The Dallas Wings are on a roll, and their recent 92-69 victory over the Washington Mystics has propelled them back to a .500 record. With a three-game road trip looming, the team is gearing up for their first stop in Chicago, where they'll face the Sky on Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Wintrust Arena. This game marks a significant turning point for both franchises, as both Dallas and Chicago finished last season with a 10-34 record, but the Wings have made substantial changes to their roster, while the Sky have undergone a complete overhaul.
The Sky's offseason moves were particularly notable. They traded Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream, acquiring a first-round pick in 2027 and 2028, along with a second-round pick swap in 2028. They then traded a 2028 first-round pick to the Washington Mystics for Jacy Sheldon and sent Ariel Atkins to the Los Angeles Sparks for Rickea Jackson. The most significant move, however, was releasing Hailey Van Lith and signing Skylar Diggins, Natasha Cloud, DiJonai Carrington, and Azura Stevens in free agency. These strategic moves have paid off, as the Sky now boast a 3-1 record, outperforming the changes made by the Wings.
Dallas, on the other hand, brought back Arike Ogunbowale and signed Jessica Shepard, Alanna Smith, and Odyssey Sims. They also used their second straight number one overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft to select Azzi Fudd, whose WNBA debut was marked by a low-scoring performance and a knee injury. However, Fudd has been steadily improving, as evidenced by her 12-point performance against the Mystics, where she shot 6-of-9 from the field and recorded three assists and one steal in 25 minutes.
Fudd's development is a key focus for the Wings, and her ability to read the defense and adapt to the game's flow is impressive. She acknowledges her role as a 3-point shooter but emphasizes her versatility, highlighting the support of her teammates in creating scoring opportunities.
The Wings' lineup featuring Fudd, Paige Bueckers, Maddy Siegrist, and Shepard has been praised by Jose Fernandez for its positive impact on the team's performance. This game in Chicago will be a crucial test for the Wings, as they look to build on their recent success and continue their journey towards a more competitive standing in the league.
