Wings fire Koclanes after WNBA-worst 10-34 year

The Dallas Wings person fired caput manager Chris Koclanes aft 1 season, the squad announced Tuesday.

Koclanes, who was hired by Dallas enforcement vice president and wide manager Curt Miller aft serving arsenic an adjunct manager nether Miller with the Los Angeles Sparks, took implicit a squad expecting to amended dramatically aft drafting Paige Bueckers with the No. 1 wide prime and acquiring DiJonai Carrington and NaLyssa Smith arsenic portion of a four-team commercialized earlier the season.

Instead, the Wings finished tied for the WNBA's worst grounds astatine 10-34 (.227), a virtually identical winning percent to their 9-31 decorativeness (.225) nether erstwhile manager Latricia Trammell successful 2024. Carrington and Smith were traded again during the season.

"As we participate a pivotal constituent successful our team's future, we felt a alteration successful enactment astatine this clip was champion for our organization," Miller said successful a connection released by the team. "The Dallas Wings stay dedicated to their pursuit of WNBA championships and gathering upon the beardown civilization established connected and disconnected the court."

The show of Bueckers, who was named Rookie of the Year and voted an All-Star starter, was a agleam spot successful Koclanes' little tenure. Bueckers averaged 19.2 PPG and 5.4 APG successful her archetypal WNBA season, ranking 5th all-time successful rookie scoring.

Dallas dealt with a bid of injuries, with lone 1 player, seasoned guardant Myisha Hines-Allen, playing astatine slightest 40 of the season's 44 games. The Wings utilized 18 starting lineups, tied with the New York Liberty for the astir successful the WNBA this season, according to Basketball-Reference.com. Amid that turnover, Dallas' defence was a persistent issue, ranking 12th of 13 teams successful antiaircraft rating.

Koclanes is the 3rd WNBA manager to beryllium fired since the extremity of the regular season, joining the New York Liberty's Sandy Brondello and Seattle Storm's Noelle Quinn. The enlargement Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo are besides searching for caput coaches up of their inaugural seasons.