“I Feel Really Comfortable”: Luisa Geiselsöder Details Early Dallas Wings Adjustment and WNBA Transition
Five years after being drafted by the Dallas Wings, German center Luisa Geiselsöder is officially on the roster and beginning her transition to the WNBA.
The 25-year-old was selected with the No. 21 pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft but remained overseas to continue her development. She arrived in Dallas last week following a championship-winning season in France with Basket Landes, where she averaged 11.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.2 blocks while shooting 47.5% from the field and 35.7% from 3-point range.
“It’s fun. It’s really fun,” Geiselsöder told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “The girls really welcomed me openly and warmly. It’s new — a little overwhelming in the beginning — but all in all, I feel really comfortable with the girls and the whole organization. It’s amazing.”
Her availability became official ahead of Monday’s game against the Seattle Storm, but Geiselsöder could not participate in shootaround that day since her FIBA clearance didn’t come in time, complicating the potential for a debut. She did take the floor with the Wings on Wednesday morning at Target Center, continuing her integration process ahead of a potential debut.
“She did not practice,” Wings head coach Chris Koclanes said Sunday. “We’re excited for her to join us, though, and just coming off all sorts of momentum with that French championship. So, be excited that she’s winning. She did not practice today and gotta get some medical stuff done, and we’ll see if she’s available tomorrow or not.”
Luisa Geiselsöder is a Long-Awaited Addition to the Dallas Wings
Geiselsöder’s addition bolsters a restructured Dallas frontcourt that has significantly changed this season. The Wings count on her versatility and international experience to bring depth and balance to the rotation. She was a consistent starter throughout Basket Landes’ playoff run and delivered 18 points in Game 1 of the LFB Finals as her team rallied after losing Game 1 to win the title.
Wings general manager Curt Miller, who tracked her development with Landes and the German national team, praised her skill set and adaptability.
“She’s a really versatile post player,” Miller said. “What stood out to me internationally watching her and preparing for USA Basketball is that she’s an underrated defender around the rim. She can score at multiple levels. She’s talented with her back to the basket, but also can stretch it to three.”
Still, Miller acknowledged it would take time for Geiselsöder to settle in after missing the entirety of the training camp.
“She’s a whole training camp behind,” Miller said. “We know putting her on the opening day roster is going to take some time for her to fit in, but we’re excited for her potential.”
Dallas had to wait until Landes’ playoff run concluded before bringing Geiselsöder over. Miller described the process as one that tested the team’s patience.
“She was in an elimination game in the quarterfinals. We had a flight booked. She advanced to the semis. She was in an elimination game in the semis, and we had a flight booked, and she advanced to the final,” Miller told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “And then they’re down 0–1 in the championship, and then they win two consecutive games to win the championship. So there were many opportunities for Luisa to get here, and while we were disappointed she couldn’t get here earlier, we were happy with her run.”
Luisa Geiselsöder on Adjusting to the WNBA, Learning on the Fly
Now in Dallas, Geiselsöder is adjusting not only to new teammates and a new system, but also to the structural differences between FIBA and WNBA rules. During a recent walkthrough, Arike Ogunbowale and Teaira McCowan noticed Geiselsöder lingering in the paint too long — a legal play in FIBA but a three-second violation in the WNBA. McCowan took the time to explain the difference before the team broke the huddle.
“The first thing is the defensive three seconds,” Geiselsöder told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “And then everything is just faster. There’s more interaction. In Europe, we have more set plays — you really have your way to go. Here, it’s freer basketball. You can actually show your style and play more.”
She credited her teammates for making the transition easier, notably Arike Ogunbowale and Paige Bueckers, for reaching out to her early in the process.
“Arike helped from the beginning,” Geiselsöder told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “She reached out to me pretty early. Paige [Bueckers] was always there. Honestly, every time I need something I can ask no matter who — they’re all really open to help me.”
Geiselsöder said she was drawn to Dallas by the chance to help build something from the ground up under a new coaching staff and revamped roster.
“It’s a new start. It’s a whole new team trying to find its chemistry, so it’s fun for me to be in this environment and help build something new,” Geiselsöder told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I hope something exciting—something big. Talking to Chris, the coaches, and Curt, what they told me about their goals was really promising. I shared a lot of their style and vision.”
When reflecting on the Wings’ vision for her, Geiselsöder expects to contribute a blend of inside presence, floor spacing, and playmaking in an offense that features Bueckers and Ogunbowale.
“I want to show a little of my footwork in the low post, which I feel really comfortable with,” Geiselsöder told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “And shoot the three when I’m open. But most importantly, I want to help my teammates — setting good screens, making cuts to get them open, making good passes. Just doing what the team needs in that moment.”
The Wings begin their road trip Wednesday night in Minnesota with a 7:00 p.m. CT tipoff against the Lynx, still seeking their first win. While Geiselsöder’s immediate role remains uncertain, her presence gives Dallas a stretch-five with a versatile skill set to add into the mix.
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