JJ Quinerly Soaks In the Moment: Not Surprised, Just Ready

Splits, Swishes, and Solidarity: Wings Bring the Energy Ahead of Opener

by: D’Joumbarey A. Moreau

The Dallas Wings ended their practice on a high note.

A lot of energy was still inside of the building as the Wings get ready to kick off their season going against a championship contender in the Minnesota Lynx.

This was the kind of high you only get when the gym is still buzzing after the work is done. DiJonai Carrington was hitting threes while doing the splits—yes, literally.

Including Carrington, Arike Ogunbowale, Nalyssa Smith, and Ty Harris were all locked into a three-point shootout that felt more like a family cookout. It got competitive and it got loud. Exactly the type of demeanor the Wings want to play with on opening night, and throughout the season.

Paige Bueckers was quietly knocking down free throws, long after practice had officially ended.

No one really wanted to leave. The vibe? Loose. Focused. Lit.

It felt like the calm before a debut storm.

BELONGING ISN’T A FEELING—IT’S A FACT

In the middle of that storm is JJ Quinerly.

The rookie guard out of West Virginia officially made the Dallas Wings’ opening day roster. A long shot by most WNBA standards as Quinerly was a third-rounder turned professional.

However, Quinerly skipped past the odds and walked straight into the WNBA. She’s one of just two third-round picks from the 2025 WNBA Draft to make an opening day roster.

Was she shocked? Not exactly.

 

“I just feel—I would say I’m not surprised, excited, ready to work and learn,” Quinerly said post-practice. “I think I knew for myself that I was able to make it to this level and play. I think I proved that.”

And she did prove it. Quinerly was never supposed to be here, at least not on paper. She came into college unranked by ESPN in the 2021 recruiting class. However, she chose West Virginia, where she weathered the chaos of three different head coaches in four years. Somehow, she not only stuck it out—she thrived. Quinerly became just the seventh player in West Virginia program history to get drafted into the WNBA, and the first in four years.

In two preseason games, Quinerly scored 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting and did a little bit of everything—steals, assists, rebounds, you name it. But what JJ really did was look like she belonged. The energy, the control, the spacing—she looked like a Wing.

Aziaha James has known that since third grade.

“I’m very excited. We made it through training camp…we’re ready to play,” James said, looking ahead to Friday’s season opener against the Minnesota Lynx. “Ready for our gameplan.”

James and Quinerly go way back. Before the banners, before the Big 12 accolades, before the bright lights of the W. They’ve been hooping together since elementary school, and now, they’ll suit up together on a professional court.

Not just in practice, not in preseason—but under the bright lights of a sold-out College Park Center.

And Wings head coach Chris Koclanes made it plain what kind of energy the team is stepping into.

“Your home opener in front of a sold-out crowd should be all the motivation that you need. This group is young and hungry and has something to prove…and not to prove to other people, to prove to ourselves what we’re capable of.”

It’s not just about JJ making the team. It’s about the ripple effects of belief—the belief she had in herself, the belief her teammates have in each other, and the belief this locker room is starting to earn in real time.

Because if today’s practice told us anything, it’s that Dallas isn’t just building. They’re bonding. And the work is getting loud.

Just like the arena will be on Friday.