The Dallas Wings made a rather stunning decision before WNBA trade.
Paige Bueckers’ Dallas Wings Make Trade Decision After 22nd Loss originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Dallas Wings have endured a punishing season, now standing at 8-22 with the second-worst record in the league. Despite the team’s poor run, rookie phenom and No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers continues to shine—most recently putting up a 21-point performance against a sturdy New York Liberty, reinforcing her favorability for Rookie of the Year.
Under the surface of her brilliance, the Wings made a much-talked-about move last Sunday, trading defensive standout DiJonai Carrington to the Minnesota Lynx. Yet, as the trade deadline looms on Thursday at 3 pm ET, Dallas has yet to make a top-of-the-key addition to its roster.
Dallas Wings Make Decision on Trade Deadline Day
With the trade deadline imminent, a new report confirmed Dallas has opted out of any further transactions. Per WNBA insider Melissa Triebwasser, the Wings are protecting their core of three first-round picks across the next two years, valuing future assets over mid-season fixes despite their 12th-place standing and mounting losses.
“NEWS: Sources confirm that the Wings were not involved with any trade deals down the stretch and will not make any additional moves ahead of today’s 3:00pm ET trade deadline,” Triebwasser wrote on X. “The Wings value their 3 R1 picks over the next 2 years and were not interested in doing anything that would compromise those future assets.”
NEWS: Sources confirm that the Wings were not involved with any trade deals down the stretch and will not make any additional moves ahead of today’s 3:00pm ET trade deadline.
— Melissa Triebwasser (@TheCoachMelissa) August 7, 2025
The Wings value their 3 R1 picks over the next 2 years and were not interested in doing anything that…
This comes amid sending Carrington to Minnesota in exchange for rising forward Diamond Miller, guard Karlie Samuelson, and a 2027 second-round pick. The Wings had acquired Carrington before the start of the season in a four-team exchange to overhaul their defense. Carrington, last year’s Most Improved Player and All-Defensive First Team honoree, was averaging 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 21 games this season.
For the Wings, the incoming Diamond Miller brings three-point shooting ability—posting a league-leading 53.8% from beyond the arc this season—while Samuelson offers some scoring depth when healthy.
But the game-changing element heading into the season’s final stretch will remain Bueckers, and it appears the organization is choosing to build around her rather than gamble with immediate upgrades.
Wings to Rely Heavily on Paige Bueckers For Rest of the Season
Despite the team’s struggles, Paige Bueckers continues to shine as the Wings’ driving force. Averaging 18.6 points, 5.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 24 games this season, she leads her team in scoring and also continues to provide elite playmaking alongside veteran guard Arike Ogunbowale.
But Bueckers cannot carry the load alone. The Wings’ playoff hopes are fading—currently seven games behind a playoff spot—making timely scoring and veteran support critical down the stretch. Thursday's stand-pat deadline could hint at a broader rebuild strategy for Dallas, which is to surround Bueckers with youth, draft assets, and cap flexibility to set the foundation for future contention.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
