DHJ Quick Take: The Versatility Blueprint
- The “Big 5” Identity: Curt Miller‘s starting lineup of Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, Azzi Fudd, Jessica Shepard, and Alanna Smith is a tactical “home run.” By pairing three elite perimeter creators with a “Point Forward” in Shepard and a Defensive Player of the Year in Smith, the Wings have built a starting five with zero offensive or defensive holes.
- The Odyssey Factor: One of the most vital insights is Sims‘ role in “unlocking” Bueckers. By using Sims as the primary facilitator, Fernandez can move Bueckers off-ball—where she is statistically most elite—while reducing the physical toll of bringing the ball up against full-court pressure. This move suggests Dallas is prioritizing Paige‘s efficiency over her high-volume usage.
- Modernized Frontcourt: The emphasis on Li Yueru as a “rim runner” and “pick and pop” threat shows how Fernandez is modernizing the Wings‘ interior play. Combined with Awak Kuier‘s league-leading shot-blocking from Europe, the Wings‘ second unit is built to maintain the same defensive intensity as the starters.
- The “July vs. May” Reality: Miller‘s warning about continuity is the crucial context for fans. With Ogunbowale and Shepard arriving just days before the April 30 opener in Indiana, the rotation will be a work in progress. The “Information Gain” here is that while the talent is championship-caliber, the chemistry is a mid-summer target.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Dallas Wings general manager Curt Miller offered the clearest picture yet of how the team’s 2026 rotation is coming together, outlining a projected 10-player core during a training camp media availability this week. First-year head coach Jose Fernandez is installing a new system built around versatility and floor spacing as the group waits on the return of four of its projected top-eight players.
With several key pieces still overseas, the early vision centers on a starting five Miller named outright alongside a layered second unit he described as a “strong 10.”
“When you look at a projected lineup of Paige, Arike, Azzi, Jess, and Alanna, and then a second unit of Odyssey, Aziaha, Maddy Siegrist, Awak, and Li, that’s a strong 10,” Miller said. “And we haven’t even mentioned Alysha Clark. We’re excited about the depth and how the roster is shaping up.”
Projected Starting Five
Miller’s projected starters are Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd, Jessica Shepard, and Alanna Smith.
Fernandez has framed Bueckers as the on-court leader of the group, with the second-year guard drawing praise for her work ethic and growing vocal presence during the first days of camp.
“Paige stands out,” Fernandez said. “Every day she does the right things in everything she does, and she has a voice.”
Ogunbowale, a four-time WNBA All-Star, is projected to return Monday evening after wrapping her Chinese Championship series. Fudd, whom the Wings drafted with the No. 1 pick largely for her shooting and off-ball game, has drawn praise from Fernandez for her early buy-in through the first days of camp.
“Without a doubt, that’s why we drafted her. We expect big things,” Fernandez said. “She’s been great through four days, coachable, does the right things, invests in her body, and has embraced the playbook.”
Shepard and Smith, both signed in free agency this offseason, give the Wings a new frontcourt pairing Miller described as a free agency “home run.” Smith, the reigning WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, was briefly away from camp this week, handling immigration matters. Shepard is still overseas in Italy with Famila, which evened its championship series at 1-1 with a 74-53 win on Thursday to force Game 3.
Second-Unit Depth
Miller’s second unit consists of Odyssey Sims, Aziaha James, Maddy Siegrist, Awak Kuier, and Li Yueru.
Sims received the most detailed role description of the group. Miller emphasized that her return to Dallas is as much about on-court fit as it is about veteran leadership, specifically her ability to take on primary ball-handling duties to ease Bueckers’ load.
“Her veteran leadership is key, but also her on-court role. We need to get Paige off the ball at times, it’s hard to be picked up full court and still carry a scoring load,” Miller said. “Odyssey allows us to do that. Paige is elite off the ball, but you need a point guard to facilitate that. Odyssey also helps defensively and gives us scoring off the bench.”
Sims, who has spent more than a decade in the WNBA and rejoined the Wings organization this offseason for the fourth time, said her priority during the opening days of camp has been mentoring the team’s rookies and second-year players alongside Clark.
“The biggest thing is pouring into the younger players, the rookies and second-year group,” Sims said. “We have a younger team, so me and AC are going to do our best to lead, talk to them, and be there for whatever they need.”
The tone Fernandez has set in his first days leading the Wings has resonated early with Sims, who singled out his championship-focused messaging as a defining feature of the new staff.
“He brings great energy, high energy,” Sims said of Fernandez. “One of the first things he mentioned was having a championship mentality and reminding us what it takes to get there.”
Fernandez has pointed to the left-handed guard’s creativity attacking the rim as a standout trait in her second camp.
“She came in elite shape. I like her creativity getting to the rim,” Fernandez said of James. “She’s left-handed and very comfortable with where she’s getting the ball, especially in quick hitters and half-court sets. She’s electric in transition.”
Siegrist said second-year guard James made a significant step during her offseason at Unrivaled, with her defensive development still ahead of her.
“I think Unrivaled was great for her. Obviously getting a lot of time last year as well, just getting a lot of experience under her belt,” Siegrist said. “I think that’s made her more comfortable and helped her grow as a player, a little bit as a playmaker. Defensively, I think she’s just scratching the surface. She’s only going to get really, really better.”
Siegrist, entering her fourth WNBA season, has been named by Fernandez as one of the team’s experienced voices alongside Sims and Clark. Kuier is returning to the WNBA for the first time since 2023 and comes off a breakout international campaign with Turkish club Galatasaray, where she led the Euroleague in blocks while averaging 12.8 points and 7.8 rebounds over 17 games. Li has been asked to take on a specific interior role under Fernandez.
“We need her to rim run, pick and pop, and finish inside with her back to the basket,” Fernandez said of Li. “She’s been a pleasure to coach. Unrivaled helped her conditioning, footwork, and rebounding outside her area.”
Alysha Clark Adds Another Veteran Layer
Miller pointed out that Clark, another free agent addition, extends the Wings’ depth beyond the 10-player rotation he outlined.
“And we haven’t even mentioned Alysha Clark,” Miller said.
Clark has already been praised for her communication and familiarity with the system, with Fernandez including her alongside Siegrist and Sims as the experienced voices shaping the group.
“You also have veterans like Maddy, Alysha Clark, and Odyssey Sims who bring experience and help guide the group,” Fernandez said.
Clark, a three-time WNBA champion, has leaned on familiarity with Li to help expedite chemistry in the frontcourt.
“Li’s my girl. It helps a lot having familiarity with someone. It expedites chemistry,” Clark said. “I’m familiar with her game, she’s familiar with mine, so we can communicate quickly on the court.”
Clark said a combination of Fernandez’s vision, her long-standing relationship with Miller, and the team’s young core drew her to Dallas in free agency.
“The vision Jose has and his reputation as a coach. I’ve also known Curt for a long time, he’s always been supportive of me,” Clark said. “Then there’s the young core they’re building. Paige was very vocal with me in the offseason.”
Her early read on the roster echoed Fernandez’s theme of versatility, particularly on the defensive end.
“The versatility and physicality stand out right away,” Clark said. “Being able to switch across multiple positions and having bigs who can guard on the perimeter is a luxury.”
Jose Fernandez Prioritizes Versatility and Spacing
Beyond individual personnel, Fernandez outlined system priorities that shape how the rotation is built. Versatility, or positional flexibility across all five spots, has become a recurring theme in the coaching staff’s description of the roster.
“I like the versatility, players who can play multiple positions,” Fernandez said. “There’s a strong understanding now of how we want to play in transition and in the half court, where we want shots and who we want taking them.”
Three-point shooting is the second pillar. Fernandez said the Wings have shooters across the rotation but need to ensure the right ones are getting up attempts.
“You have to space the floor. High-percentage teams do a great job shooting in transition and generating inside-out threes,” Fernandez said. “For us, it’s about having the right people taking shots. We need to knock down open threes and emphasize going from good shots to great shots. We have players who can shoot. Now it’s about making sure the right ones are taking them.”
Bueckers echoed the theme of versatility in her own media availability, pointing to the two-way balance across the roster.
“We have a lot of versatility offensively and defensively, shooting, length, aggressive defensive mentality,” Bueckers said. “We have a Defensive Player of the Year-type presence, and Jess is one of the best playmakers in the league at the four.”
Competition for Final Roster Spots
Miller said the Wings opted against signing developmental contracts early in the offseason, leaving them flexibility to evaluate internal competition and players around the league as training camp progresses.
“I love the competition and enthusiasm. Players are buying into Jose’s system,” Miller said. “We didn’t offer developmental contracts early like some teams, so we’re evaluating both internally and around the league. My job is to monitor other camps and identify potential fits.”
What’s Next
The Wings’ rotation picture will round out over the next week as the overseas group trickles in. Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu returns Saturday from Serbia, Smith is expected back Saturday after handling immigration, and Shepard, Costanza Verona, and Ogunbowale are all projected back Monday.
Kuier remains the lone Wings player without a confirmed arrival date as she awaits an immigration appointment in Finland. Miller cautioned that the group’s limited early continuity will require patience before the rotation finds its form.
“When we get to Game 1, we won’t have had much time together compared to teams that have continuity,” Miller said. “Our team will look a lot different in July than it does in May.”
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