When Paige Bueckers took shelter under Dallas’ Wings, fans had hope. Some quietly dreamed of the championship, too. But 10 games in, they aren’t fitting the dreams but the nightmare with 9 losses. The last standing team in the Western Conference Division, besides the worst record this season among all teams, the dream is crushing faster than expected. But what is tanking the promising 2025 side? A national reporter suggests a deeper crisis than just game play.
The roster looked promising, with a newly inducted head coach and the best collegiate athlete of 2025. A revamped locker room that boasted elite players in NaLyssa Smith, Tyasha Harris, Maddy Siegrist, and DiJonai Carrington, the team looked perfect on paper. But what went wrong when this picture-perfect roster stepped on the hardwood?
While everyone will agree that locker room dynamics play a significant role in defining a team’s performance, the persistent losses are not just a result of Bueckers or Harris sitting out. There was something deeper than what met the eye. Well, national reporter for Dallas Wings, Joey Mistretta, has a string of shocking observations after the team added another loss to their belt. He asked team leader Ogunbowale about her first impression of the head coach up to the time of the tip-off.
“She went the other way and completely avoided directly answering about Koclanes,” Mistretta said in his latest YouTube video. “Meanwhile, she praises Henry, which signals that something could be there. There could be some type of drama.” And though Ogunbowale stressed team efforts instead of directly addressing the coach, the athlete went all out to compliment assistant coach Nola Henry’s skills and coaching efficiency. Joey Mistretta felt that this two-faced reaction could indicate a deeper locker room issue.
“And what you hope to not see, is Koclanes loose the locker room. Because once a head coach loses the respect to players, it’s over. Like, you can’t come back from that.” Hinting at the worst-case scenario, the reporter felt that Koclanes might be on the edge of losing the locker room. And with the ensuing conditions surrounding the Dallas Wings, there is a possibility that the HC has been losing his grip in the Wings locker room.
Several head coaches have borne the brunt of losing the locker room in the past. Well, if a team leader, star player, or the entire roster stops respecting the head coach or trusting the coach’s decision as final, it means that the HC no longer enjoys command, and this could be a worrying sign for the front office. This also reflects in the team’s overall performance over the course of the season. Is this one of the primary reasons that the team has been performing below average so far? Maybe. Maybe not.
But take HC Jenny Boucek for example. Known for her overly aggressive coaching style, she was a classic example of losing the respect of the Seattle Storm’s locker room. Having coached the roster for two years, Boucek was fired by the management after the internal conflict translated into one of the worst performances by the Storm in 2017.
“Every time I post anything about Koclanes, it’s pretty negative feedback about him. And he’s a first-time head coach,” Mistretta said. “He is still figuring out how to coach this team in the WNBA. I’ve tried to defend him. I think he’s a nice guy, but he is clearly still adjusting to the WNBA.” While most fans have already directed their anger towards the head coach, Chris Koclanes, many believe, is surviving because of his bonding with GM Miller.
The head coach and his relatively young players are still figuring the season out. Moreover, the older players are also adjusting to the newcomers as the team finds its momentum. And though Chris and his locker room believe in taking things “one at a time,” the Wings need to step up and push harder if they wish to climb the ladder. And as Paige Bueckers prepares to return to the active roster, can she turn the tables in her favor or just add to the deteriorating performances? Guess we’ll have to wait and watch.
Some hope for Dallas Wings as their guard returns to the roster
National reporter for the Dallas Wings, Joey Mistretta, took to social media to break the news of her return. He revealed how “Paige Bueckers practiced in full today,” on X (former Twitter). Having assessed her remarkable performance, he provided a positive injury status for the athlete. Besides, the roster struggled massively after Bueckers was sidelined owing to a concussion. And Arike Ogunbowale suffered the biggest hit. While she tried to find her rhythm in the paint without the former UConn star, DiJonai Carrington and Myisha Hines-Allen took the reins and led the Wings.
Having said that, the 2025 rookie could not contain her excitement on receiving the green signal. Breaking the news on social media, Mistretta wrote, “Paige Bueckers on returning from injury/illness:”There’s nowhere I’d rather be. Battled some stuff, glad to be back. Excited to keep building, get back on the court.” As she steps foot on the hardwood, can Bueckers bring back the lost confidence of the Dallas Wings?
The team sank into an array of losses in Bueckers’ absence. But as the athlete jumps back again, can she change the fate of the dying team? Or is it just another weight on the roster? Though Paige has delivered impressive performances in the past, Dallas will pin their hopes on her to bring the team’s confidence back and add more feathers to the Dallas Wings. But what’s next, only time will tell.
The post Pressure Mounts Inside Paige Bueckers’ Locker Room as National Reporter Shares Cautionary Message for Dallas Wings HC appeared first on EssentiallySports.
