DHJ Quick Take: Sug Sutton Embraces Pass-First, Defensive Role With Dallas Wings
New Dallas Wings guard Sug Sutton said her job is to organize the offense, set up the scorers, and defend, calling a backcourt full of shot-makers a point guard’s dream ahead of her debut.
- What’s the news? Sutton, signed to a rest-of-season deal Sunday, broke down her pass-first, defense-first role and is set to debut Monday.
- What does she bring? She wants to organize the offense and create shots for Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, and Azzi Fudd, with perimeter defense and energy as her calling card.
- Why does it matter? Sutton adds 127 games of WNBA experience to a backcourt thinned by Odyssey Sims‘ ankle injury.
- What’s next? Tip-off is Monday at 7 p.m. CT against the Las Vegas Aces at College Park Center, on USA Network nationally and KFAA locally.
ARLINGTON, Texas — New Dallas Wings guard Sug Sutton has a clear sense of why Dallas brought her in: set the table for a backcourt full of scorers, and defend.
“As a point guard, having scorers around you is pretty much the dream,” Sutton said. “There are so many players here who can put the ball in the basket, so I can make plays and get the ball to whoever has the advantage.”
Sutton sees herself as a connector for Dallas’s shot-makers, a guard who can organize the offense and make plays off the dribble to create shots for Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, and Azzi Fudd.
“I just want to help them out, get them off the ball at times, help create shots, and get them extra opportunities,” Sutton said.
She does not plan to set aside her own offense, but her priorities are clear.
“Offensively, I want to pass the ball, get teammates involved, and take my shots when they’re there,” Sutton said. “But more than anything, I want to help the team win.”
That pass-first approach has shaped her whole career. Sutton averaged 3.9 assists for the Washington Mystics in 2025, 17th in the WNBA in assists per game, and in 2023 she recorded the first triple-double in Phoenix Mercury history. Playing next to this much scoring, she said, is what drew her to Dallas.
“That’s one of the things that excited me most about coming to Dallas,” Sutton said. “I get to play with great players while also bringing my own game into the mix.”
Sug Sutton On Bringing Defense And Energy
If playmaking is the offensive piece, defense is where Sutton stakes her identity. General Manager Curt Miller addressed what Sutton brings in the Wings’ signing announcement.
“We are excited to add Sug Sutton to our roster,” Miller said. “Sug is an experienced point guard in the WNBA, starting 43 games during the 2025 season. She plays with great pace and adds a quality defender on the perimeter. We’re happy to welcome Sug back to the state of Texas.”
Sutton said the defensive reputation is one she takes seriously.
“I also want to come in with a defensive mindset. Being a smaller guard in this league, that’s one of the biggest parts of my game,” Sutton said.
She takes pride in the label.
“I feel like I’m a really good defender, and I take a lot of pride in that,” Sutton said.
For Sutton, the impact does not have to show up on the scoreboard.
“I want to be a pest on defense, create extra possessions, get steals, and bring energy to the floor,” Sutton said. “Sometimes it’s not always about scoring. Sometimes it’s about making a play that gives your team momentum. Defense is a major part of my identity as a player.”
Sug Sutton Set For Dallas Wings Debut
Sutton signed a rest-of-season contract Sunday and will be available when the Wings host the Las Vegas Aces on Monday, wearing No. 0. A St. Louis native, she starred at Texas from 2016 to 2020, making the move to Arlington a return to the state where she first made her name. She brings 127 games of WNBA experience across stops in Washington, Phoenix, and Portland, and steps into a backcourt that had grown thin with Odyssey Sims sidelined by an ankle injury.
Sutton likes what she has seen from her new team, which opened the year 8-5. She credited that start to the offensive talent already in place, with Bueckers and Fudd running the show and Jessica Shepard and Ogunbowale producing around them.
“Their success comes from leaning into the strengths of the players they have,” Sutton said. “They’ve got a lot of offensive talent, and they’re doing a really good job maximizing it.”
She’s excited to get started building chemistry with her new teammates.
“I’m just excited to come in, help however I can, and start building chemistry with everyone as quickly as possible,” Sutton said.
Dallas hosts the Las Vegas Aces on Monday at College Park Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT, with the game airing nationally on USA Network and locally on KFAA.
More Wings Coverage on Dallas Hoops Journal
- Sources: Dallas Wings Sign Sug Sutton To Rest-Of-Season Contract
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- Paige Bueckers Climbs To No. 2 In WNBA MVP Odds After Season-High 31 vs. Phoenix Mercury
- Dallas Wings Rule Out Paige Bueckers Against Portland Fire Out Of ‘Caution’
- Paige Bueckers Questionable For Dallas Wings At Portland; Odyssey Sims Remains Out
- ‘One Of The Best In The World’: Paige Bueckers Erupts For Season-High 31 To Lead Dallas Wings’ Response vs. Phoenix Mercury
