Curt Miller Warns Dallas Wings Could Lose Players They ‘Don’t Want to Lose’ In WNBA Expansion Draft

Grant AfsethNovember 27, 2025November 27, 2025no comment

Rashad Miller/DallasHoopsJournal.com

The Dallas Wings’ offseason is shaping up to be one of the most complex in franchise history, with the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft for Portland and Toronto looming over every roster conversation.

While Dallas holds the No. 1 pick and returns one of the youngest, most promising cores in the league, general manager Curt Miller made it clear that expansion will force the organization to confront difficult choices — and likely lose players they hoped to keep.

During the post-lottery press conference on Sunday, Miller acknowledged the reality confronting every front office across the league: with two new teams entering, no roster is fully protected.

“We’re going to lose players that you don’t necessarily want to lose in an expansion draft,” Miller said.
He added that the Wings have already begun bracing for the ripple effects. “There’s a lot of unknowns, and we have a couple other big, big moments before [the draft]. We have an expansion draft… and then you’ve got unprecedented free agency before you even get to the collegiate draft in April.”

The expansion process, once rare, now sits at the center of Dallas’ roster strategy as the franchise prepares to protect only a limited number of players.

Limited Protections, High Stakes

Each WNBA team will be allowed to protect only a portion of its roster, leaving the Wings with a difficult puzzle. Dallas is one of the league’s youngest teams, stocked with players under long-term control — a setup that traditionally attracts expansion teams looking for inexpensive, ascending talent.

The Wings also expect to have potentially as many as 11 players under contract or reserved heading into free agency, as Miller told DallasHoopsJournal.com following the 2025 trade deadline. While that structure benefits long-term planning, it simultaneously increases the odds of losing contributors.

Miller said those conversations have already become a daily part of the front office’s internal planning.

“League-wide, we have a difficult decision on protections. I’m not the only GM that’s going to have sleepless nights,” he said.

He added that the uncertainty surrounding the new CBA only heightens those stakes.

Dallas’ depth — particularly among young stretch bigs, versatile wings, and rookie-scale guards — makes the franchise more vulnerable than most. Teams with top-heavy veteran cores face fewer decisions. Dallas, in contrast, risks losing a promising talent on an affordable contract.

A Roster Designed for the Long Term Meets Expansion Reality

The Wings’ rebuild under Miller has emphasized contract control, youth development. and cap flexibility. In his August interview with DallasHoopsJournal.com, Miller highlighted how intentional that approach has been, noting that Dallas is positioned “to be really aggressive” in 2026 free agency because of its inexpensive core.

But that strength is also why the franchise could be hit harder than others when Portland and Toronto start selecting players.

Miller has repeatedly emphasized that the rebuild requires patience, continuity, and culture — especially after Dallas became the first team in 25 years to start four rookies for an extended stretch last season. Losing even one of those developmental pieces would alter the timeline.

Still, Miller has made it clear that the organization understands the broader importance of expansion for league growth.

“It’s an exciting time,” he said. “More trade phone calls are going to come for this number one pick… but expansion is part of this moment too.”

Dallas will move into a new $55 million practice facility next year, holds the top pick in April, and has a franchise pillar in Paige Bueckers invested in attracting talent. Expansion may force difficult choices, but the Wings believe the foundation is strong enough to withstand the disruption.

The Wings know they can’t protect everyone. The challenge now is determining who they can’t afford to lose — and preparing for the reality that one of those players may be gone by the time training camp opens.

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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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