Dallas, TX

WNBA Power Rankings: Dallas Wings are a rolling ball of chaos

Published

9 months ago

June 17, 2025

WNBA Power Rankings: Dallas Wings are a rolling ball of chaos

The Dallas Wings are a rolling, swirling ball of chaos, and the downward spiral might not stop anytime soon.

Welcome to the Week 5 edition of For The Win’s 2025 WNBA power rankings, and if you know a Wings fan, tell them to look away. (They do not want to read this. They’re probably already going through a lot.) Looking at the team’s stats, Dallas surprisingly ranks around the middle of the pack in most league categories. However, defense seems to be the downfall of such a young squad.The Wings are ranked 11th in defensive rating (109.1) and have given up 80 or more points in 11 out of their 12 matchups this season, including 90-plus points five times. Dallas also gives up the second-most fastbreak points to opponents (14) in the league. The Wings’ defense has become a painful sight, and it’s costing them games, begging the question: When will it end?

These are For The Win’s WNBA power rankings for Week 5:

13. Dallas Wings (1-11)

The good news: Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers is back after missing three games with a concussion. She even dropped 35 points in her return.The bad news: Even with Bueckers, the Dallas is a mess. Perhaps there was no larger indictment of the state of the Wings than this week’s loss against the Aces. The Wings gave up a brutal 17-2 run to end the game after leading Vegas before the fourth quarter. Making matters worse, a clip of head coach Chris Koclanes and guard DiJonai Carrington in a back-and-forth exchange about a potential challenge with the game on the line went viral, leading to more scrutiny.But it doesn’t stop there. The Wings recently had to sign two hardship contracts because of injuries. Forward Maddy Seigrist is expected to miss a portion of the season after she suffered a bone fracture in her right knee, and guard Ty Harris is out for the season.

12. Connecticut Sun (2-8)

During their lone game of the week, the Connecticut Sun’s offense sputtered down the stretch. As much as center Tina Charles and forward Marina Mabrey are doing their part to help, it hasn’t been enough to power the team to many wins. The Sun have dropped three of their last five games. Hopefully, when rookie Saniya Rivers (illness) comes back, things will start moving again.

11. Chicago Sky (3-7)

Hello, Big Barbie Energy. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese earned the first triple-double of her career on Sunday, and the Sky needed it badly. Unfortunately, forward Rhyne Howard and the Atlanta Dream dropped buckets all over Chicago just days before ― nine 3-pointers from Howard alone ― and that’s enough to make anyone feel defeated.

But, as head coach Tyler Marsh told the team following the loss, sometimes you have to be as desperate as 90’s R&B singers were to get that much-coveted win when you’re in a slump. Lint in our pocket says he played Jodeci’s Cry for You.

10. Washington Mystics (4-7)

The Sky weren’t the only team to suffer against the Atlanta Dream. The Washington Mystics had zero answers in the second half against Atlanta, their only matchup during Week 5. It probably didn’t help that rookie Sonia Citron was the only starter in double figures or that Washington shot a gross 29 percent from the field.

They also gave up *checks notes* 18 3-pointers and only had 12 total assists. Just punt the film into the wind, Washington, and never speak of it again.

9. Los Angeles Sparks (4-8)

The Los Angeles Sparks are still on the ugly roller coaster that comes with being a banged-up team. The week went a little something like this. First, Veteran guard Kelsey Plum went scorched earth on WNBA referees after a loss to the Golden State Valkyries. Then, everything seemed alright as Rickea Jackson found her groove with a 30-point game against the Las Vegas Aces. (Los Angeles even won. That’s nice, right?)

However, the Sparks ran into the Minnesota Lynx and Napheesa Collier. Collier had 16 points in the first half, if that’s any indication of how the 101-78 loss looked. Get healthy soon, Sparks.

8. Las Vegas Aces (5-5)

The Las Vegas Aces are going through it. A’ja Wilson suffered a concussion during a loss to the Los Angeles Sparks and missed two games during Week 5. The Aces did manage to win a gritty matchup against the Wings without Wilson. But days later, against the Phoenix Mercury, they had 19 turnovers, and no amount of scoring from their guard trio of Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and Jewell Loyd was enough.

Wilson is also expected to miss Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Lynx. So, if production is not coming from Young, Gray and Loyd, the points will have to come elsewhere. Kiah Stokes? Tiffany Mitchell? Dana Evans? Aaliyah Nye? Somebody.

7. Golden State Valkyries (5-5)

The Golden State Valkyries are one of the most feisty teams in the entire WNBA, and at .500, their record is impressive for an expansion team. “We’re a team of sixth women”, center Temi Fagbenle told the media after a win over the Seattle Storm. “We know what it takes to be great teammates, and we know what it takes to step up …” As simple as that concept sounds, it’s harder to execute when everything is new. (Players, coaches, etc.) However, Golden State is making it work. It is currently riding a three-game win streak, and grinding through it down several players, who are either out with injury or are playing in EuroBasket.

6. Indiana Fever (5-5)

Caitlin Clark is back. We repeat: Caitlin Clark is back. Govern yourselves accordingly. Despite missing five games. Clark is seemingly incapable of being rusty. The Fever star had 32 points against the New York Liberty on Saturday, including seven from shots from beyond the arc. Clark brought a lot of life into a Fever team that was, at times, struggling without her.

Having four other players in double figures and shooting 48.6 percent from deep is a great reflection of what Clark’s presence does for the team. The Fever were able to capitalize on a New York Liberty squad that was down two starters, and Indiana rolled 102-88 against the reigning champs after losing to the Atlanta Dream earlier in the week.

5. Seattle Storm (6-5)

Over the last several weeks, it’s been impossible to tell what version of the Seattle Storm will appear from game to game, and Week 5 didn’t help that conclusion. Seattle was able to overcome an 11-point deficit to hand the Minnesota Lynx its first loss of the season. Five players were in double-digits, and their defense was huge down the stretch.

Three days later, they lost to the Golden State Valkyries despite a furious fourth-quarter surge. A brutal moving screen with under 30 seconds remaining only poured salt in the wound. Will the real Seattle Storm please stand up?

4. Phoenix Mercury (8-4)

The Phoenix Mercury should feel really good right now. Forward Alyssa Thomas is back, and with Thomas in the fold, the ball moves. Over the last three games she’s played in, Thomas has had 10-plus assists (15 on May 27, 10 on June 11, and 13 on June 15). Additionally, guard Kahleah Copper is back, and that means more production on both sides of the ball.

What makes Phoenix a particularly dangerous team is that outside of their big three, the bench is also very productive. For example, guard Sami Whitcomb had 18 points on 50 shooting against the Aces, and that’s momentum Phoenix could potentially use through the rest of the season and into the playoffs.

Diana Taurasi gives her thoughts on the upcoming CBA in the WNBA

With the upcoming WNBA collective bargaining agreement in need of negotiating, Diana Taurasi gives her thoughts on what needs to be focused on.

Sports Seriously

3. Atlanta Dream (8-3)

If you’ve been sleeping on the Atlanta Dream, time to wake up. (Get it? Sleeping? Dream? Okay. I’ll show myself out.) Atlanta has won seven of its last eight matchups, including every game during Week 5. Without Caitlin Clark, the Dream took care of the Fever with little to no problems. Against the Sky, Rhyne Howard’s 36 points were Chicago’s undoing. Howard let it rain from deep, draining a mind-boggling nine 3-balls.

The Dream also unraveled the Mystics with 18 3-pointers en route to an 89-56 win. Guard Allisha Gray (32 points) was one of several players with a career-high in scoring that day. Gray has been having a career year and should be in the MVP conversations behind Napheesa Collier. Plus, here’s one more player to watch: Forward Bri Jones has been quietly building a case for an All-Star nod, averaging just under a double-double (13 points and 8.7 rebounds) per game, and not enough people are talking about it.

2. New York Liberty (9-1)

The New York Liberty lost a game. (Shocking, we know.) Without starters Jonquel Jones (ankle) and Leonie Fiebich (playing in EuroBasket), New York couldn’t make up for the production loss against the Indiana Fever on June 14, despite beating the Chicago Sky earlier in the week.

Here’s something to keep an eye on: Starting point guard Natasha Cloud hasn’t eclipsed double digits since May 24. The Liberty don’t need Cloud to be a scoring machine every matchup, but without that extra punch, New York could find itself on the losing end of more games if its guard play continues to lag.

1. Minnesota Lynx (10-1)

The Minnesota Lynx also dropped a game this week. (*gasp*) Minnesota lost to Seattle in a 94-84 game that felt like a playoff battle, and truth be told, it wasn’t hard to see coming after escaping the Dallas Wings the game before. The Lync eventually got back in with win column with a 101-78 rout of the Los Angeles Sparks.

MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier had 16 points in the first quarter against Los Angeles and ended her day with 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Those sorts of shenanigans shouldn’t fool anyone. Collier’s been putting together performances like that all season to help the Lynx in their quest to get back to the WNBA Finals. She leads the league in points per game (26.1) and is top-ten in rebounds, steals and blocks per game. As long as Collier is rolling like that, the Lynx will be hard to beat.

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Dallas, TX

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson is confident about cost estimates to repair, rehab City Hall and insists the process has been transparent

Published

8 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson is confident about cost estimates to repair, rehab City Hall and insists the process has been transparent

Mayor Eric Johnson said he hasn’t made up his mind about the future of Dallas City Hall, the iconic I.M. Pei-designed landmark, but remains confident in the cost estimates to fix it.

City‑hired experts said it will cost $329 million to repair the nearly 50‑year‑old building and about $1 billion to rehabilitate and modernize it for the next 20 years.

Johnson said he trusts the numbers.

“I believe that those numbers are accurate,” Johnson said. “I just want to say that right up front, because I do know that there’s questions about whether or not these numbers are or have been inflated, or should we trust these numbers? I don’t know where we’d get another set of numbers that would be more trustworthy.

“These companies that have looked at this are very reputable, and so, I believe the numbers. I really believe that our jobs as a council and as a city are to do the best thing that we can, the best thing we can for our taxpayers. Not a good thing, but the best thing with the taxpayers’ dollars.”

The mayor said he, like everyone else, is waiting for more information. Earlier this month, he and eight council members voted to have the city manager determine how much it would cost to move City Hall to another building and compare that to staying and making repairs.

The city manager is also evaluating whether the current site could support private development. That report is due to the council no later than May, and the Finance Committee may be briefed on May 26. The full council could vote in June.

Development potential enters the conversation

Many people have floated the idea of a new arena and entertainment district downtown for the Dallas Mavericks, though no proposals exist.

Former mayors Ron Kirk, Tom Leppert, and Mike Rawlings have urged city leaders to move City Hall, saying it could attract billions in new development.

Johnson said he wants data, not instinct.

“I can’t govern the city based on a hunch or instinct or gut feel. I have to look at data. I would like to see what comes back and what they say this site could unlock,” he said. “Does my gut tell me that the best use of this part of downtown, is not to be a government center, which I think is kind of a dated concept in and of itself, to have a cluster of government buildings right in the middle of what could be the most vibrant part of your downtown that by definition closes at 5 p.m.

“My gut tells me that’s not a great idea. But I want the city manager to go through the exercise of actually exploring what private development options there would be. What interest would there be in this site? If there are really great economic development opportunities for the city that would be unlocked by us leaving this site, I would be very, very compelled by that.”

Preservationists push back strongly

Residents and preservationists have been vocal in their opposition. Former Mayor Laura Miller told CBS News Texas she doesn’t want City Hall sold or torn down and believes the process has lacked transparency and been “riddled with self‑interest.”

Johnson rejected that.

“I’m not sure why former Mayor Miller feels that way because I can tell you that the process has been the definition of transparent,” he said. “It’s just not true that this process hasn’t been transparent. You can go back to what I initially sent out, a memo. I put it in writing. I distributed it publicly, saying to the council, I want a committee to look at options for City Hall.

“So, that was very transparent. The meetings that were called subsequent to my request were all open to the public. Discussions were had at those meetings, and every single thing that has happened has been compelled by council action.”

Emails raise questions about engagement

The Dallas Morning News recently reported on 5,000 pages of emails related to the project and others, raising questions about how engaged the mayor has been.

Johnson dismissed the criticism.

“I’m fully engaged in everything that goes on around here. I’ve been fully engaged, and honestly, I’m going to decline to go quibble with the Dallas Morning News,” he said. “I don’t even know what these emails that they have found say. I do know what I do every day, which is I wake up early in the morning, come to this building, and give this city everything I have.

“I work tirelessly on behalf of the city, and I do everything I possibly can to make sure this city is represented well here, locally, nationally, internationally.”

Sports negotiations happening in parallel

The debate over City Hall comes as city leaders negotiate with the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars to keep both teams in the city. Johnson said he cannot discuss negotiations publicly.

“Keeping the Dallas Stars and keeping the Dallas Mavericks playing in the city of Dallas is one of the highest priorities of my administration, and it has been since I got here,” he said. “I can tell you this: We are going to do everything we possibly can to make these deals work for both of those teams and keep them in the city. I am confident that we will work this out.”

Watch Eye On Politics at 7:30 Sunday morning on CBS News Texas on air and streaming.

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Dallas, TX

3 takeaways as the Mavericks lose a fun one, 142-135, at the Denver Nuggets

Published

20 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

3 takeaways as the Mavericks lose a fun one, 142-135, at the Denver Nuggets

The Dallas Mavericks (23-50) dropped their fifth straight game Wednesday, falling 142-135 to the Denver Nuggets (45-28) in a game that felt within reach early before completely getting away from them late. Dallas had a few solid stretches to start, showing some offensive rhythm and energy, but couldn’t sustain it as Denver’s shot-making and overall execution took over. Cooper Flagg continued his strong stretch with 26 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while P.J. Washington added 19 points and 15 rebounds with steady production inside. On the other side, Jamal Murray put together a dominant performance with 53 points, and Nikola Jokić orchestrated everything with 23 points, 21 rebounds and 19 assists, as the Nuggets controlled the game from the middle quarters on.

The Mavericks hung around for stretches in the first half, but a Jamal Murray explosion ultimately tilted the game, as the Denver Nuggets took a 68-59 lead into halftime in a game that quickly started to feel like it was slipping away. Dallas opened with solid energy, getting contributions from multiple spots, as Naji Marshall scored efficiently and Cooper Flagg made his presence felt early as both a scorer and a playmaker, helping keep things within reach. Flagg had a noticeable impact in those opening minutes—knocking down pull-ups, attacking downhill, and creating looks for others—while Marshall’s shot-making kept the offense afloat during key stretches.

But every time the Mavericks made a push, Murray had an answer. He completely took over the second quarter, piling up 33 first-half points on 11-of-15 shooting and 6-of-9 from deep, hitting pull-ups, step-backs, and tough contested shots that Dallas simply couldn’t slow down. At the same time, Nikola Jokić quietly controlled everything else, finishing the half with 11 assists and 9 rebounds, consistently creating easy looks and keeping Denver’s offense flowing even without scoring much himself.

Dallas had some bright spots, though. There were moments especially in the third where Dallas strung together a few stops and got downhill, but it never turned into anything real, as missed shots, turnovers, and Denver’s instant responses kept resetting the margin.

If this game didn’t make it obvious, nothing will Dallas desperately needs a guard who can defend at the point of attack. Jamal Murray didn’t just have a good night, he had complete control, getting wherever he wanted and scoring however he wanted, finishing with 53 points on 19-of-28 shooting and 9-of-14 from three. There was no real resistance at the top of the defense no one who could consistently stay in front, disrupt his rhythm, or even make him uncomfortable. Once he got downhill or into his pull-up game, it was over, and that kind of pressure completely breaks a defense before it even has a chance to rotate.

This is where roster construction starts to matter. Dallas has length and some versatility in the frontcourt, but without a guard who can actually contain the ball, none of it holds up. You can’t ask your bigs to clean everything up every possession, especially against elite shot-makers. That’s why this draft becomes so important. It’s not just about adding talen it’s about adding the right kind of player. Someone who can fight over screens, stay attached, and at least make life harder for guys like Murray at the point of attack.

Because nights like this aren’t just about one player getting hot they expose a structural issue. And until Dallas finds a guard who can defend at that level, this is going to keep happening.

Someone seeds to close, eventually

The Mavericks have played a ton of close games this season, but the results just haven’t followed, and that’s something that continues to show up late in these losses. Too often, possessions in crunch time turn into rushed shots, stalled actions, or empty trips, while a single defensive breakdown on the other end swings momentum the other way. It’s not just one game it’s been a pattern, and it speaks to a team that’s still learning how to execute when everything tightens up.

That said, context matters right now. Dallas isn’t necessarily trying to squeeze out every late-game win at this point in the season, and losses like these actually help their lottery positioning. There’s value in being competitive and getting those reps without sacrificing long-term upside, especially in a strong draft class.

But long term, this is something to watch especially with Cooper Flagg. He’s already showing flashes as a primary creator, but closing games is the next step: controlling tempo, getting to the right spots, and making the right reads under pressure. It’s okay that it’s messy right now given where the team is, but if the Mavericks want to take a real step forward next season, turning these close games into wins has to be part of that growth.

Cooper Flagg continues to shine

Cooper Flagg continues to look more and more like the centerpiece of what Dallas is building, and nights like this are a big part of why. He finished with 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, impacting the game in just about every way despite the result. What stands out isn’t just the production it’s how he’s getting it. He’s initiating offense, pushing in transition, making reads out of drives, and consistently putting pressure on the defense as both a scorer and playmaker.

This stretch has been especially encouraging. Over the past few games, Flagg has been steadily trending upward, not just in scoring, but in overall control of the game. He’s starting to look more comfortable as the primary option, picking his spots better and showing more patience when defenses collapse. Even when shots don’t fall, he’s still influencing possessions through rebounds, assists, and defensive activity.

There are still things to clean up, especially late-game execution and shot selection in tighter moments, but that’s expected at this stage. The important part is that the flashes are becoming more consistent. For a team leaning into development, Flagg isn’t just putting up numbers he’s showing real signs of growth as a lead initiator, and that’s the biggest takeaway moving forward.

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Dallas, TX

GOP considering Dallas for potential 2026 Midterm National Convention

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

GOP considering Dallas for potential 2026 Midterm National Convention

DALLAS – No contracts have been signed, and no proposals have been made, but representatives of the National Republican Party did receive all the rental information for the American Airlines Center (AAC).

American Airlines Center for potential RNC

What we know:

Sources confirm that the Republican Party is exploring a national convention for the midterm elections, with Dallas being one of the cities under consideration to host the event.

Dave Brown, the general manager of the American Airlines Center, told FOX 4 representatives of the National Republican Party toured the AAC in late February, but they didn’t share any details about the possible event.

The reps were given all the rental information, including technical aspects and rental fee details, which, on average, is about $125,000 per day.

As of now, no contracts have been signed, and there are no official proposals on the table.

Why the Republican Party is targeting Texas

What they’re saying:

Matthew Wilson is a political science professor at SMU.

“Typically, parties don’t have national conventions during the midterm cycle, but it signals, I think, a desire on the Republicans’ part to rally the troops,” said Wilson. “I think there are a lot of good electoral and coalition-building reasons why Republicans would focus on Texas, in particular as a site for trying to build some momentum to gin up greater Republican turnout in this fall’s electoral cycle.”

Cornyn, Paxton, and the 2026 Midterms

Dig deeper:

Wilson says choosing Dallas would signal that the Republican Party is taking the Texas races, in November, very seriously.

In particular, the race for U.S. Senate where Democratic state representative James Talarico will face the Republican runoff winner, either U.S. Senator John Cornyn or Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

It’s unclear when the convention will be held.

The chairman of the Dallas Republican Party, Allen West, said he has no knowledge of the subject.

The Dallas Police Department says it doesn’t have any information about a potential RNC either.

“Typically, their presidential year conventions give both parties at least a temporary boost or bounce. We’ll see if this can work in the same way it’s not been done before, and depending on whether it succeeds or not, we’ll see whether it gets done again,” said Wilson.