From the moment that the Dallas Wings won the WNBA Draft Lottery and the ability to draft Paige Bueckers, the excitement and expectations for Wings' season skyrocketed. Yet as we near the end of the regular season, the Wings have sole possession of last place in the WNBA, which might be right where they want to be.
After drafting Bueckers, the offseason moves to bring in the likes of DiJonai Carrington, NaLyssa Smith, Ty Harris and Myisha Hines-Allen all signaled a desire to win this season and change the culture that had been set in Dallas previously. That desire to win did not seem to last the entire season.
Wings choose the future over the present
By the time the trade deadline approached, both Carrington and Smith had been traded out for more long term pieces. Diamond Miller came over from the Lynx, while Smith was able to bring a Las Vegas first round pick in a stacked 2027 draft.
Those moves were concessions to the fact that this year would not be the year that the Wings would be making the playoffs, and understandably so, as they were sitting at a record of 8-22 when the trade deadline arrived. They also were moves that showed that the tank was on, which was the right move to make.
Paige Bueckers has absolutely excelled in her rookie season, but it is unclear how many of the pieces surrounding her currently on the roster will be with her as they try and pursue a championship. If the Wings are able to win the draft lottery they will have another foundational piece that will be set as a pillar of the Wings franchise next to Bueckers.
There are a couple of options that the Wings could go with if they do win the right to pick at the #1 position in the 2026 WNBA Draft and even potentially franchise changing players if the worst case scenario happens and they drop in the lottery.
The Wings have the chance to make a big move in 2026
The most clear need for this Wings team is size and there is a top prospect that can absolutely fill that need, UCLA's Lauren Betts. The 6' 7" center provides rim protection and an offensive bag in the paint that has increased by the year.
In addition to what she can bring for her own production, she can absolutely make the life of Paige Bueckers easier. Bueckers excelled working with a screener during her time at UConn but the Wings don't currently have a player that is a top level screener. Betts can come in and be that for Bueckers to help alleviate defensive pressure and make her Bueckers' shot creation simpler.
The other main contender for that number one pick selection is a player that is very familiar with winning championships with Paige Bueckers, UConn's Azzi Fudd. Fudd is an absolute sniper and showed incredible growth in ball handling, getting to the rim, and truly taking over a game after having a healthy season last year. The health is certainly a concern but the results when Fudd and Bueckers have been on a court together are undeniable.
No matter who they pick in the draft lottery, General Manager Curt Miller made the right decision. Cut your losses on this season and look ahead to the next five years, the next 10 years, and go after the top pick in this draft. You can call it tanking, I will call it the correct strategy in building the Wings into a contender.