Dallas Wings star and 2025 No. 1 WNBA draft pick Paige Bueckers is doing her best to recruit players to the team while she's in Miami for Unrivaled's second season, but the city she plays in might be in her way.
In an podcast interview that's making the rounds on social media, Bueckers is asked to choose between Miami and Dallas. She smiles and chooses her WNBA hometown, and then later adds, "You hear that? Free agents, Dallas is the place to be."
The Wings received disappointing news this week
Unfortunately for Bueckers, the city of Dallas might stand in the way of free agents signing on with the Wings. This week Wings CEO Greg Bibb told The Dallas Morning News that construction on the team's planned $48.6 million training facility has been delayed, and now the facility is not expected to open until the spring of 2027.
That update comes on the back of a May 2025 announcement in which the team's ownership said Memorial Auditorium, which lies at the heart of the city, will not be ready to host WNBA games until 2027 as well.
Both projects were expected to be completed this year. The Wings currently play their games at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, which can hold around 7,000 fans for a basketball game — a far cry from other WNBA arenas, which can hold at least 18,000 people.
Bibb also appeared to make it clear that the delay is the fault of the city, not ownership. "Obviously I’m disappointed that we’re not getting ready to move into two facilities that we thought we were going to be moving into when we signed the agreement," he told the outlet. "But I do believe in the city and its leadership."
WNBA free agency is on hold until a new CBA is signed
Of course, conversations surrounding free agency are on hold until a new CBA is signed. The WNBA and the players agreed to a moratorium on league business this week, which effectively pauses this year's period of free agency (which was expected to begin January 11). The majority of the league will be available once conversations surrounding free agency can begin.
That puts Bueckers' appeal to other players in a compelling context. As one of the brightest young stars in the league, Bueckers likely has some sway — but only time will tell if veterans are willing to forego improved facilities to play alongside her for a season or two.