‘Our Locker Room Is Still Together’: Dallas Wings Push Through One of WNBA’s Most Injury-Ridden Seasons

Grant AfsethAugust 25, 2025October 21, 2025no comment

Photo by Nick White/DallasHoopsJournal.com

The Dallas Wings fell 90-81 to the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday afternoon at College Park Center, extending their skid while continuing to battle through one of the WNBA’s most injury-ridden seasons. Dallas dropped to 9-29, while Golden State improved to 19-18.

Five Wings finished in double figures — Maddy Siegrist led with 16 points, Haley Jones scored 15 (11 in the fourth), Myisha Hines-Allen added 15, Amy Okonkwo chipped in 12 in just her second game, and Grace Berger posted a season-high 11. Rookie guard Paige Bueckers had nine points and nine assists, though her streak of 30 straight double-digit scoring games came to an end.

By the end of the season, eight of the 12 players from the Wings’ opening-night roster will have missed at least seven games. Including in-season addition Li Yueru, that number rises to nine. Not a single player has suited up for every game. Tyasha Harris played five games before requiring season-ending knee surgery, Yueru and JJ Quinerly are out for the rest of the season due to ACL sprains, and Arike Ogunbowale remains without a set return date as she recovers from knee tendonitis.

The injury toll has been relentless for a team that has struggled to find rhythm while putting together rotations.

Dallas Wings Maintain Locker Room Connectivity

That reality has forced the Wings to adapt night after night, leaning on short rotations and playing undersized lineups against bigger opponents. With continuity impossible, the challenge has shifted from chasing wins to finding ways to compete with what’s available.

“You’ve just got to come in every day ready to compete no matter what,” Myisha Hines-Allen said. “We’ve all been asked to adjust, to play different roles, to play through fatigue. Nobody’s healthy this deep in the year, but we can’t use that as an excuse. We still have to fight.”

For Hines-Allen, perspective fuels her approach. While the Wings’ season has been defined by setbacks, she keeps her focus by remembering what matters most off the court.

“My nephew just beat cancer — that’s the end of the world. Playing basketball isn’t,” she said. “Tonight was for him. That’s why I keep perspective, show up smiling, and keep building.”

She added that the constant injuries have forced Dallas to reinvent itself night after night, with players stepping into new roles and minutes often stretching beyond what’s typical.

“This is the first year I’ve dealt with so many injuries during the season,” Hines-Allen said. “Everyone’s bodies are tired across the league, not just us. It’s part of the game, but somebody always steps up. Nobody feels sorry for us, so it’s about who puts on the jersey and gives energy, whether on the court or the bench.”

She praised the home crowd for fueling the team despite the struggles, pointing out how the consistent support has provided an edge even in a difficult season. The energy from fans, she said, has created moments of momentum that the team can lean on when rotations are thin and fatigue sets in.

“Dallas and Arlington love basketball. People come out and support us, and you hear the kids and adults screaming for us. That gives us a home-court advantage,” Hines-Allen said. “Honestly, seeing Jason Kidd was cool. I grew up in New Jersey watching him with the Nets, so seeing him courtside clapping for me was surreal.”

And Hines-Allen pointed to Amy Okonkwo’s emergence as a boost in the locker room and on the floor.

“She’s been a spark the second she steps on the court,” Hines-Allen said. “Even in shootarounds she’s vocal and telling us what she sees, and that holds weight because of the respect she has. She played super well today — defensively aggressive, smart with her shots, and creating for herself and teammates. She looked like she’s been with us all season.”

Staying Together and Building Forward

Through it all, the locker room has leaned on togetherness. Teammates have pointed out that the group has remained connected despite the revolving door of lineups.

While Hines-Allen has been vocal about resilience, younger voices have also reinforced the locker room’s cohesion. Haley Jones emphasized that even with the constant shuffling of lineups, the group’s unity has never wavered.

“Our locker room is still together,” Jones told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Even with all the injuries, everybody is supportive. We hold each other accountable, and we’re still having fun with it. That’s the biggest thing — nobody’s hanging their head. We’re all in this together.”

Head coach Chris Koclanes has also acknowledged the strain of the season. He said the grind has not only forced new lineups but also tested mental focus on the court.

“Physical fatigue shows up mentally, and that leads to lapses in the scouting report and breakdowns in execution,” Koclanes said. “It forces us to be sharper about our identity. We can’t look at what we don’t have. We have to look at what we do have, and that’s a group that can still compete.”

He added that while continuity has been elusive, accountability and gratitude have carried the group forward. Even in a season defined by attrition, Dallas has still found bright spots: Bueckers’ historic scoring streak, Siegrist’s steady two-way production, currently Okonkwo’s Dallas homecoming, and plenty of others, as the team sets a foundation building around the No. 1 pick.

For Hines-Allen, the takeaway is simple: the record may not show it, but the team’s approach can’t change.

“We’re still professionals. We’re still competitors. And every night we step on the court, we owe it to ourselves and each other to give everything we’ve got,” she said.

Dallas will look to regroup as it wraps up its three-game homestand Wednesday against the Connecticut Sun at College Park Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT on KFAA29. The Wings hold a 2-0 edge in the season series.

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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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