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Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings are having a rough start to their 2025 WNBA season, picking up just a single victory in their first 10 games. Amidst the turbulence faced by the team on the court, it appears that there's also tension brewing off the court.
After the Wings lost 81-65 to the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday, Wings star Arike Ogunbowale did not give a direct response when asked about the team's head coach. As if this weren't eyebrow-raising enough, Ogunbowale said something else that warranted the attention of Wings beat writer Joey Mistretta.
"Arike Ogunbowale avoided directly answering a question about Wings HC Chris Koclanes but had no problem dishing out praise for assistant coach Nola Henry on Sunday. Was Ogunbowale sending a subtle message about the Wings' head coach?" Mistretta wondered aloud.
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While Ogunbowale — who is on an expiring three-year, $725,952 contract as per Spotrac — might have been more subtle, fans were more straightforward about their negative feelings towards Koclanes on social media.
Under Koclanes — who is in his first year as Wings head coach — the team is seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio, ninth in field goal percentage and 11th in defensive rating. While the players can certainly play better than what they've shown thus far in the season, Koclanes and his coaching staff have a lot to figure out if the Wings are to contend for the playoffs this year.
To make matters worse, the team's top pick Bueckers has missed the past four games due to concussion protocol and another unrelated illness. In the first six games of her pro career, the former UConn star averaged 14.7 ppg, 4.7 ppg, and 6.7 apg.
A win or two, of course, would be a good start for a Dallas comeback after all the ordeals they've faced. Perhaps the taste of victory can motivate Ogunbowale to answer questions about Koclanes once again.
Paige Bueckers clears concussion protocol amidst Wings' struggle to pick up second win
On Saturday, the Wings saw a silver lining amidst their struggle to win as they got some good news. As per ESPN's Alexa Philippou, Dallas' prized rookie Bueckers had taken a major step in her recovery.
Despite Bueckers' absence in the loss to the Lynx, her completion of the concussion protocol allows her to move closer to a much-awaited return on the hardcourt.
