“Stay Aggressive and Play Our Game”: Dallas Wings Focus on Practice Improvements Before Atlanta Dream Matchup
The Dallas Wings continue their four-game road swing on Saturday afternoon as they take on the Atlanta Dream at Gateway Center in College Park, Georgia. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT, with the game airing nationally on CBS Sports Network and locally on KFAA29 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. However, the team practiced at SMU before departing for Atlanta.
Despite being in search of their first win of the season, the Wings (0-3) have shown noticeable improvement over the past week. Dallas is coming off a narrow 85-81 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday, a significant improvement from their 15-point season-opening defeat.
Rookie Paige Bueckers had a standout performance in the loss to Minnesota, recording her first career double-double with 12 points and a game-high 10 assists. Bueckers became the second rookie in franchise history to record a points-assists double-double and the third player in league history to do so within their first three games. The performance marked a historic milestone for the 2025 WNBA Draft’s first overall pick.
“I’m just trying to contribute to winning, whether I’m making or missing shots,” Bueckers said after the game. “I’m trying to impact the game in different ways.”
Bueckers has increased her assist total in each of the three games she’s played, with an average of 9.0 assists per game in her two previous outings. NaLyssa Smith spoke about how the team is adjusting to playing with Bueckers, particularly highlighting her passing ability.
“Paige is always looking for you. If you run the floor and get to your spot, the ball’s going to come to you,” Smith told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Just learning how to move with her, finally seeing eye to eye on the court, just because we’re all fresh playing together—her passing is definitely one of her best attributes.”
All-Star guard Arike Ogunbowale also led the team in scoring with 21 points, but her performance was especially historic. Ogunbowale tied Diana Taurasi as the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 500 made 3-pointers, accomplishing the feat in just 198 career games. Ogunbowale is the first player in franchise history to reach the 500 made-3-pointers milestone.
“(Diana) is a legend and any time you can make an imprint in this league is special,” Ogunbowale said. “This is such a hard league, and there have been so many great players over time. I was glad that I was able to celebrate that a little bit in the locker room with my team.”
Preparation for Atlanta Dream and Continued Growth
In their last game, the Dream fell 81-76 to the Indiana Fever, a game in which Rhyne Howard led Atlanta with 24 points, but Caitlin Clark struggled, missing all five of her three-point attempts—ending a streak of 140 consecutive games with at least one three-pointer.
As the Wings prepare for their matchup with the Dream, head coach Chris Koclanes remains focused on continued internal improvement, particularly in areas where his team has shown growth over the past week.
“It’s really about just getting better day by day,” Koclanes said. “We want to continue building on what we’ve done defensively, but we also need to challenge ourselves offensively.”
Koclanes emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency on defense, pointing out that while the team has made progress, they need to be more disciplined in critical moments. On offense, he stressed the need to challenge themselves to execute better, particularly in terms of spacing and creating better looks.
“We’ve made great strides in defense,” Koclanes continued. “But we also need to continue to challenge ourselves on offense. We’re looking to push the ball and improve our spacing. That’s something that will help us get easier shots and control the tempo of the game.”
The Dream’s frontcourt, led by Brittney Griner at center, presents a significant challenge. Griner is averaging 14.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game. Alongside her is Brionna Jones, who has been dominant in the paint, averaging 16.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. Their size and rim protection make Atlanta a formidable opponent inside.
“They’ve got size, especially in the post, and they’ve got really talented guards on the perimeter,” Koclanes said. “We’ve got to pick and choose where we can disrupt, but that’s going to be tough with such a balanced team.”
In the backcourt, Howard leads the Dream with 18.3 points per game, also contributing 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Alicia Gray, a versatile and seasoned guard, has averaged 17.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists this season. Their scoring and playmaking abilities create constant pressure for opposing defenses, while Atlanta’s backcourt likes to dish out ball pressure with physicality.
“Rhyne [Howard] is a bucket, and Alicia [Gray] can really score it,” Koclanes said. “You can’t just focus on their post play and let the guards go off. They can hurt you in a lot of ways.”
Smith also spoke about the challenge the Dream will present, acknowledging their physicality and size, which has been a hallmark of their play so far this season.
“They’ve got great size, great guards, and they’re a very physical team,” Smith said. “It’s going to be a battle down low, but we’ve got to make sure we stay aggressive and play our game.”
Smith, a consistent force on both ends of the floor for the Wings, discussed what it will take to stay competitive against Atlanta’s balanced attack.
“We know they have a lot of weapons, so it’s important for us to be connected defensively,” Smith said. “We’ll need to rotate well, especially when we’re doubling the post, and not let them get easy looks. But if we stay disciplined and stick to the plan, I think we can be successful.”
Chris Koclanes on Post Defense and Defensive Rotations
For the Wings, the focus remains on improving their defense, particularly in closing games. Koclanes emphasized the importance of defensive execution when doubling the post and the critical rotations that follow. This has been a significant point of emphasis for the team since their loss to Minnesota.
“We need to be sharper on our post doubles and the rotations that come with it,” Koclanes said. “It’s about making sure everyone is in the right spot when we’re forced to collapse on the post, and that we get timely help at the nail to deter any deep paint attacks.”
Koclanes further elaborated on the team’s focus, which carried over since Wednesday’s shootaround before the team’s loss against the Lynx.
“We’re really focused on being active at the nail to prevent easy drives into the paint,” Koclanes said. “That’s something we worked on extensively during shootaround, making sure everyone understands when and where to help, and then quickly recovering to our assignments.”
The Wings have been making noticeable strides defensively, and Koclanes has praised their improvement. After giving up a staggering 99 points against Minnesota in the season opener, the team held the Seattle Storm to 79, then reduced the Lynx’s scoring output to 85 in Wednesday’s rematch.
“I’ve loved our growth game from game to game,” he said. “Just our attention to detail and our level of compete consistently for 40 minutes.”
Luisa Geiselsöder’s Versatility and Adjustment
The addition of Luisa Geiselsöder has been a bright spot for the Wings. The 6-foot-4 German forward, who joined the team after a championship season with Basket Landes in France, is adjusting to the faster pace of the WNBA. Despite her late arrival to the team due to overseas commitments, Geiselsöder is quickly gaining confidence.
“I think I’m going to learn a lot here, to be honest,” Geiselsöder said. “The defensive concepts are similar to what we did in Europe, but it’s the speed of the game that’s different.”
Geiselsöder, who has spent limited time with the team after missing training camp due to her overseas commitments, remains confident.
“I just have to get used to the pace and find my rhythm with the team,” Geiselsöder added. “The pace here is definitely faster, and it’s just about getting used to that and adjusting to the way the game is played in the WNBA.”
During Friday’s practice, Geiselsöder was often seen alongside Teaira McCowan in a double-big lineup, with Geiselsöder playing at the four. This alignment allows the Wings to take advantage of Geiselsöder’s versatility, particularly her ability to stretch the floor with her shooting.
“She can stretch it. To be able to bring post players away from the rim and have them respect her shot out there, it just opens things up for other people,” Koclanes said.
Geiselsöder spoke about her comfort playing at the four, where her outside shooting provides a different dimension to the Wings’ offense and creates more space in the frontcourt. This flexibility allows the team to complement Teaira McCowan’s dominant interior presence with Geiselsöder’s ability to stretch the floor.
“I can play inside, I can go outside. It’s fun. I’m versatile,” Geiselsöder said. “And with Teaira, she’s such a presence inside. So I think I can open up the floor for her, and she can dominate down there while I help create spacing. I think we can work really well together.”
Another element that was quickly apparent during practice was Geiselsöder’s ability and desire to disrupt ball handlers and apply pressure while using her size to her advantage.
“I want to be a presence on defense,” Geiselsöder said. “I’m big, so I try to use my length and size to contest shots and make it tough for guards. I know defense is a big part of what we want to build here.”
Maddy Siegrist’s Continued Impact
Maddy Siegrist, who is averaging 10.0 points and 3.0 rebounds so far this season, continues to be a significant contributor for Dallas. She is shooting 46.4% from the floor and 36.4% from beyond the arc, showing her potential as a reliable offensive weapon.
“Maddy’s been fantastic,” Koclanes said. “She’s always ready to go whenever her number’s called, and she just makes the most of her opportunity. She’s been a spark for us, and whether it’s in a starting role or coming off the bench, she consistently brings the energy and effort we need.”
Koclanes added that Siegrist’s consistent effort on both ends of the floor has been a major asset.
“We talk a lot about dominating transitions and focusing on the small things within our control, and Maddy truly embodies that mindset,” Koclanes said.
Siegrist’s hustle and work ethic continue to make her a valuable contributor off the bench. She’s often credited her preparation for her recent performance. She spent extra time getting up shots and watching film with the coaching staff before leaving SMU to head to the airport.
More Dallas Wings Articles
- “You Can’t Just Sit There”: Teaira McCowan, Arike Ogunbowale Help Luisa Geiselsöder Navigate WNBA Transition
- “Try to Reflect That Every Single Time”: Paige Bueckers Posts Double-Double in Minnesota Return as Dallas Wings Fall to Lynx
- “I Feel Really Comfortable”: Luisa Geiselsöder Details Early Dallas Wings Adjustment and WNBA Transition
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