‘A Great Connection’: Serena Sundell’s 3×3 Bond With Amy Okonkwo Eases Dallas Wings Transition

Grant AfsethAugust 27, 2025October 21, 2025no comment

Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images

The Dallas Wings have been forced to reinvent themselves almost weekly this summer. With a roster ravaged by injuries and constant turnover, the team has relied heavily on hardship signings to stay afloat. For Amy Okonkwo, Serena Sundell, and Grace Berger, a shared history on the 3×3 circuit has made the transition smoother.

The Wings’ injury list remains extensive. Guards Tyasha Harris (knee surgery) and JJ Quinerly (ACL sprain) are sidelined for the season, while Arike Ogunbowale remains out with right knee tendonitis. Center Li Yueru, acquired in a midseason trade, has been ruled out for the season. Rookie guard Paige Bueckers is questionable against the Connecticut Sun after missing practice earlier in the week due to illness, but did participate in shootaround. Forward Myisha Hines-Allen, a veteran stabilizer, was absent from Tuesday’s practice for personal reasons.

The shortage of available bodies left Dallas with only eight players in practice. Head coach Chris Koclanes said the coaching staff worked to maximize what was possible in the circumstances.

“Be intentional about our language, making sure they get comfortable with our terminology,” Koclanes told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “And then just trying to get them reps while we can. We were lucky to have a good group of guys today to go against, so we were able to compete and give them that chance to feel it.”

Dallas Wings Dealing With Injuries

Frequent injuries have forced Dallas (9-29) to use hardship contracts. Berger and Haley Jones both began on such deals before signing rest-of-season contracts. Okonkwo and Sundell are the latest to arrive, stepping into meaningful roles with little preparation.

For Berger, Okonkwo, and Sundell, the call from Dallas came after months of uncertainty. Each spent the summer in the 3×3 circuit, a proving ground for players who were not on WNBA rosters but wanted to stay sharp and showcase their games.

All three played in the 2025 3XBA Spokane Hoopfest, one of the summer’s premier events in the Olympic 3×3 format. Okonkwo and Sundell were teammates on Team B&B, joining Caitlin Bickle and Kennedy Brown. They won the event, qualifying for a FIBA Women’s Series stop in Edmonton later in the summer. Okonkwo earned MVP honors for her inside scoring and clutch shooting. Berger also competed in Spokane as part of the event’s pod system, which mixed players across teams.

Sundell said the 3×3 experience was a crash course in processing the game quickly, especially with the pace and short shot clock.

“I played in three different three-on-three tournaments this summer and got to meet a lot of professional athletes,” Sundell told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Three-on-three just in general is really helpful as you try to develop as a player. You’re making reads and the shot clock is at 12 seconds, so you gotta be at the top of your game and have really good habits.”

Okonkwo said her bond with Sundell during Spokane has carried into Dallas and made their adjustment smoother.

“Me and Serena played in three-on-three, and we actually won for 3xBA,” Okonkwo told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “She was on my team for the weekend, and we had a really great connection. I enjoyed playing with her. She’s a great player, even better person, and I’m looking forward to being with her on the court today.”

Berger said the overlap with both players has helped the group settle in quickly and given them confidence on the floor together.

“I had a little bit of experience with Serena just in three-on-three basketball over the summer, so I got to know her,” Berger told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “First and foremost, great person, great teammate, great to have in the locker room, great energy. And then she’s a player with a lot of potential. … I was also a little familiar with Amy from three-on-three basketball. I know she can score the ball at all different levels.”

Early Impressions in Dallas

Okonkwo has averaged 10.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists through her first two games with Dallas. Koclanes said her versatility has stood out.

“Amy’s really smart and communicates really well, so she picks things up quickly,” Koclanes told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I love her communication on both sides of the ball. She can pick and pop to spread the floor, but she also has a quick first step. You’ve got to close out on her because she can attack, get into the paint, and finish, and she can make simple reads.”

Luisa Geiselsöder said Okonkwo’s impact was no surprise.

“I expected Amy to play like that because I know her from overseas,” Geiselsöder told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “She had a great AfroBasket. She’s great — she brings physicality, she brings energy, she leaves it all on the floor. She’s going to be a great addition to this team.”

Sundell, a 6-foot-2 guard, has been praised for her poise and size. Koclanes said her first practice showed promise.

“With Serena, it was a good first practice,” Koclanes told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “She has great size at the guard position and plays at her own speed. Hopefully, she can continue to do that when she gets opportunities with us. She can bring more organization, another ball handler to relieve some pressure, and defensively, she can be versatile with her size.”

Geiselsöder said she was impressed by Sundell’s composure.

“She has great size at the guard position, and she looks very composed,” Geiselsöder told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “You can see she plays at her own pace, which is important. I think she’ll bring us another option in the backcourt, more organization, and help with ball handling.”

Preparing for the Connecticut Sun

Berger, who has averaged 3.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 12 career games with the Wings, said the focus against Connecticut will be matching their effort level.

“They’ve gotten hot as of late,” Berger told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “They’re just playing really hard, like they have nothing to lose. We’re in a similar position, so we just don’t want to be outworked, out-physicaled, out-energied, any of that. Just trying to match their energy from the jump I think is the biggest thing for us tonight.”

Koclanes said slowing down Connecticut’s Tina Charles remains a priority with the Sun coming into College Park Center.

“She’s just one of the best to ever do it, period,” Koclanes told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “She’s a tough guard, just extremely physical. Limiting her catches is tough. And then when she does catch, she’s just so good one-on-one. She’s so patient, she plays at her own speed. You can’t really disrupt that shot from above her head.”

The Wings will again lean on their newest contributors against the Sun. For Okonkwo, Sundell, and Berger, the grind of summer three-on-three tournaments was more than offseason work. It was preparation for moments like this, where familiarity forged on half-courts has translated into much-needed chemistry under the bright lights of the WNBA.

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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