In an alternate reality, the Dallas Wings would be preparing for the upcoming WNBA season in a new state-of-the-art practice facility and playing their home opener on May 12 at a renovated Memorial Auditorium in downtown Dallas.

That was the initial plan when the team signed an April 2024 agreement with the city of Dallas to make a move into the new facilities by the start of the 2026 season. But city delays to construction on both projects pushed the move-in date back and kept the Wings’ practice and game site at UT-Arlington’s College Park Center for at least one more season.

“Certainly, we wanted to be in there this year. But to know we’re going to walk into a brand new practice facility that will rival any in the league in 2027 was a big attraction to players in free agency,” Wings general manager Curt Miller said Monday during the team’s media day.

That seemed to be the case. The new practice facility is one of many investments the Wings have made into their organization, and top players are paying attention. 

“I think it’s a really good investment into the team and the league in general,” Smith said Monday of the Wings’ upcoming facilities. “I think it’s setting a standard for professional women’s basketball.”

Memorial Auditorium won’t be ready by 2027, but the Wings have taken over as the developer of their new 70,000-square-foot facility at Joey Georgusis Park in Far West Oak Cliff, giving them control over the construction timeline, schedule and budget. 

With the city of Dallas capping its total contribution for the new facility at $57 million, the Wings will cover the at least $27 million remaining to complete the project.

“The Dallas Wings have done a great job of investing. The front office has done a really good job of making those improvements and putting their money where their mouth is,” Bueckers said Monday.

Other investments included growing staff size and updating existing facilities at UT-Arlington. Miller said in a post-draft availability on April 13 that the Wings ownership group has invested millions into making Dallas a prime destination in the WNBA. 

“I think in the last four years, how much it’s grown is just incredible,” Wings forward Maddy Siegrist, a 2023 first-round pick, said Monday. “… It’s just a testament to the ownership.”

Those moves haven’t just stood out to players. New Wings coach Jose Fernandez, hired in October, said on Monday the club’s investment into the new practice facility was part of what attracted him to the job. He said the organization’s leadership did “a very good job recruiting.”

“I think you saw in free agency that the word’s out,” Miller said. “The noise is out there about Dallas and where we’re headed.”