Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) celebrated after guard Arike Ogunbowale made a three-point basket during the first half of a game against the Las Vegas Aces at College Park Center on June 15, 2026, in Arlington.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
With a rising superstar and an imminent move to downtown Dallas, the Wings might be in the running for most exciting pro sports franchise in North Texas.
The franchise is one of the WNBA’s oldest, dating back to 1998, but is now in its third city in under 30 years. The team has three WNBA titles from its time in Detroit, but has struggled through some awful seasons in the years since.
Now, the Wings future rests with its young stars, led by consecutive No. 1 picks Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd who are hoping to lead Dallas back to the postseason for the first time since 2023.
Article continues below this ad
Here’s what to know about the Wings:
In 2008, Detroit Shock forward Pienette Pierson (23) and teammates were greeted by fans after they defeated the San Antonio Silver Stars in Game 2 of the WNBA basketball finals. The Shock relocated to Tulsa, Okla., for the 2010 season, then to North Texas in 2016 to become the Dallas Wings.
Eric Gay/AP
History
The Dallas Wings were founded as the Detroit Shock, one of the WNBA’s first two expansion teams in 1998. The team went on to great success and won WNBA titles in 2003, 2006 and 2008. Those teams were led by head coach Bill Laimbeer and stars like Deanna Nolan and Cheryl Ford.
The Shock relocated to Tulsa, Okla., for the 2010 season. In its six seasons there, the team missed the playoffs every year except 2015 when they made a run to the Western Conference Finals. Despite the lack of success, the Tulsa era featured the arrival of several notable players in franchise history, including Skylar Diggins and Liz Cambage.
Article continues below this ad
The team was moved yet again in 2016, this time to North Texas where it was renamed the Dallas Wings. The Wings made the playoffs five times since that move. Their deepest run came in 2023 when they were swept in the semifinals by the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces.
The future of the Dallas Wings rests with young stars like guards Paige Bueckers (left) and Azzi Fudd. The pair hopes to lead Dallas back to the postseason.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Key players
Here are some key players from the 2026 roster:
Paige Bueckers: 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year, All-Star and All-WNBA Second Team. No. 1 overall pick in 2025 WNBA draft.
Article continues below this ad
Arike Ogunbowale: Four-time WNBA All-Star, three-time All-WNBA selection, 2020 WNBA scoring champion and two-time WNBA All-Star Game MVP
Azzi Fudd: 2026 No. 1 overall pick, 2026 first team All-American and 2025 NCAA Champion at UConn.
Jessica Shepard: Notable offseason signing in April 2026. Finished third in Sixth Player of the Year voting in 2025.
Notable personnel
Chairman and majority owner: Bill Cameron
CEO and managing partner: Greg Bibb
Executive vice president and general manager: Curt Miller
Head coach: Jose Fernandez
Article continues below this ad
Arlington Arena
The Wings have played their home games at UT-Arlington’s College Park Center since they moved to North Texas in 2016. The venue is also home to some of UTA’s varsity teams and seats around 7,000 spectators.
The team is set to move to a renovated Memorial Auditorium in downtown Dallas. The move was initially going to be before the 2026 season, but delays have created uncertainty about when they will finally begin to play in the city. The Wings will need to wait until at least 2028 with Victory Park’s American Airlines Center being discussed as an option for 2027 home games.
Related: Wings CEO still has sights set on downtown Dallas amid planned moves for Mavs, Stars
Former WNBA player Nancy Lieberman, nicknamed “Lady Magic”, received a Dallas Wings jersey from CEO and Managing Partner Greg Bibb during a timeout in the Atlanta Dream game at College Park Center in Arlington on May 12, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Legends
While the Wings don’t have an official franchise Hall of Fame, here are some notable players and coaches from its history.
Article continues below this ad
Position, name, tenure, notable accomplishments with the franchise
Guard Deanna Nolan, 2001-09, three-time WNBA Champion, five-time All-Star, 2006 WNBA Finals MVP
Guard Arike Ogunbowale, 2019-present, all-time leading scorer in franchise history
Guard Skylar Diggins-Smith, 2013-19, four-time All-Star, three-time all-WNBA selection
Center Liz Cambage, 2011, 2013 and 2018, two-time WNBA All-Star and 2018 all-WNBA First Team, set the WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points July 17, 2018
Article continues below this ad
Head coach Nancy Lieberman, 1998-2000, franchise’s inaugural coach and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer
Head coach and general manager Bill Laimbeer, 2002-09, three WNBA titles as coach and 2003 WNBA Coach of the Year