong leadership presence to guide them through the next phase of their growth.

Here are the key areas the Wings should focus on to build upon their current success:

1. Draft Paige Bueckers No. 1

If the Dallas Wings are selecting with the top pick, Paige Bueckers is the clear choice. Pairing her with Arike Ogunbowale could form one of the league’s deadliest backcourts. Bueckers’ exceptional playmaking and scoring abilities would perfectly complement Ogunbowale’s offensive prowess, giving the Wings a dynamic guard duo.

Additionally, Bueckers is a versatile, efficient guard who can facilitate offense and get everyone involved. On top of her offensive skills, she is also a legitimate defender who can guard multiple positions, adding to her value on both ends of the court.

2. Strengthen the Bench

Enhancing bench depth this offseason will be a key focus for sustained success. Adding players like Julie Vanloo, Emily Engstler, Dana Evans, Victoria Vivians, and Natisha Hiedeman could provide valuable contributions off the bench.

For example, Natisha Hiedeman averaged 7.3 points and 3.3 assists per game in the 2024 season, demonstrating her ability to make an impact as a reserve. Engstler, in limited minutes (14 per game), had a career year, shooting 49% from the field and 47% from beyond the arc, while also averaging 6.2 points and four rebounds per game.

3. Develop Jacy Sheldon

The intelligent point guard Jacy Sheldon, the 5th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, showed promise in her rookie season with the Dallas Wings. She averaged 5.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, with shooting percentages of 38.6% from the field and 30.9% from three-point range. Her free-throw shooting was particularly impressive, standing at 92.6%.

Sheldon should’ve been starting from day one for the Wings, but since her insertion into the starting lineup, she has played exceptionally well and helped Dallas in many competitive games.

Next season, regardless of who they bring in at the point guard position, Sheldon should be seeing significant minutes either at the one or two-guard position due to her offensive and defensive versatility. Dallas could even consider a three-guard lineup in certain situations to maximize her development.

4. Improve Defensive Prowess

The Dallas Wings had a tough 2024 season, finishing with a 9-31 record. They averaged 40.4 minutes per game but struggled defensively, ranking among the lower tier in defensive efficiency with a rating of 111.7. Opponents consistently took advantage of this, scoring 18.2 points per game off turnovers, 12.8 points in the paint, and 40.7 fast break points.

While the Wings were effective on the glass, pulling down 24.3 defensive rebounds per game with a 68.5% defensive rebound rate, their overall defensive performance was lacking. The team’s inability to stop easy fast break points and capitalize on limiting opponent turnovers was a key factor in their struggles.

Offensively, the Wings showed flashes of promise but couldn’t find consistent production, averaging 11.4 turnovers per game. Moving forward, the focus needs to be on improving defense. Strengthening their defensive strategy and possibly bringing in defensive specialists would address some of their biggest weaknesses. If they can tighten things up on that end—especially limiting opponent fast break points and second-chance opportunities—they’ll have a better shot at turning things around in 2025.

5. Position for 2026 Free Agency

Looking ahead, the Wings should prepare to target top-tier free agents in 2026. Some of the notable players with expiring contracts this upcoming season include a litany of All-Stars, such as Kahleah Copper, Ariel Atkins, DeWanna Bonner, A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, Jackie Young, Napheesa Collier, Ezi Magbegor, Rhyne Howard, Shakira Austin, and Aliyah Boston.

Now that Miller is at the helm for the Wings, strategic planning and cap management will be essential to attract and sign these elite talents.

By focusing on these areas, the Dallas Wings can build a more competitive and balanced team, providing strong support for their star players and positioning themselves as serious contenders in the WNBA. it’s up to the Wings’ front office to make it happen.