The Dallas Wings might be plotting a rise from the ashes of their disastrous 2024 season, and who better to send a not-so-subtle warning than basketball legend Sue Bird? The WNBA Hall-of-Famer has sparked conversations, and maybe a few pre-season jitters, with her latest prediction about the Dallas Wings’ potential transformation next season. Her target audience? None other than Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, and the rest of the league’s elite.
From Turmoil to Triumph?
To say the Wings’ 2024 season was rough would be the understatement of the year. They didn’t just stumble; they faceplanted, somersaulted, and crash-landed into a league-worst 9-31 record. It’s been over a decade since they were this bad — back when they were still called the Tulsa Shock. Naturally, heads rolled, and head coach Latricia Trammell was handed her walking papers.
But here’s the kicker: sometimes, it pays to be bad. Their nightmare season earned them the ultimate silver lining: the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming WNBA draft. And if the universe has any basketball sense, that pick will likely be none other than UConn superstar Paige Bueckers.
Paige Bueckers: The Wings’ Shiny New Hope?
Bueckers is no ordinary prospect. She’s been hailed as a generational talent, the kind of player you can build a dynasty around. And the Wings, desperate to wipe away the stench of their 2024 dumpster fire, might just need her to play savior.
“If they snag Paige with that No. 1 pick, pair her with Arike (Ogunbowale) and a healthy Satou (Sabally), you’re looking at a new power trio,” Sue Bird hinted on her podcast A Touch More. Bird, who knows a thing or two about super teams, didn’t exactly whisper her thoughts — it was more like a shout with a megaphone.
Arike + Satou + Paige = Trouble?
Let’s break it down. Arike Ogunbowale is already a scoring machine with a reputation for clutch performances. Satou Sabally had a breakout 2023 season that snagged her the Most Improved Player title, and though injuries slowed her roll in 2024, her potential is still sky-high. Add Paige Bueckers to the mix, and you’re looking at a Dallas trio that could rival the league’s best.
But there’s one tiny, juicy wrinkle: rumor has it Bueckers had her heart set on a different WNBA destination. According to ESPN’s Michael Voepel, the UConn starlet wasn’t exactly circling Dallas on her vision board. Sorry, Paige — sometimes the draft doesn’t care about your dream zip code.
Sue Bird’s Cryptic Warning
Bird didn’t stop at hyping the Wings’ future. She also threw in a veiled warning to the league’s top players. Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson might want to keep an eye out, especially if Dallas manages to re-sign Sabally and gel as a team.
“That potential Big Three? They’ll be up there with all the other big threes,” Bird teased. Translation: Watch out, league. The Wings could be cooking something dangerous.
From Draft Day Drama to Future Glory?
Of course, turning potential into wins is easier said than done. The Wings need to nail this offseason — from locking in Bueckers to re-signing their key players and assembling the right supporting cast. But if they pull it off, Dallas could go from bottom-dweller to playoff contender faster than you can say “rebuild.”
So, what’s next? Will Paige Bueckers reluctantly embrace the Wings’ teal and navy and help spark a Texas-sized resurgence? Or will Dallas find new ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory? One thing’s for sure: the 2025 WNBA season just got a lot more interesting.
Watch out, Caitlin and A’ja. Dallas may be down, but with a potential Big Three on the horizon, they’re far from out.
