The Dallas Wings and the City of Dallas officially broke ground Friday on a new practice facility in West Oak Cliff, a project leaders called a milestone for both professional women’s basketball and the surrounding community.
The 70,700-square-foot facility at Joey Georgusis Park is scheduled to open in spring 2026, ahead of the WNBA season. Renderings unveiled at the ceremony showed two courts, a 3,800-square-foot locker room, a family lounge, and specialized spaces for strength, recovery, and lifestyle services.
Officials said the building would not only serve as the permanent training home for the Wings but also anchor expanded youth programs, clinics, and community events in Oak Cliff.
A Community Gathering
The groundbreaking drew a wide mix of city leaders, council members, and Wings representatives, including CEO and Managing Partner Greg Bibb, Executive Vice President and General Manager Curt Miller, and players Arike Ogunbowale and Li Yueru. Both players were in attendance, joining coaches, staff, and front office members to mark the occasion.
Emcee Shonda Music welcomed attendees and highlighted the day’s significance.
“This is an important day for basketball and our professional athletes. This is an important day for our community. And this is an important day for our youth programs,” Music said. “This groundbreaking, this facility, is going to allow us to foster relationships and really see that growth. That’s a big deal.”
City officials echoed that theme, noting the facility’s location in a neighborhood long known for producing local champions and civic pride. Rosa Fleming, Director for Convention and Event Services, called it a landmark for the city.
“This is not an ordinary building. It’s a start,” Fleming said. “It’s a building with a deep purpose in a community filled with families, young athletes, and longtime neighbors who are ready to welcome the Wings to call this state-of-the-art facility home.”
A Hub For Systematic Change
City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert described the facility as an investment that reaches beyond the basketball court.
“This is not just a groundbreaking. It’s the planting of a seed—one that will grow into opportunity and pride for generations,” Tolbert said. “For too long, access to world-class athletic resources has been uneven. But talent is not uneven—it’s everywhere. What has been missing is the investment. Today, we change that.”
Tolbert said the project fulfills a promise to young athletes across Dallas.
“This facility says to the young women of our city, the basketball players, runners, soccer players, volleyball stars: we see you, and we are building for you,” she said. “This is bigger than brick and mortar. It will be a hub for change—a place where women’s sports, family health, and community pride come together.”
In closing, Tolbert pledged accountability.
“I want to say as we go into the next phase, we want you to hold us accountable,” she said. “Greg [Bibb] talked about how we’re going to deliver the project, and my commitment is that we will deliver this practice facility for you by the spring of 2026.”
Building For Athletes And Families
Bibb outlined how the facility is designed to meet the demands of professional athletes while also supporting their families.
“The players will have the best—practice space, treatment and recovery, nutrition, strength and conditioning, and technology—elements essential to putting our athletes in the best position to win and for the Wings to become a championship organization,” Bibb said.
He added that the complex includes spaces rarely seen in professional facilities.
“The facility will also feature mother’s rooms, a family lounge, meeting spaces, and player services to ensure our athletes and their loved ones are cared for on and off the court,” he said.
Bibb framed the project around two guiding principles: engagement and legacy.
“Engagement—this facility will allow our team and city to engage with each other. It creates a place for people to come together, grow together. That’s the magic of sport,” he said. “Legacy—the Dallas Wings and women’s sports are not experiencing a moment. We are in a movement. A movement that proves women and girls deserve the same opportunities as men.”
Economic And Cultural Impact
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Gay Donnell Willis emphasized the project’s role in advancing Dallas as a sports city and broadening opportunities for women.
“The Dallas Wings are building something special. Their growth, grit, and the way they compete have energized this city,” Willis said. “This investment raises hope, brings people together, and creates momentum you can feel.”
She outlined three ways the facility will move Dallas forward: strengthening the community by activating the park, boosting the economy through construction and tourism, and reinforcing the city’s identity as a hub for sports.
“This facility builds a pipeline for more girls and women to succeed—not just as players, but also in the front office,” Willis said. “It will attract visitors and tourism to Oak Cliff. Dallas is proud to stand with West Oak Cliff and with the Wings. Let this be a starting line for more progress.”
Council members stressed the local significance. Chad West, who represents North Oak Cliff, said the project answers years of requests from residents for investment in the district.
“The Wings are investing not only in their athletes but in this community, showing young girls—like my 9-year-old daughter—that they belong on the biggest stages,” West said.
Council Member Laura Cadena, representing District 6, called the site personal.
“My grandfather worked here when it was Cement City,” she said. “We are celebrating not just a facility but a vision. It tells young people excellence belongs to them.”
Designed For Performance And Wellness
Renderings highlighted the breadth of features, from basketball-specific amenities to recovery and wellness spaces. Among the details:
- Two courts with 10 baskets
- 3,800-square-foot locker room with steam, sauna, and vanity stations
- Hydrotherapy pools, hyperbaric chamber, salt room, and massage suites
- Lifestyle suite with hair and nail salon
- Family lounge and two mother’s rooms
- More than 4,000 square feet for strength and conditioning
- Film theater and video analytics suite
- Content studio, media room, and draft room
- Full-service kitchen and dining facility
- Outdoor training space and community meeting rooms
Dallas Parks Director John Jenkins said the project symbolizes progress.
“Great things happen at the right time, and today is the right time,” Jenkins said. “This proves that plans on paper can become opportunities in real life.”
Looking Ahead
As shovels lifted soil to mark the official start of construction, speakers pointed to the broader legacy of the project.
“Women’s sports matter. They provide leadership, discipline, and opportunity. A facility like this in Oak Cliff will make a huge difference,” said JR, Vice Chair of the Dallas Park Board. “All-female CEOs in America once played varsity sports—think about that. Sports shape lives. This project will do the same for young women in Dallas.”
Bibb closed by reminding the crowd that the new facility will serve both the franchise and its neighbors. “In the future, this place will be bustling with athletes of all ages and skill levels. This will become the signature recreation space for all,” he said. “Thank you, and Go Wings.”
Tolbert, returning to the stage for final remarks, underscored the city’s commitment.
“James Baldwin once said, ‘Hope is invented every day.’ Today is that day of hope,” she said. “We are committed to delivering this practice facility by spring 2026. The pressure is on—and we welcome it.”
The practice facility is expected to be completed in time for the 2026 WNBA season, cementing Dallas as a hub for women’s professional sports while expanding opportunities for youth engagement across the city.
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