The Dallas Wings are heading to the WNBA playoffs for the first time since 2023.<\/p>\n
Dallas clinched a spot in the 2026 postseason Tuesday with a 96-78 win over the Portland Fire. The Wings clinched the final playoff spot, meaning the Fire have been eliminated from postseason contention. <\/p>\n
Now that the Wings are officially in, their attention will turn toward the battle for seeding. They are currently in eighth place in the WNBA standings and playoff picture<\/p>\n
The eighth seed will play the first seed in the first round of the WNBA playoff bracket, meaning Dallas could be in store for a showdown against the Minnesota Lynx if the current playoff position holds. <\/p>\n
Dallas making the playoffs represents one of the most impressive turnarounds in recent league history, as it was an ugly 10-34 last season and 9-31 during the 2024 campaign. It ended up with the first overall pick of the 2025 and 2026 WNBA drafts, and it turned to UConn’s backcourt each time as it built the foundation for a contender.<\/p>\n
Paige Bueckers wasted little time establishing herself as one of the WNBA’s biggest stars after the Wings took her with the first pick in 2025. She captured the Rookie of the Year and was an All-WNBA Second Team selection as a bright spot for a struggling club.<\/p>\n
Dallas then gave her a familiar teammate when it selected Azzi Fudd with the first pick in this year’s draft. While Fudd hasn’t been quite as dominant as Bueckers, she provided immediate shooting on the wing and remains one of the best in the league from long distance.<\/p>\n
Playing alongside Bueckers certainly makes life easier for her and the rest of the Wings, as the guard draws plenty of defensive attention and creates openings for all of her teammates. She was once again an All-Star in her second season and has taken a leap to become an even more dominant playmaker.<\/p>\n