The Dallas Wings are using the 2025 season primarily to develop their rookies and figure out how to build around Paige Bueckers. The front office has already made several changes this season, moving on from NaLyssa Smith and adding Li Yueru to the roster.
After the season, more changes will undoubtedly hit the roster. Veteran Teaira McCowan might have to find a new team once she hits free agency.
McCowan is in her fourth season with the Wings, but her role has decreased significantly.
McCowan is averaging the fewest minutes of her career
McCowan is averaging 12.6 minutes, 5.1 points, and 4.1 rebounds per game this season. Those are all career lows. She has only played fifteen games, missing significant time when she suited up for the Turkish national team in June. Since her return, her minutes have dwindled.
After starting 38 games last season, McCowan started the season off the bench. New head coach Chris Koclanes still gave her meaningful minutes on the court, though. She even hit the 20-minute mark twice and regularly played over ten minutes.
The Wings’ frontcourt has undergone a lot of changes. Koclanes first started Myisha Hines-Allen and NaLyssa Smith, while relying on McCowan to come off the bench. Then, rookie Luisa Geiselsöder started to get more minutes off the bench and eventually replaced Smith in the starting lineup.
While both McCowan and Geiselsöder were playing for their national teams, the Wings traded for Li Yueru. After three games off the bench, Yueru moved into the starting lineup. First, she played alongside Smith, then next to Geiselsöder once Smith was traded to the Aces and the German forward was back with the team.
McCowan played big stretches off the bench in two games after her return, logging 16 and 22 minutes, respectively. After that, she played nine minutes twice, then four and three minutes, before getting a DNP Coach’s Decision in an 86-76 loss to the Golden State Valkyries.
McCowan’s role with the Wings has clearly changed, and she may not be a part of the team’s future.
Chris Koclanes obviously prefers to play other centers
The Wings’ young core of Paige Bueckers, Aziaha James, and JJ Quinerly has shown immense potential this season. They all like to play fast and need bigs who can run the floor and offer a versatile skill set. Li Yueru and Luisa Geiselsöder fit that description much better than McCowan.
Much like almost every veteran in the WNBA, Teaira McCowan will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Judging by how she has been utilized this season, it seems unlikely that the Wings will re-sign her, and a chance of scenery may be best for her. If she wanted to stay in Dallas and the front office wanted to keep her around, it would definitely be on a smaller contract.