The energy around the Dallas Wings 2025 roster feels fundamentally different than anything we've seen in Arlington over the last decade. Honestly, it’s a bit of a whirlwind. If you haven't been keeping a close eye on the transactions wire, the sheer amount of turnover might actually give you whiplash. We are talking about a team that essentially hit the reset button while simultaneously holding onto one of the most electric scorers in the world.
Last year was... let's just say it was "gnarly."
Between the record-breaking number of starting lineups and the brutal injury bug that took out cornerstones like Arike Ogunbowale and Tyasha Harris late in the season, the 2025 squad became a living laboratory for rookie development. Now, with the dust settling and the 2026 expansion draft looming, the way this roster was constructed tells a story of a franchise desperate to find a new identity.
The Paige Bueckers Era Arrives
You can’t talk about this team without starting at the top. The moment the Dallas Wings secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, the trajectory of the franchise shifted. Landing Paige Bueckers wasn't just a win; it was a lifeline.
She stepped onto the court and immediately looked like she belonged. Actually, she looked like she owned it.
Bueckers finished her rookie campaign as the WNBA Rookie of the Year, averaging 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game. She didn't just play; she stabilized a backcourt that had been chaotic for years. However, here is what most people get wrong: they assume Paige and Arike would naturally become the league’s best duo overnight.
It wasn't that simple.
The chemistry was, frankly, clunky at times. You had Arike, who has been "the" system in Dallas for six years, and Bueckers, who thrives on high-IQ, fluid ball movement. They struggled to find a rhythm, leading to rumors that the front office might eventually have to choose between keeping the veteran icon or building entirely around the new face of the league.
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A Roster Built on Rookie Grit
While everyone was watching Paige, the rest of the Dallas Wings 2025 roster was quietly being filled with a staggering amount of young talent. This wasn't your typical "one or two rookies on the bench" situation. At one point, the Wings were suiting up nine rookies or first-year players. That’s the most for any team since the 1999 Minnesota Lynx.
The 2025 Draft Class Breakdown
- Aziaha James (No. 12 Overall): The NC State standout proved she’s a certified bucket-getter. She led the team in appearances during a season where everyone else seemed to be in the training room.
- Madison Scott (No. 14 Overall): A defensive specialist from Ole Miss who brought a much-needed "motor" to the forward position.
- JJ Quinerly (No. 26 Overall): She showed flashes of being an elite perimeter defender before a knee surgery in October cut her momentum short.
- Aaronette Vonleh (No. 31 Overall): Added some size in the paint, though she spent much of the year adjusting to the physicality of the pro game.
The Veterans and the "Injury Plague"
It’s easy to forget that this team actually has some serious veteran muscle when they are actually healthy. Myisha Hines-Allen was brought in to provide some toughness in the frontcourt, and Tyasha Harris was supposed to be the steadying hand at point guard.
Then everything broke.
By September, the list of "out for the season" players looked like an All-Star ballot. Arike, Ty Harris, JJ Quinerly, Luisa Geiselsöder, and Li Yueru all missed significant time. This led to a revolving door of hardship contracts. You saw names like Grace Berger, Amy Okonkwo, and Ajae Petty jumping onto the roster for 7-day stints just to keep the lights on.
It was a mess, but it gave the front office a long look at who actually fits the culture.
The Li Yueru Conundrum
One of the most fascinating pieces of the Dallas Wings 2025 roster is the 6'7" center from China, Li Yueru. She had the best stretch of her career this past season, averaging 7.4 points and 5.8 rebounds. In a league that is getting taller and faster, her size is a massive asset.
But here’s the kicker: she is a prime target for the upcoming Expansion Draft.
With the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire joining the league in 2026, Dallas can only protect a handful of players. Most analysts expect the Wings to protect Bueckers (obviously), Arike (likely), and Maddy Siegrist. That leaves someone like Li Yueru or Haley Jones exposed. There’s a very real chance that by the time the 2026 season tips off, the most promising "big" on the roster will be playing for Toronto.
Why the Current Structure Still Matters
People look at the Wings’ record and think the 2025 season was a failure. That’s a surface-level take. Honestly, if you look at the "dead money" and the cap situation, the Wings are actually positioned for a massive pivot.
They are carrying significant dead money from contracts like Teaira McCowan and Karlie Samuelson, which clears up soon. They also just landed the No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft Lottery.
Think about that.
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The Dallas Wings 2025 roster was essentially a bridge. It was the year they found out Paige Bueckers is the real deal and discovered which of their mid-round draft picks can actually play at this level. They survived a "gnarly" injury season and came out the other side with the chance to add another generational talent alongside Paige.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following this team, don't get too attached to the names at the bottom of the depth chart just yet. Here is how you should evaluate the roster moving forward:
- Monitor the Expansion Draft Protected List: When the Wings release their protected list, it will tell you exactly how they feel about Arike Ogunbowale’s future. If she isn't protected, the "build around Paige" era has officially begun in earnest.
- Look at the 2026 Draft Board: Since Dallas holds the No. 1 pick again, the 2025 roster is basically waiting for its final piece. Whether that's another guard to take the pressure off Paige or a dominant post to replace the potentially departing Li Yueru is the big question.
- Watch the Practice Facility Progress: The team recently broke ground on a new practice facility in Dallas. This is a huge "E-E-A-T" marker for the franchise—it shows they are finally investing in the infrastructure required to keep stars like Bueckers in North Texas long-term.
The 2025 season was a chaotic, injury-riddled, rookie-heavy experiment. It wasn't always pretty, but it gave the Wings the data they needed to stop guessing and start building.