The Dallas Wings have re-signed center Awak Kuier for the 2026 WNBA season, the team announced. The 6-foot-6 center returns to Dallas after three seasons playing professionally in Europe, rejoining the franchise that made her the first player from Finland to appear in the WNBA in 2021.
General manager Curt Miller said bringing Kuier back ranked among the organization’s top priorities heading into free agency.
“Recruiting Awak back to Dallas and the WNBA was a huge priority for our staff during this offseason,” Miller said. “Awak’s game has continued to grow since last playing in the WNBA. She impacts the game at both ends of the court. Offensively, she can score at all three levels while defensively, she impacts the game with her length and athleticism. We are truly excited about Awak’s return to Dallas.”
A Different Player Returns
Kuier was selected No. 2 overall by Dallas in the 2021 WNBA Draft at 19 years old and spent three seasons coming off the bench, averaging 2.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 11.1 minutes per game before returning to Europe following the 2023 campaign. The player returning to North Texas bears little resemblance to the one who left.
During the 2025-26 season with Galatasaray in Turkey, Kuier averaged 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 59.3% from the field and 40.9% from three-point range over 24 games. In 17 Euroleague contests, she posted 12.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 65.4% overall. She led the Euroleague in blocks, finished second in double-doubles with five, and ranked fifth in efficiency and sixth in field goal percentage.
Honors accumulated steadily throughout her time abroad. Kuier earned All-Turkish League Third Team recognition in 2026, All-Europeans Honorable Mention and All-Italian League First Team and All-Defensive Team honors in 2025, Italian League Finals MVP and All-Italian League Second Team in 2024, and an All-Italian A1 Honorable Mention in 2023. She won the Italian Serie A1 Championship in 2024 after finishing runner-up in both 2023 and 2025.
Dallas Wings Offseason Moves
The Kuier signing is one of several moves Dallas has made ahead of the 2026 season. Guard Arike Ogunbowale is returning on a seven-figure, multi-year deal after taking less than her $1.4 million supermax qualifying offer. Center Li Yueru and guard Grace Berger have each accepted qualifying offers as restricted free agents.
Dallas also traded forward Diamond Miller to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for center/forward Rayah Marshall, generating a minimum savings of $259,088 with the potential to clear Miller’s full $536,588 salary with an additional roster move. The Portland Fire claimed forward Luisa Geiselsöder and guard/forward Haley Jones in last week’s WNBA Expansion Draft.
Up Next for the Dallas Wings
Dallas holds the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft on Monday, April 13, along with the No. 31 overall selection.
The Wings open the 2026 season on the road against the Indiana Fever on Saturday, May 9, at noon CT, before making their home debut at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, May 12, at 7 p.m. against the Atlanta Dream.
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