The 2025 WNBA regular season has wrapped up, and once again, the Dallas Wings find themselves near the bottom of the standings. They closed the year with a 10-34 record, only a slight step up from last season’s 9-31 finish—even after adding Paige Bueckers as the No. 1 overall pick.
The organization’s path forward is clear: everything must now be built around Bueckers, who is expected to secure Rookie of the Year honors and could even earn a spot on the All-WNBA First Team despite the Wings’ struggles. The real question is, what’s the best strategy to make that happen?
ESPN’s Michael Voepel broke down the next steps for Dallas, including the pressing issue: Should the Wings and Arike Ogunbowale go their separate ways?
“Ogunbowale has been the face of the franchise since she was drafted fifth overall in 2019,” Voepel noted. “This season, she appeared in just 29 games, sidelined after August 10 with knee tendinitis, and posted career lows in both scoring (15.5 points per game) and shooting efficiency (36.4%). Turning 29 in March, she’s still in her prime and could test the waters elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Wings might be ready to fully rebuild around Bueckers.”
Dallas Wings Have Stated Desire For Ogunbowale, But Will That Transpire?
Arike Ogunbowale has received praise this season for her leadership and for the connections she’s built around the league, particularly through her involvement in the new Unrivaled League earlier this year. On the surface, it might seem like Dallas would want her back—but is she truly the best complement to Bueckers, who has already emerged as the franchise’s centerpiece?
The Wings’ priority has to be surrounding Bueckers with reliable shooters and floor-spacing, along with a stronger presence in the low post. They’ll have the chance to add a top-tier talent with their lottery pick—ideally the first overall—and they also have cap space to make moves in free agency.
While Ogunbowale has long been a capable shooter, she posted the worst shooting season of her career this year, even while playing more off the ball. Bueckers clearly needs support around her, and although Ogunbowale is undeniably skilled, questions remain about whether her game is the perfect fit for building a championship contender around Dallas’ young star.
