The Dallas Wings has wrapped the team's preseason, and with that came two more roster cuts. On Sunday the team announced both rookie Maison Scott and Mai Yamamoto have been waived, bringing the team's roster down to 13 players — just one over the league maximum of 12.
Scott was drafted by the Wings as the No. 14 overall pick in this year's WNBA Draft after a stellar season with Ole Miss, where she had a strong defensive presence and versatile wing. Throughout her time at Ole Miss Scott demonstrated a remarkable ability to take on whatever role is needed at any given time, and the result is that she's maximized every skill and can hang with the best of them at either end of the court.
Yamamoto signed a training camp contract with the Wings in February. She's been on the Toyota Antelopes since the 2017-18 season, and the 25-year-old averaged 11.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals this year. The cut comes a day after the Wings beat the Antelopes 119-52 in a preseason exhibition game.
What's next for the Dallas Wings
Last week Coach Chris Koclanes acknowledged the difficulty that comes with making roster cuts before the season begins. "It’s hard. These last cuts aren’t going to be easy," he told reporters at training camp. "Lots of conversations with our GM group about what the roster’s going to look like and what players nine through 12 can add and bring to our culture in such a foundational year. You balance the on-court with some of the intangibles and look at it holistically."
The Wings will still need to waive one more player by May 15, and at present it's not immediately clear who the team might select. In addition to Scott, the Wings also drafted Paige Bueckers (whose position on the team is not in jeopardy), Aziaha James, JJ Quinerly, and Aaronette Vonheh.
The team waived Vonleh, the No. 31 overall draft pick this year, on May 7. The 6'3" center played at Baylor for one season where she earned All-Big 12 honors and averaged 14.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. The Wings also previously waived Mikiah Herbert Harrigan and McKenzie Forbes after their preseason match against the Aces.
The Wings are on something of a resurrection tour this season after finishing last year as 11th in the league with a .225 winning percentage — their worst since 2011.