Subscribe now to our sister publication The IX<\/a> and receive our independent women\u2019s sports newsletter six days a week. Learn more about your favorite athletes and teams around the world competing in soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers. <\/p>\n Readers of The Next now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.<\/p>\n A defensive identity takes root<\/p>\n Over the past four games, the Wings have committed to defense in a way they hadn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThat effort tonight was just \u2014 we had a different intensity from the get-go,\u201d Koclanes said. \u201cTo hold them under 20 points in every quarter? That\u2019s a crazy effort\u2026 we had an intensity about us to really compete inside and out.\u201d<\/p>\n That wasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just played with intensity,\u201d said Arike Ogunbowale<\/a>. \u201cWe made it a point to be aggressive \u2026 we just tried to stay aggressive for four quarters \u2014 and we did well with it.\u201d<\/p>\n The Wings have begun establishing a defensive identity that was not present earlier this season. They\u2019ve allowed just 75.0 points per game over the past four contests \u2014 10.1 fewer than their season average \u2014 and produced a dominant effort Tuesday by holding Atlanta to 55 points and a franchise-record-low 10 in the opening quarter.<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Wings have brought physicality, but still need to tighten up on fouling \u2014 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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI 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,\u201d Koclanes emphasized after the loss against the Mytics. \u201cEventually, habits have to change. We\u2019ve got to defend with our feet and lower body. No more swinging at the ball, slapping \u2014 just undisciplined stuff. And we have to demand that of ourselves, which we haven\u2019t done yet. We\u2019ll keep talking, teaching and challenging.\u201d<\/p>\n Yueru adds a missing interior presence<\/p>\n Since being acquired from Seattle on June 14, Li Yueru<\/a> has reshaped Dallas\u2019 interior presence<\/a> on offense and defense. She\u2019s 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<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Yueru\u2019s rebounding, touch around the basket, and rim protection have proven to be instrumental additions at 6\u20197 for a team lacking size, as Teaira McCowan<\/a> and Luisa Geisels\u00f6der<\/a> 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s smart. She\u2019s going to pick up our actions quickly,\u201d Koclanes said. \u201cWe\u2019re confident in her ability to space. But we\u2019ve got to encourage her to also bring that size to the rim, put pressure on the paint, and use it for offensive rebounding.\u201d<\/p>\n 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<\/a>, the team has generated an 84.1 defensive rating and a 21.1 net rating.\u00a0<\/p>\n Yueru\u2019s transition has been aided by familiarity with the Wings\u2019 coaching staff members, including assistant coaches Nola Henry and Camille Smith<\/a>, who were part of the Los Angeles Sparks\u2019 staff when Yueru was on the team in 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel the most comfortable because my coach and teammates try to help me with everything \u2014 on the court, on the bench, in practice,\u201d she said. \u201cThey teach me a lot, and I try to learn quickly and do the right things.\u201d<\/p>\n Ogunbowale praised Yueru\u2019s growing confidence and impact, praising how quickly she\u2019s learned and turning it into a meaningful impact in recent games.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s just an amazing player,\u201d Ogunbowale said. \u201cObviously, she hasn\u2019t been with us for long, but she\u2019s a really smart player and she\u2019s 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\u2019m glad she\u2019s on our team.\u201d<\/p>\n Tune in to Locked On Women\u2019s Basketball<\/strong><\/p>\n Here at The Next, in addition to the 24\/7\/365 written content our staff provides, we also host the daily Locked On Women\u2019s Basketball<\/a> podcast. Join us Monday through Saturday each week as we discuss all things WNBA, collegiate basketball, basketball history and much more. Listen wherever you find podcasts or watch on YouTube.<\/p>\n While Yueru\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019ve fully utilized her inside yet, but her motor is consistent \u2014 she runs the floor, sets really physical screens, and opens things up for our guards,\u201d Koclanes said of Yueru. \u201cShe\u2019s also got great touch from midrange, which keeps defenses honest. I\u2019m excited to keep incorporating her more.\u201d<\/p>\n Bench contributions and competitive depth<\/strong><\/p>\n 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<\/a>, Aziaha James<\/a> and, most recently, Kaila Charles<\/a>. Additionally, Myisha Hines-Allen<\/a> moved to the bench in their previous outing. Dallas managed to outscore Atlanta 21-5 in bench points.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cGetting bench production is huge. Shoutout to Myisha \u2014 we made a change in direction, and her response was fantastic,\u201d Koclanes said. \u201cWe know she can score, but she was a spark plug tonight. JJ [Quinerly] also gave great minutes. She\u2019s had some rookie struggles, but tonight she stepped up. When the bench produces like that, it helps a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cShe should be able to get in the paint and create things,\u201d Koclanes said of James. \u201cYou saw it \u2014 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Following the Wings\u2019 loss to Washington, in which James started, Koclanes explained that lineup choices are part of an evolving puzzle. The team\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI truly believe that how we start is just the beginning of our substitution pattern. You\u2019ll see different lineups,\u201d he said. \u201cHonestly, it was the smaller lineup in the second quarter, with Kaila, that really fought us back into the game. That starting group actually wasn\u2019t great tonight. So it\u2019s about finding lineups that work \u2014 and it could be different every night. I keep talking about it: it\u2019s our competitive depth and searching for the right combination each game.\u201d<\/p>\n After defeating Golden State, Ogunbowale praised the Wings\u2019 professionalism amid these ongoing changes, particularly from Carrington, who went from a full-time starter to being asked to come off the bench.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201c[DiJonai] came in and still did what she needed to do. She was very professional about it \u2014 regardless of whatever the coach decided, she did what she had to do,\u201d Ogunbowale said after defeating the Valkyries. \u201c[Aziaha] \u2014 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\u2019s what we need.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re still a new team. New coaches. And we still have to give grace to everybody, regardless,\u201d Ogunbowale added. \u201cWe\u2019re all competitors at the end of the day \u2014 so yes, of course we\u2019re upset about things and this and that \u2014 but at the end of the day, we\u2019re a team. It\u2019s a long season, and whether it\u2019s right or wrong, we have to be right or wrong together. I think today showed that.\u201d<\/p>\n Order \u2018Rare Gems\u2019 and save 30% If you enjoy his coverage of women\u2019s basketball every Wednesday at The IX, you will love \u201cRare Gems: How Four Generations of Women Paved the Way for the WNBA.\u201d Click the link below to order<\/a> and enter MEGDAL30<\/strong> at checkout.<\/p>\n Offense remains a work in progress<\/p>\n 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 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n 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 \u2014 with blitzing or hedging or when the opposition tries to survive in drop coverage or guard straight up \u2014 leading to favorable shots.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about finding the balance. Paige and Arike are doing a great job communicating and feeling things out in real time,\u201d Koclanes said. \u201cThen it\u2019s about matchups \u2014 who has the hot hand? Who do we need to attack defensively? We\u2019ve got to be intentional about creating advantages, not just for the two in the action but also for those off the ball. We\u2019re getting better and better at that as a group.\u201d<\/p>\n One area to monitor has been perimeter shooting. Dallas is attempting just 20.6 3-pointers per game on the season \u2014 already among the lowest in the league \u2014 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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\u2019ve 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\u2019s output on non-restricted-area paint shots (17.8) and more than their restricted area attempts (14.8).\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019ve got to step up and hit shots. We\u2019ve been getting to the free-throw line \u2014 Li got there nine times last game \u2014 so we are putting pressure on the paint,\u201d Koclanes explained. \u201cBut yeah, we\u2019ve got to make open shots. Threes are worth more than twos \u2014 I get the analytics. We\u2019re not telling them not to shoot threes. But we have to know our personnel and what\u2019s a good shot versus what\u2019s a better shot.\u201d<\/p>\n One development that\u2019s helped stabilize the offense has been Yueru\u2019s 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\u2019t create an advantage. Bueckers also got to her spots at times thanks to Yueru.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s a physical screener, and that\u2019s something we needed,\u201d Koclanes said of Yueru. \u201cShe\u2019s starting to understand how her size can create advantages not just for herself but for others. She\u2019s freeing up our guards, especially on those drag and delay actions.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Friday\u2019s matchup brings the spotlight<\/p>\n Friday\u2019s sold-out clash against the Indiana Fever is more than just a marquee matchup \u2014 it\u2019s a moment of validation for the Dallas Wings and the broader growth of the WNBA. Set inside American Airlines Center, home of the NBA\u2019s Dallas Mavericks, the nationally televised contest marks the first time Paige Bueckers<\/a> and Caitlin Clark<\/a> will share the court as professionals since their headline-grabbing Final Four showdown in 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is stuff I\u2019ve dreamed about,\u201d Bueckers said. \u201cBig stage, big opportunity \u2014 but we just want to win. That\u2019s what matters most.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Koclanes acknowledged the magnitude of the moment while emphasizing his team\u2019s mindset.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll have moments to look around and enjoy the big moment that this is, and you don\u2019t want to shy away from that,\u201d Koclanes said. \u201cYou want to appreciate it and be grateful for the opportunity that these women deserve \u2026 But once the ball tips, it\u2019s back to business.\u201d<\/p>\n The Next, a 24\/7\/365 women\u2019s basketball newsroom For the Wings, the spotlight is more than a spectacle \u2014 it\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a celebration of the game,\u201d Koclanes added. \u201cBut for us, it\u2019s another opportunity to show who we are becoming. We\u2019re building. That\u2019s what this is about.\u201d<\/p>\n Bueckers echoed that sentiment, noting that every game has meaning, but this one carries a bigger stage.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery single time I get to go out there and play the game of basketball I love, it\u2019s a blessing, and you never take it for granted,\u201d Bueckers said. \u201cTo be able to play on this platform, to get more eyes on the game, to get more respect for the game \u2026 It\u2019s just a great opportunity for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n Ogunbowale, the only active player who remembers the Wings\u2019 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just great for basketball in general,\u201d Ogunbowale said. \u201cThat shows \u2014 from my rookie year in 2019 to now \u2014 how much the women\u2019s game has grown and how many people want to see us play.\u201d<\/p>\n The franchise\u2019s journey from quiet gyms to center stage is happening now as the team continues to establish its identity in the Bueckers era.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The rebound has included wins over the Golden State Valkyries, Connecticut Sun and Atlanta Dream, along with an…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":19601,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[2339,2474,10478,2470,8731,10481,18408,18409,2471,62,67,132,68,232],"class_list":{"0":"post-19600","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wnba","8":"tag-arike-ogunbowale","9":"tag-aziaha-james","10":"tag-chris-koclanes","11":"tag-dallas-wings","12":"tag-dijonai-carrington","13":"tag-jj-quinerly","14":"tag-li-yueru","15":"tag-myisha-hines-allen","16":"tag-paige-bueckers","17":"tag-sports","18":"tag-united-states","19":"tag-unitedstates","20":"tag-us","21":"tag-wnba"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114756480240863232","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19600","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19600"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19600\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Locked](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1751044809_377_locked-on-wbb-ad.png\")
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Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The Next and The IX, released his latest book on May 7, 2024. This deeply reported story follows four connected generations of women\u2019s basketball pioneers, from Elvera \u201cPeps\u201d Neuman to Cheryl Reeve and from Lindsay Whalen to Sylvia Fowles and Paige Bueckers.<\/p>\n![\"Dallas](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/USATSI_26479466.jpg\")
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) and Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) celebrate with teammates during the second half against the Golden State Valkyries at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, on June 17, 2025. (Photo credit: Kevin Jairaj | Imagn Images)<\/p>\n
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The Next<\/a>: A basketball newsroom brought to you by The IX<\/a>. 24\/7\/365 women\u2019s basketball coverage, written, edited and photographed by our young, diverse staff and dedicated to breaking news, analysis, historical deep dives and projections about the game we love.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/USATSI_26526359.jpg\")
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) drives to the basket against Atlanta Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao (2) during the second half at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, on June 24, 2025. (Photo credit: Chris Jones | Imagn Images)<\/p>\n