The Dallas Wings have stumbled out of the gate in the 2025 WNBA season, starting 0-2 after falling to the Seattle Storm 79-71.
Despite entering the season with optimism and fresh talent such as Paige Bueckers, head coach Chris Koclanes made it clear that changes in effort and consistency must happen fast.
Speaking candidly after the game, Koclanes addressed the need for a culture of continuous effort. “It’s going to take a level of hard work and effort that we have within us but hasn’t been demanded of us consistently all the time.
“We’ve got to continue to find our tempo. It’s hard when you give up a 30-point quarter – you’re taking the ball out of the hoop the whole time. So now you’ve got to really execute in the half-court.
“It’s a game of runs. The more you can get stops, now you can get out and run in the open floor. But I didn’t even think we were good in the open floor tonight.”
The defeat against Seattle exposed several issues. The Wings allowed 31 points in the second quarter alone and couldn’t find rhythm offensively, hitting only 4 of 19 attempts from beyond the arc. While the team showed flashes of potential, including a strong outing by their top rookie, the lack of cohesion and urgency ultimately cost them the game.
Rookie Paige Bueckers stays grounded
Paige Bueckers, selected No. 1 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, showed why she’s been such a highly anticipated addition. She scored 19 points and added eight assists and five rebounds, but even that wasn’t enough to lift her team.
Bueckers opened up about adjusting to the professional level, especially coming from powerhouse UConn where winning was expected.
“I think I’ve come to that realization that I’ve been extremely blessed and fortunate to be in great situations in high school and in college,” she said.
Now facing adversity early in her pro career, Bueckers is focused on learning, adapting, and helping build a winning culture in Dallas.
Though she impressed individually, the Wings struggled to gel as a unit. Much of that can be attributed to this being a young team with new coaching leadership. Koclanes, who took over the helm this season, is still implementing his system and holding his players to high standards.
For the Wings, the key to turning things around lies in the locker room. The message from their coach is clear: talent alone won’t cut it. Execution, hustle, and accountability are non-negotiable.
With plenty of games left in the season, the Dallas Wings still have time to regroup. Whether they rise to the challenge may depend on how quickly they can internalize Koclanes’ message and bring a more complete effort each time they hit the floor.
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