The forward is a WNBA champion who, like the rest of the Wings, is trying to find her footing with so many new pieces around her. Dallas head coach Chris Koclanes told reporters before a game against the Minnesota Lynx, Hines-Allen’s former team, on Wednesday that she was brought to Dallas for her leadership in the locker room and to help the team build a solid foundation. She has been doing that so far, but Koclanes is also looking for her to have an expanded role as a facilitator and be more of a scorer.
“[We are] putting her in position to make plays for her teammates while also still finding opportunities to score,” Koclanes said. “I think she has passed up on some easy buckets, so she needs to still remain aggressive to score the ball and then let the reads happen. Sometimes she wants to pass it too much.”
Hines-Allen brings a wealth of experience, beginning her career with the Washington Mystics as a second-round draft pick. She played there for six years and helped the team win a WNBA championship in 2019. She also had a hand in helping the Lynx make the WNBA Finals after being traded to the team in 2024.
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She has been a teacher for the rookies as well as slightly more experienced players like 24-year-old forward NaLyssa Smith. At the Wings’ preseason media day on May 7, Hines-Allen told reporters that one of the ways she leads by example is by coming to work every day with a smile on her face and being grateful for the opportunity to play basketball.
“Coming to work every single day wanting to get better [and] … learning that you’re never too big for the moment is kind of like [the] biggest thing that I try to teach them,” she said.
Building chemistry on the fly
One of the biggest challenges for the Wings this season is getting everyone comfortable playing with each other. The team is still searching for its first win, with an 0-4 record. But there has been good chemistry down low between Hines-Allen and Smith, where Hines-Allen has been able to find Smith for a high-percentage shot.
This was showcased in a game against the Seattle Storm on May 19 in which Hines-Allen had six assists and Smith had 12 points.
Smith said Hines-Allen is a vet who has helped her “explore different options” on the court.
“She’s a great passer [and] she’s always ready to look for you,” Smith told The Next on Wednesday. “And, I mean, she just opens up the floor for us bigs.”
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For Hines-Allen, being on a team with new players and new coaches is both one of the easiest and one of the hardest parts of helping the team build chemistry.
“I have not played with anyone [on the Wings] in America. I’ve played with [Smith and center Teaira McCowan overseas],” Hines-Allen said. “That’s the hardest part, but the easiest part at the same time, because it is like we’re going through this growth together, and to see [how] it is going to turn out at the end of the season and years to come is exciting.”
Hines-Allen has been playing more at the five than the four position as the Wings’ starting center. At 6’1, she is a bit undersized, but her toughness shows every time she steps on the floor. Guard Arike Ogunbowale described Hines-Allen on Wednesday as a dog who has the team’s back no matter what.
“[You all] see how she is built, so nobody really wants to mess with her,” Ogunbowale told reporters. “She is a fun person to be around. Playing against her, I didn’t really know her personality, and finally playing with her, she’s the sweetest person, [is] funny and always keeps the energy light. She’s really good at basketball [and has] a good basketball IQ, so it’s amazing to have her on the team.”
Hines-Allen is a facilitating post player who will just get better as she gets more comfortable in that role with Dallas.
“The team’s been … great to me and great for me,” she told The Next on Wednesday.
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The Next’s Terry Horstman contributed reporting for this story.
