Serena Sundell, Seattle Storm, WNBA
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Dallas Wings Sign Serena Sundell to Hardship Contract Following JJ Quinerly Injury

The Dallas Wings have signed guard Serena Sundell to a seven-day hardship contract following the season-ending injury to JJ Quinerly, the team announced Tuesday. Sundell will be available for Wednesday’s game against the Connecticut Sun at College Park Center.

Sundell, a 6-foot-2 guard, was selected 26th overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm. She was waived before the start of the regular season but remained active, competing with the USA 3×3 Women’s Nations League Team in July in Chile.

Hardship Signings Bolster Dallas Wings Roster

At Kansas State, Sundell established herself as the program’s all-time assists leader while earning First Team All-Big 12 honors twice during her four-year career. She also received AP and WBCA All-America Honorable Mention accolades as a senior in 2024-25. In her final season, she averaged 14.1 points and 7.3 assists while shooting better than 50 percent from the field.

The hardship contract allows Dallas to temporarily add a player to its roster in response to injury-related absences. The Wings turned to Sundell after Quinerly’s ACL sprain created an opening in the backcourt, with the team already thin at the guard position.

Sundell joins forward Amy Okonkwo, who is also playing on a hardship contract and has quickly carved out a role. Okonkwo scored 12 points in her second game with Dallas and has provided steady minutes and energy off the bench in her return to the WNBA.

Dallas Wings Guard Depth Tested by Injuries

The Wings’ roster has been stretched by injuries throughout the summer. Tyasha Harris was lost after just five games due to knee surgery, while Li Yueru suffered an ACL sprain and will not return this season. Arike Ogunbowale remains sidelined with knee tendonitis.

As a result, Dallas has had to lean heavily on rookies and short rotations. The only guards currently available are Paige Bueckers, Grace Berger, and Aziaha James — with Sundell now added to the mix. Bueckers has carried a significant offensive load during her first season, while Berger and James have been relied upon for extended stretches in unfamiliar roles.

With a 9-29 record, the Wings continue to push through one of the WNBA’s most injury-ridden campaigns. Sundell’s arrival provides immediate depth and playmaking potential, giving head coach Chris Koclanes another option as Dallas navigates the final stretch of the season.

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Grant Afseth

Grant Afseth

Senior Writer
is a Senior Writer for Dallas Hoops Journal and a lead contributor to Roundtable.io. With over a decade of experience as a credentialed journalist, Afseth provides elite tactical analysis and front-office strategy for the Mavericks, Wings, and Texas basketball. His reporting is featured across national platforms including Newsweek, RG.org, Hoops Rumors, and Athlon Sports. A primary source for the basketball community, his work is frequently cited by Wikipedia, RealGM, and Basketball-Reference. He previously served as a Mavericks and NBA reporter for Sports Illustrated's FanNation and Rockets/OnSI, as well as Ballislife, Heavy Sports, ClutchPoints, and NBA Analysis Network. During the Mavericks' 2024 NBA Finals run and the pivotal 2025 offseason—featuring his lead reporting on the Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis trade—he served as a featured insider for The Texas Standard and BBC Sport Radio. Afseth is a regular guest on Fox 4 Dallas and 105.3 The Fan. He previously reported for the Kokomo Tribune and Winsidr. Follow his real-time reporting on X @GrantAfseth.