It’s no longer about whether the Dallas Wings can qualify for the playoffs. The ESPN predictor has them at an 18.6% chance of making it there. While those are not the worst odds, the team is looking like it doesn’t want to win another game of basketball. The Wings have repeatedly squandered leads this season, often in frustrating fashion.
In their most recent game against a Las Vegas Aces team missing A’ja Wilson, they held an 11-point advantage with less than four minutes remaining. Instead of closing the game out, Dallas allowed Vegas to mount a comeback by giving up 10 consecutive points from the free-throw line. To add to their woes, they have had to change up a couple of players in their roster, which meant a new signing. They have Li Yueru coming in from the Storm, and Coach Chris Koclanes expressed how he will deal with a changing roster in the middle of the season.
Koclanes said after practice on Sunday, “Just constantly being challenged in all sorts of ways to make the pieces fit together, um, in the short term, while still trying to establish who we’re going to be in the long term. Um, so that’s the balance of instilling, you know our fundamentals, uh, while still making sure it makes sense for who the current personnel are.”
His words hit home in the locker room, where players like Paige Bueckers and Maddy Siegrist nodded quietly, sharing the weight of a season that’s tested everyone’s resolve.
Koclanes is a first-time head coach, and his first stint is coming at the highest level in the WNBA, where you rarely get enough time to settle in. He has had it hard in his debut season as a coach of a broken team that lacks in many aspects as compared to their competitors, and it is showing with their 1-11 record.
On top of that, he has two of his post players, Teira McCowan and Luisa Geiselsöder, leaving for international duty. And replacing McCowan is Li Yeuru, an exciting young prospect, but also inexperienced as compared to McCowan. Yeuru is yet to have a full season in the W with a significant contribution, while McCowan has had 6, including 3 at Dallas. Dealing with Yueru and seamlessly integrating her into the team is going to be a difficult task. Like Koclanes mentioned, the Wings are also looking at the long-term rather than the immediate fix.
This season is all but lost for the Wings, though they will still aim to salvage some pride. Realistically, any hopes of significant achievement are out of reach, making it necessary for the team to shift its focus toward a long-term rebuild. In that context, Yueru has a real opportunity to establish herself as a key piece of the future. She has long been searching for a meaningful role in the WNBA, and Dallas could be the team that finally unlocks her full potential.
The Wings are already the second youngest team in the league, trailing only the Washington Mystics in terms of average age. Head coach Chris Koclanes must now begin identifying the players he wants to form the foundation of this rebuilding project. Central to that plan is Paige Bueckers, whom the team intends to build around.
Alongside her is Maddy Siegrist, a player eager to take on a larger role after spending three seasons primarily coming off the bench in Dallas. The Wings also have JJ Quinerly, who stepped up at point guard in the absence of Tyasha Harris and Paige Bueckers. These young players may not be chasing wins this season, but they are gaining the valuable experience needed to lay the foundation for future success. The same can be said for Coach Koclanes, who is using this time to evaluate talent, establish a system, and shape the identity of a team that is being built for the long haul.
Li Yueru Shares Her First Impression of Paige Bueckers
Yueru will get another advantage at the Dallas Wings, other than the opportunity to prove herself. She will get to team up with arguably the best rookie this year in Paige Bueckers. Bueckers has been the engine for the Wings and has been the premier scorer and facilitator of the Wings. She has averaged a team high 17.4 points and 6.1 assists along with 1.9 steals. The team looked even worse when she was out with an injury. Yueru said she’s especially excited to team up with No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers.
May 19, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) and guard DiJonai Carrington (21) run back up the court during the second half against the Seattle Storm at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
“When the news came out, a lot of friends messaged me saying, ‘Wow, you’ll play with Paige!’” Yueru said. “I said, ‘Yes, I do.’ They love her. She’s cute—I just said hi this morning. I hope we can build something together on the court.”
Li Yueru said she’s excited to play with Paige Bueckers. Said her first impression of the Wings rookie is that she’s “cute.” pic.twitter.com/fVOSDtCnKH
— Myah Taylor (@t_myah) June 15, 2025
Bueckers’ exceptional court vision and passing range could be a game-changer for Yueru’s offensive development in Dallas. As a guard known for her precision and creativity, Bueckers excels at reading defenses and delivering well-timed passes in tight windows. This skill set is particularly valuable for a big like Yueru, who operates effectively in the post but also possesses the touch to score from beyond the arc.
When Yueru positions herself inside, Bueckers will be able to feed her with high-entry and overhead passes, maximizing Yueru’s height advantage and allowing her to establish deep post position. This will give Yueru more high-percentage looks near the basket, something she hasn’t consistently had in her previous WNBA stops. Additionally, Bueckers’ ability to collapse defenses and draw multiple defenders opens up kick-out opportunities, where Yueru can either cut into open space for easy finishes or spot up for mid-range jumpers and occasional three-point attempts.
If both players continue to grow and build chemistry, this partnership could become one of the cornerstones of Dallas’ long-term vision. It has the potential not only to revitalize Yueru’s WNBA career but also to establish Bueckers as a true floor general capable of elevating the talent around her.
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