Dallas Wings center Kyla Oldacre goes up for a shot during practice on the team’s opening day of training camp at College Park Center on Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Arlington.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
Kyla Oldacre didn’t expect to be in this position.
While the 6-6 center out of Texas averaged a career-best 10.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks for the 35-4 Longhorns, who advanced to the Final Four, she didn’t hear her name called on WNBA draft night.
Article continues below this ad
But the following day, the Dallas Wings called and signed Oldacre to a training camp contract. She packed her bags and drove north on Interstate 35.
“I was stressed out. My nerves were up,” Oldacre told The Dallas Morning News after practice in Arlington on Tuesday, adding that overall, she was grateful.
Oldacre is one of 22 players on the training camp roster competing for one of 14 spots on the team. Under the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, teams must carry 12 active players and may sign up to two additional players on development contracts. The Wings will make cuts before the season opener at the Indiana Fever on May 9.
Make Dallas News a preferred source so your search results prioritize writing by actual people, not AI.
Add Preferred Source
Related: Jose Fernandez building a ‘detail-oriented’ culture as Wings training camp begins
Article continues below this ad
Dallas wanted to expand its post presence in 2026, and Oldacre is one of several bigs the Wings are evaluating. Since training camp started Sunday, she has been learning a “different language of basketball.”
“The physicality and new rules that come into play with playing in this league — I feel like it’s kind of in my favor a little bit,” Oldacre said.
Wings coach Jose Fernandez said after Monday’s practice that he sees Oldacre’s potential.
“I liked her footwork, and she can get up and down the floor,” Fernandez said. “She had a great rim run today in practice. She didn’t finish, but she beat everybody down the floor … Our 4s and 5s have to be elite rim runners.”
Article continues below this ad
Oldacre spent her first two collegiate seasons at Miami before transferring to Texas, where she shot 61.8% from the floor during her final season in Austin.
She performed well against UCLA center and WNBA first-round pick Lauren Betts, recording a team-high 11 points and seven rebounds in the Longhorns’ 51-44 loss to the Bruins in the Final Four.
Oldacre said her time at Texas under coach Vic Schaefer helped strengthen her on the defensive side of the ball and learn new concepts quickly. She said she appreciates Fernandez welcoming all of her questions.
“I ask questions a lot just to make sure, just to get clarification,” Oldacre said. “It’s been a great opportunity.”
Article continues below this ad
The center is not the only Longhorn competing for a spot on a WNBA roster. The Washington Mystics selected Rori Harmon with the 34th pick in the draft, and Oldacre attended her draft watch party.
“It’s her dream come true, and I love that for her,” she said.
Should she make it through the next week of camp, Oldacre has the opportunity to play on her former home court. The Wings will meet the Las Vegas Aces on May 3 in a preseason game at the Moody Center in Austin.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms Of Use and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy.
Oldacre, who became a fan favorite among Longhorns fans, could make an impact in Dallas should things work out.
Article continues below this ad
“It would be great,” Oldacre said. “Just got to figure out the driving in downtown Dallas part.”