Dallas Wings assistant coach Empress Davenport walks the court during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings assistant coach Empress Davenport has never played at the Moody Center.
She was more familiar with the Erwin Center during her stint with Texas women’s basketball 2012-2016. Davenport averaged 7.2 points and 3.6 rebounds for the Longhorns under head coach Karen Aston.
Article continues below this ad
Actually, the Wings head coach Jose Fernandez, was more familiar with Moody; he spent 25 years as the head coach of South Florida.
“The last time I was here, the only time I was here, we beat Texas (70-65),” Fernandez said Sunday about a December 2022 matchup. “So I guess I’m undefeated in this building.”
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) dribbles the ball during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) dribbles the ball during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings forwards Alysha Clark (32) and Maddy Siegrist (20) celebrate a score during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) blocks a shot by Dallas Wings guard Odyssey Sims (1) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings forward Alanna Smith (8) and Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) jump for the ball at tipoff during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) shoots the ball during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings forward Alysha Clark (32) walks the court during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) and guard Jewell Loys (24) celebrate a drawn foul during the game against the Dallas Wings at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings forward Alanna Smith (8) disputes a call with an official during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings guard Odyssey Sims (1) passes the ball during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings head coach Jose Fernandez disputes a call with an official during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings fan Joseph Casa holds up a sign during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) pushes past Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings guard Aziaha James (10) dribbles the ball during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings guard JJ Quinerly (11) directs her team during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings forward Alanna Smith (8) shoots the ball during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings forward Maddy Siegrist (20) shoots the ball during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings guard Aziaha James (10) is guarded by Las Vegas Aces guard Chennedy Carter (23) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon directs her team during the game against the Dallas Wings at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Las Vegas Aces forward Stephanie Talbot (7) shoots the ball during the game against the Dallas Wings at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) shoots the ball during the game against the Dallas Wings at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd (35) and Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) wait for a free throw during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) walks the court during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings forward Alysha Clark (32) pushes past Las Vegas Aces forward Brianna Turner (21) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings head coach Jose Fernandez directs his team from the sideline during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) shoots the ball during the game against the Dallas Wings at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
The Dallas Wings take on the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings assistant coach Empress Davenport walks the court during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Fans cheer during the game between the Dallas Wings and the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Las Vegas Aces forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (32) shoots the ball past Dallas Wings center Li Yueru (28) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
The Dallas Wings take on the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) celebrates a score during the game against the Dallas Wings at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) dribbles the ball during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) directs her team during the game against the Dallas Wings at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) celebrates a drawn foul during the game against the Dallas Wings at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) pushes past Dallas Wings forward Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (12) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd (35) shoots the ball during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) shoots the ball during the game against the Dallas Wings at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings forward Alanna Smith (8) dribbles the ball during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings forward Alysha Clark (32) shoots the ball during the game against the Las Vegas Aces at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Dallas Wings guard Aziaha JAmes (10) protects the ball from Las Vegas Aces guard Chennedy Carter (23) during the game at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) reacts to a missed shot during the game against the Dallas Wings at the Moody Center on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
After graduation and a few years coaching at Lamar and UTSA, Davenport returned to Austin as a member of the Ole Miss coaching staff from 2024-2026.
Article continues below this ad
But the impact and positive feeling of the Forty Acres has stayed with her. Especially when she returned with the Wings as an assistant coach for a WNBA preseason game Sunday against the Las Vegas Aces, when they beat the reigning champions, 101-84.
“Now that I actually have an opportunity to be in the W and come back and coach here (Moody Center), it’s actually surreal,” she said pregame.
Texas guard Empress Davenport passes around Kansas State’s Shaelyn Martin during the first half on Feb. 17, 2016.
Deborah Cannon/American-Statesman
Learning from a Longhorn
Davenport joins a Dallas Wings squad with a lot of new faces: Fernandez is in his first year after 25 years at South Florida, the roster features veteran newcomers like Alysha Clark and Alanna Smith, and the 2026 WNBA Draft No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd. But in her new role, Davenport is taking a page out of Aston’s book.
Article continues below this ad
“She was super detailed in everything that she did. So, I think that I carried that with me,” Davenport said.
When Fudd was done with pregame shootaround, she joined Davenport on the bench to go over some final things before the game, tablet and pen at the ready. Fudd is no stranger to putting in hard work, but the W is different, according to Davenport, because the small nuances of the game, such as how well a team executes out of a timeout, are important.
MORE: Ex-Marquette forward Jada Bediako becomes the newest Texas newcomer
MORE: What grades did the Longhorns deserve for the 2025-26 season?
Article continues below this ad
Dallas called a timeout with 6 minutes, 24 second left in the second quarter and Fudd joined three others back on the court. Fudd drained a 3-pointer to extend Dallas’ 44-29 lead over the defending champions. The rookie also initiated a fastbreak in the same period that showed her passing precision to a streaking Odyssey Sims who missed the layup but the play was completed on the Smith putback.
Azzi Fudd shines in Austin
A former star for UConn, Fudd finished with 12 points over nearly 21 minutes.
She made efforts on the court that may be small but are important to keep an offense running. After handing off the ball to Jessica Shepard on the wing, Fudd’s movement away from the ball was enough to open a lane, and Shepard spun and shook her defender, drawing a foul by MVP A’ja Wilson.
Article continues below this ad
Little by little she is becoming more confident as final rosters take shape this week.
“This is my first time playing most people in this league, so trying to watch more film and learn their tendencies,” Fudd said.
It’s possible that Fudd has a long career and Davenport said the sky is the limit if a player can do the little things.
Article continues below this ad
“Its about finding your niche… Being super intentional about their craftsmanship to help the betterment of the team,” she said.
The Wings open their regular season May 9 in Indianapolis against the Indiana Fever.