archiveDallas Hoops Journal

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 Training Camp Vibe The Voice of Paige: Jose Fernandez’s "Championship Standard" has found its perfect engine in Paige Bueckers. The head coach’s glowing praise for her leadership—even with seasoned veterans arriving—is a massive green flag. Bueckers isn't just a star; she is the culture-setter whose "voice"...

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...

DHJ Quick Take: The Prospect Blueprint The Statistical Mirror: By the numbers, Cooper Flagg’s rookie campaign is almost an identical twin to Victor Wembanyama’s in terms of scoring volume. Flagg finished 2026 averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, joining Luka Dončić and Michael Jordan as one of the...

DHJ Quick Take: The Prospect Pairing The Dybantsa Dream: Landing the 6.7% chance for the No. 1 overall pick would allow Nico Harrison to pair AJ Dybantsa with Cooper Flagg. This creates a "Dual-Wing" engine where Dybantsa's elite three-level scoring serves as the offensive "closer" to Flagg’s generational defensive versatility....

DHJ Quick Take: The Star-Power Gamble The Post-Sengun Era: While Alperen Şengün earned his second consecutive NBA All-Star nod in 2026 as an injury replacement for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, his defensive limitations remain a point of friction for Ime Udoka. Moving a talented young player is a risk, but for a...

DHJ Quick Take: The Scrimmage Tape The UConn Short-Cut: The curl-and-knockdown between Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd shows the value of a tactical advantage. Jose Fernandez is installing a "totally different language" at camp, but the Bueckers-Fudd connection allows Dallas to skip the "learning curve" phase. The Defensive Standard: After...

DHJ Quick Take: The Mental Reset The Thursday Read: Jose Fernandez is less interested in physical rest and more in "mental retention." By framing Thursday (Day 5) as the true test, he is challenging the 15-player active group to prove that the on-court reps and defensive principles instilled over the...

DHJ Quick Take: Dallas Wings Draw Ratings Gravity The "Fab Four" Matchups: The three-game series against the Indiana Fever is the crown jewel of the 2026 broadcast calendar. By pitting the last four No. 1 overall picks—Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Azzi Fudd—against each other on ABC, ION,...

DHJ Quick Take: The Viewing Evolution Local Dominance: The return of KFAA 29 as the exclusive local home is a massive win for accessibility. By reaching 6.3 million households across 12 markets, the Wings are ensuring that the start of the Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd era is available for...