Coming off a 98-89 win over the Phoenix Mercury in their last outing, the Dallas Wings now sit at 6–13. Sure, that record isn’t eye-catching, but it’s worth noting that five of those six wins have come in their last seven games. So, yes, there’s been progress. Still, the mounting injuries haven’t been kind to them – leaving everyone wondering: how long can they keep this up?
How are injuries mounting for the Dallas Wings?
That second-to-last win came without Wings’ starting point guard Paige Bueckers, who was sidelined for injury management. On top of that, Tyasha Harris has already been ruled out for the season after undergoing a successful procedure on her left knee. So while the Wings are beginning to flash glimpses of their dominant potential, it’s clear the path ahead isn’t smooth.
It all comes to the surface as DiJonai Carrington, who is like a “sister” to the rookie and a steady presence on the court, remains physically with a rib injury she suffered on June 20 while taking a charge late in the game against the Connecticut Sun. And to make matters worse, emotionally, Carrington is again navigating a tough stretch. NaLyssa Smith, her girlfriend, who had spent the past couple of months with the Wings, was recently traded.
Ever since she’s missed five consecutive games and the upcoming game against Mercury will be no different. So while Coach Koclanes shared, “She’s improving daily,” no firm return date has been set. But what makes the case worse is that she’s not alone on the injury list! Accompanying her is Arike Ogunbowale, who injured her left thumb during the June 28 win over the Washington Mystics and missed the matchup against the Phoenix Mercury. “She hurt her hand… just being extremely cautious and waiting for more news from the medical team on what that looks like long term,” Koclanes explained. So, she is also on track to miss the rematch.
The Dallas Wings released their injury report for Monday’s game in Phoenix against the Mercury.
Arike Ogunbowale (left thumb) and DiJonai Carrington (rib) are both OUT.
— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) July 6, 2025
Joining her on the sidelines would be Maddy Siegrist, who’s been out since June 11 after being diagnosed with a right tibial plateau fracture. She’s played in only 11 games this season and saw her team win only once. Well, her initial estimate was 6–8 weeks for bone healing, though recovery could stretch to 3–4 months if the meniscus is involved. But, on a positive note, she’s now off crutches and has started shooting, although she’s not yet cleared for full practice.
So yes, the injury bug has hit the Wings hard as four players are currently sidelined, which is a brutal reality for a team trying to maintain consistency. Still, Coach Koclanes remains optimistic. “We’re just waiting on word from the medical staff,” he said. “Hopeful on a couple, so we’ll see who we have. We’ll do our best with what we’ve got.”
And it all came to light as the Wings hit the court on Saturday for practice, eager to push the pace and run through their sets. The energy was high, but a few issues still surfaced, particularly when it came to generating clean high-low looks. That, in part, stemmed from the strategic tweaks the team has been testing. Instead of consistently setting full screens, they’ve been experimenting with ghost screens and shifting their focus toward executing out of a 2-3 zone. It’s all part of the ongoing process of fine-tuning their system and growing more comfortable with the adjustments they’ve been working on.
“A little bit of everything,” said head coach Chris Koclanes. “Getting them moving, establishing tempo, and just getting our small group more and more comfortable playing together out of common actions. It’s all about developing chemistry within the offense.”
But, while three key contributors, Nai, Arike, and Siegrist, were limited to observing practice rather than participating, Wings got some really good cards to play!
The recent Dallas Wings practice showed good signs
After opening the season with a shaky frontcourt and limited guard depth, the Wings are finally finding some structure. Teaira McCowan, Myisha Hines-Allen, and Luisa Geiselsöder are all active, joining Li Yueru to give the Wings a solid rotation of bigs. Meanwhile, Paige Bueckers, JJ Quinerly and Aziaha James continued to impress in the practice, building on the strong performances they showed against the Mercury.
After practice, Bueckers couldn’t hide her excitement about Geiselsöder’s return. “Having that size and having Lu back as a playmaker out of the pick-and-roll helps a lot,” Bueckers said. “Whether it’s the short roll or just giving me a better target, it makes everything easier.” Sure, there’s still polish to be added, but with the pieces they’ve got, breaking a blitz might just become their new party trick.
That’s where the evolution of the Wings’ frontcourt has really started to pay off. With some actual height and finesse now camped out at the four and five, Dallas suddenly has more than one escape hatch, especially when things get dicey in short-roll situations. “With who we’re starting now — Luisa and Li — both are capable poppers and can hit that 17-footer in the short roll,” Koclanes said. “They’ve got gravity and confidence in those shots. Myisha is more of a pocket playmaker — she can catch and attack downhill. And Teaira, even though she’s more of a long roll option, has more touch and handle than people realize.”
Well, we saw that in Thursday’s win over Phoenix, as both Li and Luisa continued their chemistry experiment in the paint. The offense? Still finding its rhythm. But with two genuine bigs holding it down, Dallas has gained more control inside, cleaner high-low looks, and a sturdier grip on the glass. Sure, they shot a chilly 2-of-14 combined, but stats don’t tell the whole story. Yueru logged a tidy double-double with 12 points and 11 boards, while Geiselsöder added four apiece in points and rebounds.
But, that’s not the only thing the Wings relied upon, as with the roster already stretched thin due to injuries, the Wings signed forward Liatu King to ensure roster stability. King, who appeared in 12 games for the Los Angeles Sparks this season under a hardship contract, averaged 3.0 points and 2.1 rebounds. She was selected No. 28 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Sparks but joins Dallas on a rest-of-the-season contract. Though King logged just four minutes in her Wings debut, picking up a personal foul, it’s clear she’s here to support the team however she can.
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