archiveAwak Kuier

DHJ Quick Take: Dallas Wings Near Preseason Opener Defensive Tone-Setter: Alanna Smith’s debut is the most significant tactical storyline for Dallas. As the reigning WNBA Co-Defensive Player of the Year, her "one-percenter" mentality is the mechanical necessity required to anchor a shorthanded Wings frontcourt while Jessica Shepard and Awak Kuier...

DHJ Quick Take: Dallas Wings Injury Updates Measured Backcourt Progress: The Dallas Wings are taking a cautious approach with JJ Quinerly as she continues her recovery from major knee surgery. While Quinerly increased her on-court activity this week, the team is prioritizing her "speed ramp" toward the May 9 opener...

DHJ Quick Take: The Training Camp Logistics The Championship Pedigree: Curt Miller emphasized the "championship DNA" of his late arrivals. With Arike Ogunbowale (China), Jessica Shepard (Italy), and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (Serbia) all coming off overseas titles, the goal is to infuse the locker room with a "win-now" disposition that...

DHJ Quick Take: Early Dallas Wings Rotation Projections The "Big 5" Identity: Curt Miller's starting lineup of Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, Azzi Fudd, Jessica Shepard, and Alanna Smith is viewed as a tactical "home run." By pairing three perimeter threats with a "Point Forward" in Shepard and a co-Defensive Player...

DHJ Quick Take: The Defensive X-Factor The Immigration Bottleneck: While the rest of the "Top 8" arrivals are scheduled through Monday, Awak Kuier remains in a holding pattern. As Curt Miller noted, the process is complex and involves a layered collaboration between the league and legal counsel. For Jose Fernandez,...

DHJ Quick Take: The Italian Connection The Schio Synergy: Jessica Shepard and Costanza Verona aren't just joining the Wings—they’re arriving with pre-existing championship chemistry. Currently competing for Famila Wuber Schio in the Italian Serie A1 Finals against Umana Reyer Venezia, the pair’s ability to communicate in Jose Fernandez’s system will...

DHJ Quick Take: Arike Ogunbowale's Arrival The Monday Milestone: Arike Ogunbowale's arrival on Monday evening marks the transition of the Wings' camp into its most critical phase. As Curt Miller noted, Ogunbowale is the final pillar of a "Top 8" group that has been trickling in from overseas, joining Alanna...

DHJ Quick Take: Alanna Smith Adjusts to Dallas The "Home Run" Addition: Curt Miller was clear: landing Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard was the "home run" that defined the Wings' offseason. By securing the 2025 WNBA co-Defensive Player of the Year in free agency, Dallas effectively built a defensive wall...

DHJ Quick Take: The Logistical Grind The Staggered Return: The Wings’ 2026 season officially hits high gear soon. Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (fresh off a Serbian Championship) returns Saturday, while Arike Ogunbowale—following her Game 5 in China—is expected Monday. Jessica Shepard’s arrival hinges on Thursday’s Italian Serie A1 result: a Schio...

DHJ Quick Take: The Preseason Lens The Fudd-Bueckers Debut: The April 30 matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse against the Indiana Fever is effectively the "Opening Night" for the Wings' new era. Seeing Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers share a backcourt against Caitlin Clark—the league’s most potent ratings driver—is a calculated move...