Dallas Wings Tuesday Practice Recap: Awak Kuier, Arike Ogunbowale Begin Chemistry Building; Aziaha James Injury

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Wings held practice on Tuesday for the first time with both Awak Kuier and Arike Ogunbowale available, giving head coach Jose Fernandez his first chance to run 5-on-5 work with the projected core group on the floor together. Dallas finished the preseason 2-0 with a 95-80 win at the Indiana Fever on April 30 and a 101-84 win over the Las Vegas Aces at Moody Center in Austin on May 3, but did so without Kuier, who was finishing her season overseas, and Ogunbowale, who was sidelined with a right ankle injury.

Both players spoke with the media for the first time since rejoining the team. The practice also saw two injury developments: Alanna Smith did not practice, and Aziaha James went down during the workout.

Practice Notes: Alanna Smith, Aziaha James Injuries

Smith was held out of Tuesday’s practice and did not participate. Smith, the Wings’ starting center, exited the preseason finale against the Aces on Sunday with a facial injury and did not return.

James suffered an injury during practice and was not available to finish the workout. Both will be names to monitor as the Wings approach Saturday’s regular-season opener.

Awak Kuier on Returning From Finland

Kuier’s path back to Dallas ran through Helsinki before she could rejoin the team in Texas. The forward had to secure her visa in Finland and complete her embassy appointment before traveling to the United States, a process she said was expedited by the Wings’ front office.

“Obviously, with the visa, it’s different having to get to Finland first and then go through the whole process of going to the embassy and stuff,” Kuier said. “But the Dallas Wings crew was super helpful, and they were able to help me get it faster.”

Kuier said the timing of her return fell into place once she had a chance to talk with Fernandez and assess the rebuilt roster.

“Honestly, I feel like everything just kinda went into place,” Kuier said. “I talked to the coach before coming, too, and the whole crew is different; teammates are different. I think it just felt like it was the time for me to come back. I felt good about it.”

Awak Kuier on Becoming a Tougher Player in Europe

Kuier believes her years overseas left her better prepared for the leap back to the WNBA. She was asked to anchor her European clubs as a primary scorer, a role she said hardened her game.

“I definitely got a bigger role. I was able to be more of a leader and be in those situations where I have to be one of the best players on the team and contribute in that way,” Kuier said. “That helped me a lot in Europe also to just become a tougher player and be able to come back here and match that toughness that the league has.”

Kuier said the coaching staff stayed in regular contact with her during her time overseas, sending plays and updating her on training camp.

Awak Kuier on Fitting Jose Fernandez’s Rim-Running System

Fernandez has spoken often about wanting rim runners in his offense, and Kuier said the description matches how she sees herself.

“I think it’s perfect to hear for me. It makes me feel like I’m needed in the team, and I feel like the whole team is very much like we have a lot of players that run the floor,” Kuier said. “It’s perfect for me. I’m able to add this playing style that I have into the team.”

The new offensive style under Fernandez emphasizes movement off screens rather than ball-dominant play, which Kuier said suits the habits she developed in Europe.

“I think I like a lot how it was, like, more off screen. It wasn’t that much of dribbling the ball,” Kuier said. “I feel like that’s something that I already have playing in Europe, so seeing that here is just a huge advantage to me, too.”

Awak Kuier on Defense and Playing the Three

Kuier believes her defense and rim-running fit will be the most immediate ways she contributes.

“Defensively, I feel like I can be a big help to this team,” Kuier said. “And like I said before, the rim running and just being that player that people have to guard because I’m running so much.”

Kuier also addressed the possibility of seeing minutes at the three.

“I played a lot of the three in Europe, so I think I’m ready for it and I feel confident about it,” Kuier said.

Arike Ogunbowale on a Championship-Winning Offseason

Ogunbowale’s offseason had a lot of moving parts. The All-Star guard re-signed for less than the super max under the new collective bargaining agreement. She also got married, won a championship with Unrivaled, and won overseas in China.

“It’s been a blessed offseason,” Ogunbowale said. “Got married, won in China, won with Unrivaled. It was a really fun offseason.”

China was Ogunbowale’s first overseas season in four years. She said the timing of free agency and uncertainty around the WNBA season pushed her to take an opportunity she had not previously pursued.

“When I used to go overseas, I didn’t really like being by myself, so I’m like, ‘All right. I’ve never played in China, let’s do something. It’s just a month,'” Ogunbowale said. “They treated me really well. I enjoyed it and made a lot of money. It was a blessing.”

Arike Ogunbowale on the New CBA and Million-Dollar Salaries

A year ago, Ogunbowale spoke publicly about the prospect of WNBA players reaching million-dollar salaries. Under the new CBA, she is now among them.

“It’s amazing. It’s deserved,” Ogunbowale said. “I’m right in the middle where I saw the ends of the old WNBA, and now I’m seeing the new WNBA, and it’s just a blessing that I’m right now playing in this time and being able to reap the benefits of everybody that paved the way.”

Ogunbowale confirmed that she took less than the super max to re-sign, framing the decision around what it took to build a contender.

“God has blessed me with a good amount of money outside the court that I knew that, in order to win here, you have to take less. All the greats have done it, all the great players,” Ogunbowale said. “Vegas wouldn’t be where they are if people didn’t take less. New York has had to do the same.”

She said the discount allowed Dallas to bring in Smith and Jessica Shepard, both signings she helped recruit.

“I was able to play with her at Unrivaled, and I love playing with her. I played with Jess for two years in college,” Ogunbowale said. “To be able to get them, it was definitely worth it.”

Arike Ogunbowale on Loyalty to Dallas

Ogunbowale said she did not seriously entertain offers from other teams. Fernandez and general manager Curt Miller made re-signing her a priority from the moment Fernandez was hired.

“Jose made it a point, right when he got hired, to let me know that he wanted me here,” Ogunbowale said. “I love Dallas. I got drafted here. I think it’s kinda in my blood.”

Ogunbowale connected her decision to stay to her time at Notre Dame, which had won one national championship before her arrival.

“That’s part of the reason I went to Notre Dame,” Ogunbowale said. “A lot of people, obviously, have left Dallas. That could’ve been a route I took, but I like the hard way. I like to work for greatness.”

Now in her eighth season with the franchise, Ogunbowale said the organizational investment is the most pronounced she has seen.

“This is definitely a come-up. Even from last year, a lot of stuff is night and day,” Ogunbowale said. “The organization’s really pouring into us. The sky’s the limit, honestly. New facility coming. Just a lot of good things coming here in Dallas.”

Arike Ogunbowale on Jose Fernandez and the Coaching Staff

Ogunbowale singled out the work of Fernandez and the staff he has assembled.

“He’s very intentional. That’s one of the reasons I came back. When he got the job, he came out here, we worked out, we had a lot of conversations,” Ogunbowale said. “He was at USF for 25 years. He’s not new to being a head coach. He’s not new to adversity. He’s a mastermind, just watching him with his X’s and O’s.”

Arike Ogunbowale on the Roster’s Ceiling and Hunger to Win

Asked about the ceiling for a roster that added Smith, Shepard, and Odyssey Sims to a core that includes Paige Bueckers, Maddy Siegrist, and James, Ogunbowale was direct.

“I don’t think there really is a limit,” Ogunbowale said. “I think we’ll have one of the deepest benches in the W. You put somebody on the floor, there’s no drop down.”

Ogunbowale also addressed her view of the roster construction as a whole, noting that most of Dallas’s offseason additions chose to be there.

“This is people wanted to be here. They signed here. They could have gone to other places, and that’s big,” Ogunbowale said. “We don’t want anybody here that doesn’t wanna be here. These people, you could tell everybody wants to be here. They’re hungry for success.”

Of the players currently on the roster, only Alysha Clark has won a WNBA championship. Ogunbowale used that detail to characterize the locker room.

“I think we only got one player here that’s won a championship. That’s AC,” Ogunbowale said. “A lot of us are really trying to get it. We’re hungry. We’re trying to get to it.”

Arike Ogunbowale on Returning From Ankle Injury

Ogunbowale missed the May 3 preseason finale against the Aces in Austin with a right ankle injury, but returned to participate at Tuesday’s practice and said she expects to play Saturday at Indiana.

“We have to do our homework outside of this learning plays, so we don’t have a lot of setbacks at practice,” Ogunbowale said. “We can just get into the flow.”

Asked directly whether she expects to play Saturday, Ogunbowale’s answer was short.

“Yeah, for sure,” Ogunbowale said.

Arike Ogunbowale on Maddy Siegrist and Aziaha James

Ogunbowale expects another step from Siegrist, who broke out as a scorer last season and posted 18 points and 11 rebounds in the preseason opener at Indiana.

“Maddy, she’s a worker. She’s always gonna come early, get shots up, do what she can to keep her body right, and she’s a learner, too,” Ogunbowale said. “It’s been great to see her growth. She already had a breakout year last year. I think this is gonna be even bigger for her.”

Ogunbowale said the addition of Azzi Fudd to the backcourt should not change much about her own role.

“We’re gonna share the ball. We’re all gonna be able to score, and having a sharp shooter like Azzi is lethal,” Ogunbowale said. “She’s one of the best shooters I’ve ever seen. The release is so fast. She’s aggressive, too. She can get to the basket.”

Up Next

The Wings open the regular season on Saturday against the Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. CT.

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