‘Super Grateful for the Opportunity’: Christyn Williams Embraces Hardship Stint With Dallas Wings
The Dallas Wings are continuing to lean on hardship contracts to navigate a depleted roster. On Wednesday, the team re-signed Christyn Williams to a seven-day hardship deal, keeping the guard in uniform as the Wings prepare for Thursday’s matchup against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center.
Williams, who made her WNBA debut last week, has appeared in two games for Dallas, averaging 5.5 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. For the former UConn standout, the moment is about more than filling minutes—it’s about seizing a long-awaited chance at the professional level.
Christyn Williams’ Career Journey
Williams’ WNBA career has been defined by perseverance across multiple stops. Drafted by the Washington Mystics with the 14th overall pick in 2022, she missed her rookie season after suffering a significant knee injury in practice. In 2023, she signed a rest-of-season hardship contract with the Phoenix Mercury but did not appear in a game, and was waived in May 2024.
Her next chance came with the Minnesota Lynx, who brought her into training camp in early 2025, though she did not log any regular-season minutes. Most notably, during the 2025 season, she signed an extreme hardship contract with the Wings, appearing in at least one regular-season game.
Alongside those WNBA experiences, Williams stayed active in professional basketball. In 2023 and 2024, she competed in Athletes Unlimited and the 3×3 Basketball Association, maintaining her development and game readiness while awaiting another league opportunity.
At UConn, Williams built her reputation as one of the nation’s elite guards. She won the 2022 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award for the country’s top shooting guard and averaged 14.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game across 132 starts with the Huskies.
Grateful for the Chance
Before tipoff against the Atlanta Dream, Williams reflected on what it meant to play her first official WNBA game.
“I’m just super excited overall,” Williams told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “This is my first official WNBA game, so I’m super grateful for the opportunity and I’m excited to be able to play with Paige again.”
The reunion with Paige Bueckers, her former Huskies teammate, has been an early highlight of her adjustment. Williams said that familiarity has made the transition smoother, especially with such a quick turnaround to join the Wings on the road.
“Everybody has been super helpful and super supportive,” Williams said to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “If I have any questions, I don’t hesitate to ask. It was a super quick turnaround—I just got here this morning—so I’m still getting adjusted.”
Building Her Game in Dallas
For Williams, the new opportunity also comes with a focus on development. She pointed to growing her comfort in pick-and-roll actions as one of her key areas of growth since leaving college.
“I would just say getting more comfortable in the ball screen action,” Williams detailed to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I didn’t really run a lot of that in college—we did a little different stuff. I feel like that part of my game has gotten a lot better.”
When asked what the Wings are expecting from her in the short term, Williams explained the team’s message was simple.
“They pretty much just told me to be myself,” Williams told DallasHoopsJournal.com. Go out, be a selfless teammate, have fun, and play my game.”
She added that working alongside fellow hardship signing Serena Sundell, as well as other new teammates she’s faced or played with in different stops, has helped her feel at home quickly.
“We’re all in it together,” Williams explained to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Everybody asks questions if they need to, but yeah—we’re in it together.”
Dallas Wings Battling Injuries
Williams joins a roster that has been hampered by injuries all season. Rookie guard Aziaha James is nearing a return from a right ankle injury after missing two straight games. She has averaged 7.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 35 appearances this season.
Meanwhile, Arike Ogunbowale remains sidelined indefinitely with right knee tendonitis, JJ Quinerly is out for the year with an ACL sprain, and Tyasha Harris underwent knee surgery earlier in the season.
In the frontcourt, the team lost rookie center Luisa Geiselsöder to a season-ending shoulder injury last week. She joins Li Yueru, who also suffered an ACL sprain earlier this year. Dallas has signed forward Ajae Petty on a hardship contract to bolster depth, while Myisha Hines-Allen has been logging heavy minutes at center.
The Wings (9-32) will face the Valkyries on Thursday at 9 p.m. CT before traveling to Los Angeles for a Sunday matchup against the Sparks.
More Dallas Wings News & WNBA Rumors
- WNBA News: “Part of the Business”: Diamond Miller Returns to Minnesota in Dallas Wings’ Loss to Lynx
- WNBA News: “I’d Pay to Watch Her Play”: Sue Bird Praises Paige Bueckers’ Rookie Season With Dallas Wings
- WNBA News: “We Got Extremely Close”: Paige Bueckers Reunites With DiJonai Carrington as Dallas Wings Fall to Minnesota Lynx
- WNBA News: “She’s Terrific in That Space”: Cheryl Reeve Praises Paige Bueckers Despite Dallas Wings’ Loss to Minnesota Lynx
- WNBA News: “We’ll Figure This Thing Out”: Paige Bueckers Echoes Stephen Curry in Message to Dallas Wings Fans
- WNBA News: “She Shows Up Every Night”: Cynthia Cooper Lauds Paige Bueckers’ Historic Rookie Season With Dallas Wings
- WNBA News: Inside Dallas Wings’ Navigation of Hardship Signings Amid Injury Crisis
- WNBA News: “Paige Will Be a Unifier”: Curt Miller Details Dallas Wings’ Roster Plan Around Paige Bueckers
