DHJ Quick Take: Tuesday’s Takeaways from Dallas Wings Practice
- The Guard Rotation Stabilizes: The increased activity from JJ Quinerly and Lindsay Allen is the most significant development of the week. With Arike Ogunbowale still navigating overseas travel, the potential return of Quinerly—who has spent her recovery time studying Odyssey Sims‘ point guard nuances—gives Jose Fernandez a versatile playmaker to test in transition against Indiana on Thursday.
- Fankam Mendjiadeu’s Interior Presence: Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu’s first practice revealed her immediate value as a high-energy post. Her familiarity with Fernandez’s “no-nonsense” coaching style allows her to skip the cultural adjustment phase. If she can successfully “stretch her yard” to the three-point line as she intends, she becomes a vital floor-spacer for Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd.
- Transition Accountability: Jose Fernandez is linking offensive shot selection directly to defensive success. By labeling “shitty shots” as the catalyst for poor transition defense, he is demanding a level of disciplined pace. The Wings want to play fast, but Fernandez is making it clear that speed without spacing or rebounding security is a non-starter for his system.
- Speed vs. Speed: JJ Quinerly’s assessment sdthat Dallas will “shorten the shot clock” suggests the Wings intend to be the most aggressive transition team in the league. Thursday’s match against the Fever will be a litmus test for whether this roster can maintain that breakneck pace without sacrificing the defensive standards Fernandez has established in camp.
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Wings devoted Tuesday’s open media portion of practice to skill development work ahead of Thursday’s preseason opener against the Indiana Fever.
After over a week of practices, the Wings are awaiting for Arike Ogunbowale, Jessica Shepard, Awak Kuier, and Costanza Verona to arrive. Kuier is still without a timetable as she awaits completion of the visa process. The other late arrivals did not practice on Tuesday. However, Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, who is also returning from a season abroad, was the lone late arrival to take part in the session after going through Media Day on Monday.
Below are full notes from Tuesday’s Wings practice.
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu Goes Through First Practice
Fankam Mendjiadeu, who reunited with head coach Jose Fernandez after playing for him at the University of South Florida, said she leaned on her teammates as she works to catch up on the playbook.
“It was really good. I feel really lucky because everybody was guiding me,” Fankam Mendjiadeu said. “It was hard because I’m coming in late and don’t know all the plays yet, but everybody was helping me, telling me where I need to be, where I should go, reminding me of everything. That was really amazing.”
The 6-3 forward/center was originally selected 21st overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2023 WNBA Draft. She earned AAC Co-Player of the Year and First-team All-AAC honors at South Florida in 2023 and helped the Bulls win the 2022-23 AAC regular-season championship under Fernandez. The Cameroon native appeared in 41 games over two seasons with the Storm in 2023 and 2024, averaging 3.5 points and 4.0 rebounds. She has played professionally overseas in Spain, France, and Serbia in the years since, averaging 16.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game with Serbian club Crvena Zvezda during the 2025-26 season and helping the team capture the Serbian Cup championship.
She identified energy, defense, and rebounding as the strengths she brings to the frontcourt, while pointing to perimeter shooting as the area of her game she is most focused on developing.
“That’s one thing everybody has been telling me. If I want to have a long career in this league, I need to have that jump shot because that’s where the league is going,” Fankam Mendjiadeu said. “So I know I need to stretch my game out to the three-point line. Right now, I’m working on it.”
Her relationship with Fernandez dates back to her time at South Florida, where she said the head coach pushed her to expand her game.
“He was one of the first coaches who pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. He’s been amazing on and off the court, so I really respect him,” Fankam Mendjiadeu said. “Back in college, I was one of his top players, and he wasn’t afraid to tell me when I was messing up. That’s something I really respect. He doesn’t take anything from anybody.”
JJ Quinerly, Lindsay Allen Increase Activity, In Line for Possible Preseason Minutes
Fernandez said both JJ Quinerly and Lindsay Allen ramped up their participation Tuesday, opening the door to preseason minutes this week as Dallas builds toward its May 9 regular-season tip-off.
“They’ve been limited. But the most important thing is the players’ health. It’s a long season, and you plan on it being a long season,” Fernandez said. “Taking care of their welfare is the most important thing right now.”
Asked whether the two had increased their activity level Tuesday, Fernandez confirmed they had.
“Yeah, they increased today. You saw they went up and down. We’ll see what type of time they get on Thursday and Sunday,” Fernandez said.
Quinerly was sidelined for the final stretch of her rookie season after suffering a left knee injury Aug. 20 at the Los Angeles Sparks. She underwent successful surgery Oct. 3 that included an osteochondral allograft procedure and a meniscus repair, with the team announcing at the time that she was expected to make a full recovery ahead of the 2026 season.
The West Virginia product, selected 27th overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, averaged 6.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 34 games before the injury, shooting .426 from the field and .389 from 3-point range. She was just the third third-round pick over the past decade to average at least six points per game as a rookie.
Quinerly said the next step in her recovery is regaining her speed.
“Oh yeah, for sure. I just need to get that speed back. That’s the next step,” Quinerly said.
She spent her rookie year transitioning from a college two guard to playing point guard at the WNBA level, and she said her time on the bench during her recovery has helped her study the position. She has also leaned on veteran point guard Odyssey Sims for guidance.
“I would say just being able to sit back and watch from the bench. Not being on the court allowed me to see how to play as a point guard,” Quinerly said. “I was a two guard in college, so coming in here and playing that point guard role was a little different for me. Being able to watch, and with Odyssey Sims coming in, I feel like our games are somewhat similar. Watching her get up and down the court has been good.”
Jose Fernandez Wants Defense, Rebounding to Carry Over
While Fernandez praised the energy, communication, and intensity his team brought to its first session on its own floor, he was blunt about the defensive and rebounding standards he wants to see translate from practice into Thursday’s preseason opener.
“We can’t be a team that gives teams extra possessions. That can’t happen,” Fernandez said. “We can’t give teams extra possessions by allowing offensive rebounds and live-ball turnovers. When you take shitty shots offensively, that leads to bad transition defense. That’s another issue.”
Fernandez said the introduction of officials to Tuesday’s session and the increased physicality from the team’s male scrimmage group have sharpened the competitive edge of practice. Indiana, which has already played one exhibition, will give Dallas its first live look at game-speed defense and rebounding before the regular season opens.
“How we come out of timeouts, whatever situations come up, we’ll look at those,” Fernandez said. “It’ll also give us an opportunity to evaluate some players who have missed time in practice and to play different types of lineups as well, which will be good.”
JJ Quinerly on Pace, Versatility, and Positionless Approach
Asked about the identity Fernandez is building, Quinerly said she expects Dallas to lean on pace and athleticism with limited half-court reliance.
“I like how versatile we are and how quick we’ll be getting up the court. We’ll probably play in transition a lot, not too much half-court offense,” Quinerly said. “We’re going to play fast, get the ball up quick, shorten the shot clock, get back on defense, and keep it going. With our athleticism, speed, and versatility, everything should come together.”
She also said the time on the sideline has helped her learn her teammates’ tendencies in advance of her return.
“Watching from a distance gives me an advantage. I can see where people want the ball and where they’re comfortable, so that helps,” Quinerly said.
Up Next
The Wings open their preseason slate Thursday against the Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, then turn around for a Sunday matchup against the Las Vegas Aces at Moody Center in Austin before the May 9 regular-season tip-off.
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