“Take Care of Any Chances I Get”: Aziaha James Talks Staying Ready After Sparking Dallas Wings in First Win [Exclusive]

Aziaha James had been waiting. After logging just six minutes in the season opener and remaining out of the Dallas Wings’ rotation for the next three games, the rookie guard was finally called upon Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun Arena. And when her number was called, she delivered.

James scored a career-high nine points in a 109–87 win over the Connecticut Sun, helping the Wings secure their first victory of the 2025 WNBA season. She sparked a dominant second quarter by scoring all of her points in the period, including her first professional basket — a corner three — that ignited the Dallas bench.

“Definitely my teammates, my sisters, my coaching staff just telling me to keep being ready,” James told DallasHoopsJournal.com after Tuesday’s game. “Also, myself—my mental, my family—just staying motivated.”

Aziaha James Brings Immediate Spark Off the Bench

After the game, head coach Chris Koclanes emphasized how much James has earned her opportunity behind the scenes with her approach in practice and preparation.

“She’s committed. It’s early and she hasn’t had many opportunities, but she’s putting in the extra work and going hard in practice,” Koclanes told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “It felt right, and she made the most of it. The kid can score. I’m really excited for her and hope this gives her more confidence. We’ll keep finding ways for her to impact the game.”

For James, having the coaching staff believe in her ability to score and make plays has been a key source of motivation, especially after spending multiple games outside the rotation.

“I think that’s why they drafted me,” James told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I did that in my previous years in college, so why take that away? Just keep going with it, keep the same mindset, and do it for my team.”

James played with poise and aggression, attacking in transition and capitalizing on open looks created by the Wings’ ball movement. Dallas recorded a season-best 26 assists on 37 made field goals, with bench players contributing 43 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter. James, JJ Quinerly, Maddy Siegrist, and Teaira McCowan were key to that effort.

“Just trying to take care of any chances I get and roll with those opportunities,” James told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Those threes were falling for me, so I was trying to stay aggressive.”

That aggression wasn’t limited to the offensive end. James brought ball pressure on defense as well, an area that has been a team-wide emphasis since training camp, carried into the regular season.

“You know, we’re dogs on this team,” James told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “We work on defense all the time, so that’s one of our main areas of focus. It works very well every game, and we’re going to keep continuing with that throughout the season.”

Staying Ready, Making an Impact

The performance was even more meaningful given the Wings’ overall breakthrough. Paige Bueckers led all scorers with a career-high 21 points and made WNBA history as the fastest player to 60 points and 30 assists through five games. Arike Ogunbowale scored 19 and tied her career high with six steals, while DiJonai Carrington, Siegrist, and Charles all reached double figures.

James hopes her performance against the Sun is just the beginning of consistent contributions as the team builds chemistry and momentum.

“Definitely keeping our momentum up,” James told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “We had the energy out there the whole time—we were playing defense every possession, rebounding, looking for people running up the court. We’re going to continue that energy.”

Now, a few weeks into her first WNBA season, James is still adjusting to the pace and demands of the WNBA game. One of her biggest focuses has been learning how to slow things down and stay disciplined.

“Trying not to foul as much,” James told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Trying to be more patient and let the game come to me.”

The Wings (1–4) will look to carry that patience, energy, and renewed confidence into Thursday’s matchup against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.

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