DHJ Quick Take: Tactical Tape Study
- The Defensive Blueprint: The video of the “X-out” and “top-locking” drills confirms Jose Fernandez’s move toward a disruptive, high-pressure scheme. By prioritizing “fighting over” screens rather than switching screens, the Wings are attempting to avoid giving mismatches.
- Frontcourt Mobility: The positional work emphasizes the rim-running and elbow decision-making Fernandez requires from his fours and fives. The staff is focusing on high-speed finishing and Zoom action reads, signaling a more dynamic offensive role for the frontcourt group.
- Backcourt Shooting Volume: With Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, among guards taking structured reps, the focus is clear: increase the three-point volume.
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Wings returned to College Park Center on Monday for Day 2 of training camp, and Dallas Hoops Journal was on site for the portion of practice open to the media.
Here are three clips from what the 17-player group worked on in front of reporters, with notes on each.
Half-Court Defense Install
While defense is a daily focus, head coach Jose Fernandez devoted a significant block of the open portion of practice to installing half-court defensive principles. The emphasis was on aggressive low-defender rotations, X-out weakside coverage on ball reversals, and top-locking in the corner to force baseline.
Off the ball, the coaching staff pushed early physicality and fighting through screens rather than switching. The preference in coverage was to fight over screens and stay in position, with bigs playing close to level and showing before recovering if needed. On-ball defenders were coached up to keep active hands and be physical early, while the rotations triggered by ball pressure at half-court were walked through repeatedly.
Fernandez has framed defense as a daily non-negotiable in his first season in Dallas. Monday’s session was the clearest look yet at what that will mean in practice.
Positional Skill Work With the Bigs
The bigs broke out into position-specific drill work during the open portion of practice, with a heavy focus on rim-running, finishing, and the kind of decision-making Fernandez wants from his fours and fives in Zoom actions, dribble handoffs, and reads from the elbow and nail.
Undrafted Texas center Kyla Oldacre has already caught Fernandez’s eye for her ability to get down the floor. Alanna Smith and Li Yueru both offer different versions of the perimeter-capable big system that Fernandez’s system is built around.
Guard Shooting Reps
The guards spent a portion of the open session putting up reps in structured shooting drills. Dallas’s backcourt is the deepest position group on the roster, with Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, Lindsay Allen, Odyssey Sims, JJ Quinerly, Aziaha James, Grace Berger, and Shyanne Sellers.
Fernandez has made it clear that Bueckers will play both on and off the ball this season, and that the point guard rotation behind her is still being sorted out. Shooting efficiency will matter across the group, particularly with Fernandez pushing for more transition and half-court threes from his primary creators.
Up Next
Camp picks back up Tuesday in Arlington, with a scheduled day off on Wednesday.
The Wings open the 2026 season on the road against the Indiana Fever on Saturday, May 9, at noon CT, before hosting the Atlanta Dream at College Park Center for their home opener on Tuesday, May 12, at 7 p.m.
More Wings Coverage on Dallas Hoops Journal
- ‘She’s A Pro’: Paige Bueckers Is Built Different In Year 2, And Jose Fernandez Says It Will Show In Clutch Time
- ‘A Bright Future’: Alanna Smith Details Picking Dallas Wings In Free Agency, Expanding Her Game
- ‘A Dream Come True’: Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd Realize Decade-Long Journey To Dallas Wings Backcourt
- Dallas Wings Training Camp Day 2 Interviews: Jose Fernandez, Alysha Clark, Maddy Siegrist And Odyssey Sims
- Dallas Wings Training Camp Day 1 Recap: Jose Fernandez Sets Tone With ‘No-BS’ Culture
- ‘She Better Shoot The Damn Ball’: Jose Fernandez Challenges Azzi Fudd On Day 1 Of Training Camp
- ‘Landed Where I Was Meant to Be’: Azzi Fudd Introduced By Dallas Wings, Embraces New Journey
- Exclusive: Curt Miller On The ‘New-Look’ Dallas Wings, Frontcourt Chemistry, And Azzi Fudd’s Elite Ceiling
