Dallas Wings

The Dallas Wings is a professional women's basketball franchise in Arlington, Texas, and plays in the Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team was originally established in 1998 as the Detroit Shock, moved to Tulsa in 2010, and then to Arlington in 2016. The team has three WNBA championships (2003, 2006, 2008). The 2025 season is their 28th year in the WNBA and their 10th year in Dallas.

Dallas Wings History

The franchise has a long and storied history. It was originally founded as the Detroit Shock in 1998 as one of the first expansion teams in the newly created WNBA. The Shock had a poor record in their early years, qualifying for the playoffs only once in their first five seasons. They began to change things in 2003 with a 25-9 regular season. That year, they beat the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Sparks to capture their first WNBA championship.

The Shock remained a powerhouse for the next several years, making the WNBA Finals three straight seasons from 2006-2008. They won titles in 2006 over the Sacramento Monarchs and in 2008 over the San Antonio Silver Stars, but fell to the Phoenix Mercury in 2007, as per Basketball Reference.

In 2009, the franchise relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was renamed the Tulsa Shock, playing there for six seasons. The team then moved again in 2016 to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, taking on the Dallas Wings name and logo, according to the official website of the WNBA.

The Wings struggled initially after the move but made the playoffs in 2017 and 2018. They drafted star guard Arike Ogunbowale in 2019, who has emerged as one of the league's top players. After some down years, the Wings returned to the postseason in 2021 under new head coach Latricia Trammell and advanced to the second round in 2023 before bowing out.

Also Read: Dallas Wings Playoff History

Dallas Wings Famous Players

Skylar Diggins-Smith:

The 5'9" guard known as "Skylar Digging-Smith" was a talented scorer and playmaker for the Wings from 2013-2019. She made four WNBA All-Star teams (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018) and was the 2014 Most Improved Player. Diggins-Smith led the Wings to their first playoff appearance in 2015 with her great basketball IQ and ability to make the right decision on the court. Her scoring prowess and veteran leadership were key to many of the team's successes during her tenure in Dallas.

Swin Cash:

The 6' forward Swin Cash was a versatile and gritty player who starred for the Wings from 2002-2007 when they were still called the Detroit Shock. Cash is a four-time WNBA All-Star (2003, 2005, 2009, 2011) and won three WNBA championships. Her ability to score inside and out made her tough to guard. Cash was also a lockdown defender who ignited the team's transition game with her hustle. Her leadership and all-around skill set were invaluable assets.

Glory Johnson:

The 6'3" power forward Glory Johnson patrolled the paint for the Wings from 2012 to 2019. Johnson was a two-time WNBA All-Star in 2013 and 2014. She was an elite rebounder and interior scorer who physically overpowered opponents on both ends. Johnson steadily improved her game each year, demonstrating a commitment to getting better that greatly benefited the Wings. Her relentless effort around the basket made her a handful for opposing frontcourts.

Dallas Wings Owner

The Dallas Wings is owned by a group led by Chairman and Majority Owner Bill Cameron. Cameron has been an officer with American Fidelity companies since 1986 and is also a part-owner and board member of the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder.

Chris Christian is the vice chairman and managing partner of the team. Greg Bibb, another ownership group member, is president and CEO. The University of Texas at Arlington is also a stakeholder in the team, according to the official website of the Dallas Wings.

In 2024, the Wings' valuation jumped from $75 million to $208 million, the highest in the WNBA. The increase came after a 1% stake was sold to investors Jed Kaplan and Randy Eisenman for $2.08 million, as per Sports Business Journal.

Dallas Wings Coaching Staff

In December 2024, Chris Koclanes was named head coach of the Dallas Wings. Koclanes previously served as an assistant coach at the University of Southern California (USC), where he helped lead the team to an Elite Eight appearance in the 2023-24 season, USC's first in 30 years. Prior to USC, he was the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2023, where the team led the league in steals and opponent turnovers. Koclanes also worked with the Connecticut Sun between 2016 and 2022, as both a video coordinator and assistant coach.

The Dallas Wings have made several important staff hires under Koclanes' direction, as well as Executive Vice President/General Manager Curt Miller. Camille Smith, a 13-year WNBA veteran and previous head coach at Paul Quinn College, comes aboard as an assistant coach. Nola Henry, with more than five years of WNBA coaching experience, also becomes an assistant coach. Belle Koclanes, with over 20 years of Division I coaching experience, brings even more experience to the staff. Addison Lee, previously to joining the Washington Wizards, will be Director of Basketball Analytics and Strategy. Jhared Simpson, with more than 15 years of experience at the college, WNBA, NBA, and G-League levels, is appointed Director of Player Development. (via official website of the Dallas Wings)

Dallas Wings Jersey and Logo

The Dallas Wings' primary logo features a stylized Pegasus, a winged horse, set against a V-shaped background representing flight and upward motion. The design references Dallas's iconic red Pegasus sign, a symbol of the city's energy and innovation since 1934. The logo's bold color scheme, navy blue, lime green, and sky blue, symbolizes strength, agility, and ambition, mirroring the competitive nature of the team. It debuted in 2016 when the franchise relocated from Tulsa and was renamed from the Shock to the Wings, according to the Ebsco website.

The Dallas Wings' uniforms are part of the WNBA's H.E.R. uniform system, which has three editions: Heroine, Explorer, and Rebel. In 2023, the Dallas Wings unveiled their WNBA Nike Rebel Edition Uniform, which pays tribute to the state of Texas. The retro-themed design has the team's Pegasus logo on the shorts and a global logo on the belt buckle. Colorful stripes symbolize the Wings organization's strength, speed, and togetherness. The signature Volt Green color of the jersey represents the energy and enthusiasm of the players, according to the official website of the Dallas Wings.

Dallas Wings Home Arena

The Dallas Wings host their home games at the College Park Center (CPC) in Arlington, Texas. The 7,000-seat arena is on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington. The 218,000-square-foot, $78 million facility opened in 2012. It serves as the home court for the UTA Mavericks men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams as well, according to the University of Texas at Arlington's official website.

Dallas Wings Tickets and Broadcasting

The Dallas Wings have announced their 2025 broadcast team. Ron Thulin returns as the play-by-play announcer, joined by analysts Fran Harris, a former NCAA and WNBA champion, and Naismith Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman. Tiffany Bias Patmon takes over as the sideline reporter. Emmy Award-winning producer Bob Steinfeld will once again serve as executive producer, as per the official website of the Dallas Wings.

This year, 23 games will be broadcast nationally on ESPN, ABC, NBA TV, CBS Sports Network, and ION. Five games will be streamed on ESPN3, with one on Prime Video. Games not selected for national broadcast will be broadcast locally on KFAA, providing full coverage for spectators.

Tickets are available on the Wings' official Ticket Central page. Fans have the option to purchase single-game tickets, group packages, and premium seating, according to the official website of the Dallas Wings.

Also Read: Dallas Wings Finals Appearances

Dallas Wings Records and Stats