Latricia Trammell is at the helm of the Dallas Wings for her second consecutive season. Fierce, empathetic, and competitive, Trammell is leading her team into a new era of basketball that supersedes past years. She’s rallied a once distressed locker room, elevated the team’s playing style, and has worked with Wings President and CEO Greg Bibb to reform the team. Aware of Trammell’s personality and relatability, I knew she had a theme in store for the season.
When I asked her about the 2024 mantra, Trammell smiled at me and confirmed what she told her team: “Stand on it,” she replied.
The Dallas Wings commenced the 2023 season on a high, which the franchise is looking to accelerate in this year’s campaign. Dallas achieved a 22-18 record under its first-year head coach, finished the season as a top-four seed, and made a second-round playoff appearance. On top of that, the Wings were the only team to beat the giants of the league: Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, and Connecticut Sun.
Franchise cornerstones Satou Sabally was named the Most Improved Player of the Year, and Arike Ogunbowale had one of her best seasons yet. The 2023 campaign can be best described as successful, reaching new heights the organization has longed to soar to. Though they weren’t able to make it to the WNBA Finals and compete for a championship, the Wings had their greatest season since relocating to Texas.
Bibb recognized the significance of last season and made strides to keep the foundation intact. He tested free agency sparingly, retaining Sevgi Uzun and Jaelyn Brown, while moving on from players Veronica Burton, Crystal Dangerfield, and Diamond DeShields. Sabally was signed to a one-year extension for the 2024 campaign, while Kalani Brown was signed to a multi-year, protected deal. Stephanie Soares’ rookie contract was exercised, Lou Lopez Sénéchal is back healthy after sitting out her rookie year to injury, and Jacy Sheldon, from Ohio State, was drafted No. 5 overall by Dallas in the 2024 draft.
All things considered, I take Trammell’s theme as a warning call. The Wings have always been regarded as a highly competitive team, but this new era in Dallas calls for business to be handled. To me, “stand on it” signifies that the franchise is ready to walk into the modern age, lean into its talent, and turn its potential into capability.
Starting the Season Off High
Dallas’ 2024 final roster included a mix of seasoned players and veterans, budding talent and rookies seeking to soak in the experience. Many are skeptical of how exactly the Wings improved their roster after releasing two of their guards and bringing in players who don’t have similar experience. However, it’s a good thing that perspective can always shift.
Squad is set.
Your 2024 Opening Night roster! @bswhealth | #VoltUp⚡️ pic.twitter.com/SJqwV9dPEd
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) May 13, 2024
During the Wings’ preseason game versus the Indiana Fever, we saw flashes of how great this team could be, even with the absence of Sabally. Jaelyn Brown scored 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including three made perimeter shots. Uzun only scored two points, but she also carried five rebounds, three assists, and sturdy defense, while Sheldon recorded six points and two assists. The roster was still being determined during this preseason matchup, but these three players showed promise and matched the style of the new-look Wings, ultimately securing their spots.
Once cuts were final, it was clear who Dallas wanted as its core. The Wings’ refreshed offense would be centered around Ogunbowale, Sabally, Kalani Brown, Teaira McCowan, Maddy Siegrist, and Natasha Howard.
Family 🤞 pic.twitter.com/yOfPkKznvK
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) May 6, 2024
With the additions of [Jaelyn] Brown, Uzun, and Sheldon, and Soares and Lopez Sénéchal now in the fold, the core of the Wings have complementary pieces to remain a top-four seed that could also see an edge up this year. It may be a while before we see Dallas at full strength due to the injury bug plaguing the team to start the season once again. Sabally, Howard, and [Jaelyn] Brown are currently sidelined, with Brown scheduled to return first.
As a bright spot, the organization welcomed Monique Billings, who was recently released by the Los Angeles Sparks, on a hardship contract until the team is back to at least 10 players. Altogether, the Wings could cause some major problems for competitors this year despite falling to multiple injuries. While the team at 100% is more of a threat, this Dallas team operating without a few of its major pieces is still managing to make some noise.
In the first two matchups of the season, the Wings faced the Chicago Sky and split the wins, 1-1. Each game had something special, like the first matchup which saw Angel Reese’s WNBA debut, and rallied stars like rapper Latto, NBA legend and longtime Dallas Maverick Dirk Nowitzki, and Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey. The second matchup included a 35-point Ogunbowale performance with a four-quarter masterclass, and a Chicago Sky win that put first-year head coach Teresa Weatherspoon in the win column.
A fall to the Sky this early in the season doesn’t signal a panic, especially when the team is down three starters. What should be studied here is how Trammell rallies her team and what her rotations are amid missing key players. Lineups have always been difficult for the Wings to manage because of the many talented players acquired. Therefore, in the words of Trammell and her theme for this season, it’s time for the Wings to stand on it and use their new pieces to bolster the team until injured players are back in action.
The Future is Now: 2026 Facility Plans
On April 24, the Dallas Wings announced plans with the City of Dallas Council Members of an approved agreement, including the WNBA, of 15 years and a $19 million investment for the team to use the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center beginning in 2026. The Dallas Memorial Auditorium, which was once a standalone building, will be renovated especially for the Wings. This move comes on the heels of teams like the Seattle Storm, Connecticut Sun, Phoenix Mercury, Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, and more investing in their players with updated locker rooms and state of the art facilities.
2024 free agency has shown that WNBA players are considering more factors when determining their next location. Facilities, including practice arenas, and adequate training grounds have become a standard that players are letting us know is important now more than ever. Nneka Ogwumike shared that she never thought the moment would come where she’d experience a state-of-the-art facility.
“I think I went through a stage in my free agency of being OK with saying things like that aren’t important,” said Ogwumike during a press conference.
Other players like Skylar Diggins-Smith, Kahleah Copper, and Courtney Williams have shared Ogwumike’s sentiments when deciding to sign to their new respective teams.
Dallas is looking to remain as top contender, and that includes off-the-court proceedings, as well. The Wings’ current arena at College Park Center in Arlington currently seats 7,000, approximately 2,800 less than the team’s prospective arena. According to the Dallas City News, Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson advocated for the team’s move downtown to attract more spectators, which also serves as a more central location and an easier commute for fans.
“This deal has been a top priority for us because we know the Dallas Wings will soar in the city they represent…” Johnson said. “Now is the right time to provide our world class athletes with a world class venue to train and play and our fans with a best-of-class arena to call home.”
Achieving a second-round playoffs appearance and ranking fourth last season paired with a new facility loading in 2026 signifies that Dallas wants to be a premiere destination. WNBA fans have long called for organization’s to invest in the players, as well as receiving support from host cities. Now, we see locations like Seattle, Phoenix, and now Dallas willing to make those dreams and calls to action a reality.
Expectations for 2024 Campaign
When analyzing the Dallas Wings’ ascension over the past few years, I believe the franchise is right where it needs to be at the perfect time. The Wings have two of the tallest players in the league in [Kalani] Brown and McCowan, franchise-caliber players in Ogunbowale and Sabally, and a head coach in Trammell who resonates strongly with her players. As I mentioned in Beyond the Byline: A WNBA Podcast, the Dallas Wings currently rank as a top-five team for me even without Sabally to start the season. Sabally’s absence does leave room for concern, but I don’t see Dallas falling low in the ranks because it has the proper tools to be successful now.
My expectations for the Wings are simple: lead the league in rebounds, improve the team’s offensive chemistry and efficiency, and record a low number of fouls. I believe the Dallas Wings can sustain themselves and beat any given team on any night. However, when distracted or in their heads, the Wings are their own worst enemy. By having the fundamentals down like rebounding and limiting fouls, the Wings can manage their offensive game better without mulling over petty mistakes.
All eyes are on Trammell and her squad to stand on it, and show us that this Wings team is the real deal. Competing through injuries and new roster moves are part of the game, but what separates the rest from the best is how you manage through adversity.
Do you think the Dallas Wings have what it takes to go all the way in 2024?
