The rebound has included wins over the Golden State Valkyries, Connecticut Sun and Atlanta Dream, along with an overtime loss to the Washington Mystics. It’s their most consistent stretch of the season, and the most encouraging sign yet that head coach Chris Koclanes’ system is starting to take root.
“We’ve put ourselves in a position to win five straight games,” Koclanes said. “We’ve done it a variety of ways with different combinations. I’m proud of this group for sticking with it and really buying in. Our identity is our competitive depth. Everyone can contribute on any night.”
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A defensive identity takes root
Over the past four games, the Wings have committed to defense in a way they hadn’t consistently shown earlier this season. The shift was most visible in their 68-55 win over Atlanta, where they held the Dream to 23.4% shooting and under 20 points every quarter.
“That effort tonight was just — we had a different intensity from the get-go,” Koclanes said. “To hold them under 20 points in every quarter? That’s a crazy effort… we had an intensity about us to really compete inside and out.”
That wasn’t a one-off. The Wings also limited the Valkyries to 71 points, applying ball pressure and protecting the rim with improved discipline. Koclanes has emphasized defensive versatility as a team strength, and the players are beginning to buy in.
“We just played with intensity,” said Arike Ogunbowale. “We made it a point to be aggressive … we just tried to stay aggressive for four quarters — and we did well with it.”
The Wings have begun establishing a defensive identity that was not present earlier this season. They’ve allowed just 75.0 points per game over the past four contests — 10.1 fewer than their season average — and produced a dominant effort Tuesday by holding Atlanta to 55 points and a franchise-record-low 10 in the opening quarter.
That success has stemmed from improvements in two core areas: rebounding and defensive discipline. During this stretch, Dallas has contained the opposition to shooting just 37.8% from the floor (third) while averaging a league-leading 40.8 rebounds, meaning the defense is getting into the ball to apply pressure, contesting shots and closing plays on the boards.
The Wings have brought physicality, but still need to tighten up on fouling — an area Koclanes called out after their overtime loss to the Mystics. Dallas has put opponents to the line for an average of 24.8 free throw attempts per game (second-most) over its two previous games, but an outlier game against the Mystics that featured 60 foul calls and 73 free throw attempts (41 for Washington) between both teams certainly strongly influences those numbers. Regardless, it has been a focus area all season to defend without fouling, and remains one. It was an important factor in Dallas overcoming a sluggish start but proving unable to pull out a victory.
“I like our fight. We responded and competed much harder after that first quarter, which is a positive. But yeah, you can only talk about it so much,” Koclanes emphasized after the loss against the Mytics. “Eventually, habits have to change. We’ve got to defend with our feet and lower body. No more swinging at the ball, slapping — just undisciplined stuff. And we have to demand that of ourselves, which we haven’t done yet. We’ll keep talking, teaching and challenging.”
Yueru adds a missing interior presence
Since being acquired from Seattle on June 14, Li Yueru has reshaped Dallas’ interior presence on offense and defense. She’s averaging 7.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in just four games, including a breakout performance of 10 points and a career-best 15 rebounds in the win over Atlanta in a matchup featuring Brittney Griner.
Yueru’s rebounding, touch around the basket, and rim protection have proven to be instrumental additions at 6’7 for a team lacking size, as Teaira McCowan and Luisa Geiselsöder remain away from the team due to national team obligations. As she continues acclimating in Dallas, her early impact has already earned her a starting nod, and she took full advantage against the Dream.
“She’s smart. She’s going to pick up our actions quickly,” Koclanes said. “We’re confident in her ability to space. But we’ve got to encourage her to also bring that size to the rim, put pressure on the paint, and use it for offensive rebounding.”
The Wings have provided a 90.4 defensive rating in the 94 minutes Yueru has been on the floor, along with a staggering 12.9 net rating. The sample size is still limited, but having her size in the middle has made a difference for Dallas already. The Wings have produced a -2.8 net rating in the 71 minutes Yueru has not played over the past four games, despite holding a 3-1 record. Specifically, when Yueru shares the floor with rookie guard Paige Bueckers, the team has generated an 84.1 defensive rating and a 21.1 net rating.
Yueru’s transition has been aided by familiarity with the Wings’ coaching staff members, including assistant coaches Nola Henry and Camille Smith, who were part of the Los Angeles Sparks’ staff when Yueru was on the team in 2024.
“I feel the most comfortable because my coach and teammates try to help me with everything — on the court, on the bench, in practice,” she said. “They teach me a lot, and I try to learn quickly and do the right things.”
Ogunbowale praised Yueru’s growing confidence and impact, praising how quickly she’s learned and turning it into a meaningful impact in recent games.
“She’s just an amazing player,” Ogunbowale said. “Obviously, she hasn’t been with us for long, but she’s a really smart player and she’s picking it up quickly. For her to get the start and come out with a double-double, she really got us going. She was scoring, rebounding and setting great screens. I’m glad she’s on our team.”
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While Yueru’s early impressions are impressive, Koclanes believes that the Wings are just scratching the surface of her potential. Dallas continues to work on making the most of Yueru as an interior offensive threat, but already has a strong appreciation for how hard she plays on both ends and her shooting touch to add spacing.
“I don’t think we’ve fully utilized her inside yet, but her motor is consistent — she runs the floor, sets really physical screens, and opens things up for our guards,” Koclanes said of Yueru. “She’s also got great touch from midrange, which keeps defenses honest. I’m excited to keep incorporating her more.”
Bench contributions and competitive depth
The Wings have made key tweaks to their starting five and rotation in recent games, deploying three different players into the small forward spot: DiJonai Carrington, Aziaha James and, most recently, Kaila Charles. Additionally, Myisha Hines-Allen moved to the bench in their previous outing. Dallas managed to outscore Atlanta 21-5 in bench points.
“Getting bench production is huge. Shoutout to Myisha — we made a change in direction, and her response was fantastic,” Koclanes said. “We know she can score, but she was a spark plug tonight. JJ [Quinerly] also gave great minutes. She’s had some rookie struggles, but tonight she stepped up. When the bench produces like that, it helps a lot.”
James was an X-factor against Connecticut in the prior game, scoring a career-high 17 points in a start in the second half. Carrington came off the bench in this game but suffered a rib injury, keeping her sidelined and allowing her to experiment with other combinations.
“She should be able to get in the paint and create things,” Koclanes said of James. “You saw it — dump passes, five assists, dominating the paint and playmaking. That balance is what makes it easier for Paige and Arike, too. Now the ball finds the matchup and finds the energy.”
Following the Wings’ loss to Washington, in which James started, Koclanes explained that lineup choices are part of an evolving puzzle. The team’s underwhelming opening performance seemingly led to Charles being deployed as a starter in the next game against the surging Dream. Charles finished scoreless against Atlanta, but recorded eight rebounds and three assists with a plus-six scoring differential in her 26 minutes.
“I truly believe that how we start is just the beginning of our substitution pattern. You’ll see different lineups,” he said. “Honestly, it was the smaller lineup in the second quarter, with Kaila, that really fought us back into the game. That starting group actually wasn’t great tonight. So it’s about finding lineups that work — and it could be different every night. I keep talking about it: it’s our competitive depth and searching for the right combination each game.”
After defeating Golden State, Ogunbowale praised the Wings’ professionalism amid these ongoing changes, particularly from Carrington, who went from a full-time starter to being asked to come off the bench.
“[DiJonai] came in and still did what she needed to do. She was very professional about it — regardless of whatever the coach decided, she did what she had to do,” Ogunbowale said after defeating the Valkyries. “[Aziaha] — she was confident. She was shooting her shots, the shots that were open, she was making the right plays. I think everybody responded really professionally, and that’s what we need.”
She added that unity has remained a core principle, helping the time to turn a corner as they continue to lay the groundwork. Even if something can be upsetting individually, the group remained positive through a 1-11 start to deliver its best stretch of the season.
“We’re still a new team. New coaches. And we still have to give grace to everybody, regardless,” Ogunbowale added. “We’re all competitors at the end of the day — so yes, of course we’re upset about things and this and that — but at the end of the day, we’re a team. It’s a long season, and whether it’s right or wrong, we have to be right or wrong together. I think today showed that.”
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Offense remains a work in progress
As the Wings carve out a defensive identity, offensive consistency remains a glaring area for growth. Over the last four games, Dallas has recorded a 101.9 offensive rating — better than only the Connecticut Sun (89.7) and Los Angeles Sparks (93.8) during that stretch. Despite flashes of individual brilliance from Ogunbowale and Bueckers, the Wings have struggled to sustain scoring efficiency. Ogunbowale has led the team in scoring by 18.5 points and averaged 3.5 assists. Meanwhile, Bueckers has scored 18.3 points per game and dished out 5.0 assists per contest.
Going forward, the Wings want to be even more intentional about riding momentum and hunting the proper matchups, with Buckers and Ogunbowale involved in timely ways. The offense starts with leveraging their talent and the attention they command to draw significant defensive attention — with blitzing or hedging or when the opposition tries to survive in drop coverage or guard straight up — leading to favorable shots.
“It’s about finding the balance. Paige and Arike are doing a great job communicating and feeling things out in real time,” Koclanes said. “Then it’s about matchups — who has the hot hand? Who do we need to attack defensively? We’ve got to be intentional about creating advantages, not just for the two in the action but also for those off the ball. We’re getting better and better at that as a group.”
One area to monitor has been perimeter shooting. Dallas is attempting just 20.6 3-pointers per game on the season — already among the lowest in the league — and has shot a league-worst 25.9% from beyond the arc over the past four games. Only Dallas (19.6%) and the Chicago Sky (18.8%) have generated under 20% of their points from deep during that span.
As simple as it sounds, shotmaking has been a problem. The Wings are shooting just 49.9% in true shooting percentage, ranking 12th in the league over the last four games. They’ve also averaged 15.5 turnovers, placing them ninth in that category. Dallas has leaned heavily into the mid-range, where 18.6% of its points have come during this stretch, comfortably the highest rate in the WNBA. The Wings are taking 17.0 shots from midrange per night in this four-game block, nearly as much as the team’s output on non-restricted-area paint shots (17.8) and more than their restricted area attempts (14.8).
Still, the Wings have managed to stay competitive thanks to their ability to manufacture points through physicality and second efforts. No team has averaged more made free throws (20.3), offensive rebounds (13.5) or second-chance points (15.8) during this four-game run. They also rank second in free throw attempts per game (24.8), illustrating a commitment to attacking the basket. Koclanes would like to see his players confidently take open shots from beyond the arc, without deviating from their strengths inside the line.
“I think we’ve got to step up and hit shots. We’ve been getting to the free-throw line — Li got there nine times last game — so we are putting pressure on the paint,” Koclanes explained. “But yeah, we’ve got to make open shots. Threes are worth more than twos — I get the analytics. We’re not telling them not to shoot threes. But we have to know our personnel and what’s a good shot versus what’s a better shot.”
One development that’s helped stabilize the offense has been Yueru’s emergence as a physical screener and interior presence. Her ability to create separation through handoff actions, flat screens and delay sets has been key in freeing up backcourt players like Bueckers and Ogunbowale. There was a clear progression against Atlanta, with Ogunbowale frequently bringing up Yueru into an action, with Yueru willing to work hard to come back to re-screen even if the first didn’t create an advantage. Bueckers also got to her spots at times thanks to Yueru.
“She’s a physical screener, and that’s something we needed,” Koclanes said of Yueru. “She’s starting to understand how her size can create advantages not just for herself but for others. She’s freeing up our guards, especially on those drag and delay actions.”
To fully capitalize on their recent defensive growth and rebounding edge, the Wings must find more reliable scoring options, limit turnovers and unlock greater efficiency, likely by finding ways to get up a higher volume of shots from beyond the arc.
Friday’s matchup brings the spotlight
Friday’s sold-out clash against the Indiana Fever is more than just a marquee matchup — it’s a moment of validation for the Dallas Wings and the broader growth of the WNBA. Set inside American Airlines Center, home of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, the nationally televised contest marks the first time Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark will share the court as professionals since their headline-grabbing Final Four showdown in 2024.
“This is stuff I’ve dreamed about,” Bueckers said. “Big stage, big opportunity — but we just want to win. That’s what matters most.”
Though Clark was ruled out Thursday with a groin injury and her status against Dallas remains uncertain, the anticipation surrounding the game remains sky-high. Over 20,000 fans are expected, making it the largest WNBA crowd in Texas history and one of the highest-attended regular season games in league history.
Koclanes acknowledged the magnitude of the moment while emphasizing his team’s mindset.
“We’ll have moments to look around and enjoy the big moment that this is, and you don’t want to shy away from that,” Koclanes said. “You want to appreciate it and be grateful for the opportunity that these women deserve … But once the ball tips, it’s back to business.”
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For the Wings, the spotlight is more than a spectacle — it’s a stage to reveal their evolving identity ahead of their eventual move to Dallas in 2027. Many first-time Wings ticket buyers will be in attendance in the sold-out crowd.
“It’s a celebration of the game,” Koclanes added. “But for us, it’s another opportunity to show who we are becoming. We’re building. That’s what this is about.”
Bueckers echoed that sentiment, noting that every game has meaning, but this one carries a bigger stage.
“Every single time I get to go out there and play the game of basketball I love, it’s a blessing, and you never take it for granted,” Bueckers said. “To be able to play on this platform, to get more eyes on the game, to get more respect for the game … It’s just a great opportunity for all of us.”
Ogunbowale, the only active player who remembers the Wings’ early years at College Park Center when the team played in front of half-capacity crowds behind black curtains, sees the night as a defining step forward.
“It’s just great for basketball in general,” Ogunbowale said. “That shows — from my rookie year in 2019 to now — how much the women’s game has grown and how many people want to see us play.”
The franchise’s journey from quiet gyms to center stage is happening now as the team continues to establish its identity in the Bueckers era.
