The Dallas Wings had a shockingly bad 2024 season. They had made the playoffs three straight years and reached the WNBA Semifinals in 2023, but injuries to Satou Sabally and Natasha Howard sunk their season. Dallas had the second-worst record in the W and was well outside the playoff picture.
The Wings enter the offseason with a ton of uncertainty. They have two marquee players headed for unrestricted free agency and a roster in desperate need of a shakeup. Does Dallas opt for a total rebuild or do they attempt to retool to return to the playoffs? The Wings want to win, but doing so won’t be easy.
There will be roster shakeups after a disappointing season. Dallas will have a high draft pick, but who does the franchise keep? Here are five players who are unlikely to return to the Wings for the 2025 season.
5. Lou Lopez-Senechal
Lopez-Senechal has played the fewest minutes of anyone on the Wings roster. The fifth overall pick in 2023 missed her entire rookie season with a knee injury and has done little to prove herself this year. Even in the three contests where she has played over ten minutes, the 26-year-old has scored 14 total points with four assists and two rebounds.
Lopez-Senechal is under contract for the 2025 season, but Dallas may look to move on. The 6’1 guard is playing behind Arike Ogunbowale and Jacy Sheldon, which does not leave a ton of minutes. If Lopez-Senechal cannot crack the rotation on a rebuilding squad, it is just time to let her go.
The Wings will likely be active in the trade market this summer, and Lou Lopez-Senechal will be on an expiring contract. Finding a franchise to take on money is not easy in the WNBA, but Dallas should try locating a trade partner in hopes of adding a more cohesive fit with their roster.
4. Jaelyn Brown
The Wings brought Brown to the WNBA this season after four years playing overseas. She was a standout for the University of California but went undrafted in 2020. The 6’1 guard hoped to shine in the W, but she has struggled mightily.
Brown has averaged 1.7 points and 1.4 rebounds in just 9.2 minutes per game over 13 contests. The 25-year-old cannot find consistent minutes and is a restricted free agent this summer.
The Wings likely move on and search for a more consistent contributor on the wing. Jaelyn Brown may head back overseas if she cannot catch on with another WNBA franchise.
3. Kalani Brown
The Wings have difficult decisions to make at the five. They gave up a 2025 first-round draft pick plus a second-rounder in 2024 to acquire Stephanie Soares in the 2023 draft, but she barely played this season. Dallas has Teaira McCowan and Kalani Brown locked in for multiple years and no room available for the 24-year-old.
Brown finished fourth in the Sixth Woman of the Year voting in 2023, but her numbers dipped this season, including her advanced metrics. Do the Wings look to trade the final two years of her contract to open up minutes for Soares? It could be a wise move if Dallas decides to rebuild.
The Wings need to move one of their three centers this offseason as they reshape their roster. Brown was an unexpected find who offered a ton of value in 2023, but it may be time to move on.
2. Natasha Howard
Howard played a key role in the Wings reaching the Final Four in 2023. The 6’2 forward is a two-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year. The Wings would love to keep her but are in a tricky spot.
Dallas only has one core player designation and two marquee free agents. Howard just turned 33 years old and missed time with a foot injury this season. The Wings will have to hand out a massive salary to keep her and may look to add talent elsewhere.
Howard proved she can still put up numbers, but it did not translate to wins this season. If it is time to rebuild in Dallas, moving on from the 6’2 forward is the most logical answer.
1. Satou Sabally
Sabally was a restricted free agent last summer and signed just a one-year deal to stay in Dallas. The 6’4 forward has played her entire WNBA career with the Wings, but it may be time for both sides to move on.
Sabally has struggled to stay healthy playing just 96 games over her five seasons in the W. She was the Most Improved Player and first-team All-WNBA in 2023, but injuries limited her again in 2024. The Wings do not make the semifinals without Sabally. Is that enough to keep her in Dallas?
The Wings likely designate her as a core player, but Sabally may push for a trade if that happens. The 26-year-old wants to win a WNBA championship, and Dallas feels a couple of years away from being in contention. There is no questioning Sabally’s talent, but the Wings won just three of her first 14 games played this season. That does not sound like a title challenger.
The Dallas Wings will look different in 2025. Fans have seen so many historic things in the W this season from Caitlin Clark breaking records to A’ja Wilson leaving no doubt about who is the best player. The Wings want to get back in on the excitement and that means changing their roster. Stay tuned to see what moves they make this offseason.