The Dallas Wings return from the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup break Thursday evening against the Los Angeles Sparks, beginning a stretch of four regular-season games before the WNBA playoffs.
Dallas’ spot in the postseason is already secure, so the Wings – built around former UConn women’s basketball stars Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd – will largely be jockeying for seeding in the upcoming eight-team postseason that begins Sept. 27. Dallas, New York and Washington are tied at 24-16, with the Wings currently eighth based on tiebreakers but still capable of moving as high as sixth.
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During this final four-game stretch, the Wings can also carve their names into the league record books by completing the largest single-season turnaround in WNBA history.
Despite an extraordinary rookie season from Bueckers, Dallas finished with a record tied for the league’s worst at 10-34 last year. That helped put the franchise in position to use its second consecutive No. 1 overall WNBA Draft pick on Fudd. In 2026, the Wings are 24-16, an increase of 14 wins with four games remaining.
The now-defunct Detroit Shock hold the record for the largest single-season win increase. After going 9-23 in 2002, Detroit finished 25-9 in 2003, an improvement of 16 wins. The franchise relocated to Tulsa after the 2009 season before moving to Dallas in 2016 and becoming the Wings.
Dallas needs to win three of its final four games to surpass Detroit’s 16-win improvement and set a new league record.
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What has caused such a historic turnaround in Dallas? Fudd deserves significant credit. The UConn rookie spaced the floor effectively, shooting nearly 40% from the 3-point line, while establishing herself as a defensive force before her season ended in mid-August with knee surgery.
The Wings also made shrewd moves in free agency, including the addition of standout forward Jessica Shepard, who ranks second on the team in scoring and has averaged 11.1 rebounds per game.
Dallas moved on from first-year head coach Chris Koclanes after one season, hiring South Florida coach and longtime Geno Auriemma friend Jose Fernandez, who has enjoyed immediate success with the Wings.
Dallas and Los Angeles will tip off at 8 p.m. ET from College Park Center in Arlington. The game will air nationally on USA Network and stream on WNBA League Pass.
This article originally published at Paige Bueckers has Dallas Wings on verge of biggest turnaround in WNBA history.
