By Anthony Council
Correspondent
Texas Metro News
In a unique blend of Southern hospitality and basketball excitement, the Dallas Wings welcomed their 2025 WNBA Draft Class on Wednesday at Dallas City Hall. Five promising rookies showcasing a mix of size, grit, finesse, and culture-setting qualities were greeted by Wings leadership, city officials, and an eager fanbase, all excited to witness the team’s future unfold.
Curt Miller, the Governor of the Dallas Wings, likened the day to “New Year’s Day.” “After 35 years in women’s basketball, stepping off the sideline for the first time is thrilling. It’s an exciting time for women’s basketball, and the role of the General Manager is playing a key part in our league’s growth.”
The Dallas Wings experienced significant growth with their five draft picks, which included No. 1 overall selection Paige Bueckers from UConn, No. 12 Aziaha James from NC State, No. 14 Madison Scott from Ole Miss, No. 27 JJ Quinerly from West Virginia, and No. 31 Aaronette Vonleh from Baylor, all selected just nine days ago.
Each player brings unique talents and skills to the team culture according to General Manager Greg Bibb who expressed his desire to recruit “winners, ballhandlers, impactful scorers, and post depth.”
This draft class checked many of those boxes.
The Wings’ roster boasts depth and size, featuring Arike Ogunbowale and newly signed free agent Myisha Hines-Allen, who won a WNBA championship in 2019. A strong winning culture is firmly established within the team, especially with Paige Bueckers coming off her championship victory with UConn. Playing alongside a former college champion like Ogunbowale is incredibly appealing.
“Obviously, I’m excited. She’s electric and can score at all three levels. She’s definitely a bucket getter. I’m looking to assist her a lot, space the floor to get her open looks, and play off each other. I’m just excited for everybody on the team,” Paige said. “We have some tough players, and with the excitement of the new system and coaching staff, I’m eager to build something great with everyone,” she shared.
For JJ Quinerly, hailing from the mountainous region of West Virginia and widely recognized for her relentless defensive prowess, her passion for the game shines through as she proclaims, “I love defense; I love creating havoc on that side of the ball, so I’m definitely going to do that.”
Aaronette Vonleh, celebrated for her exquisite post-footwork developed at Baylor, expresses her elation about returning home. “I’m just excited to play at the next level and be able to learn from such a great group of vets and just have a great team. Dallas is an amazing city, so I’m excited to be here full-time.”
Aziaha James, known for her tenacity and heart, emerges from NC State with a fierce grit mentality. With her words bursting with determination, ready for any type of matchup as she says, “Feel it in my heart being that dog, you know, being that sponge learning from my vets. This whole team is full of dogs, and I’m ready to be a part of it.”
As for Madison Scott, who comes from Ole Miss, her journey isn’t solely about translating the lessons learned from her coach into the WNBA. It’s also about embracing and celebrating the vibrant culture surrounding her. “Looking forward to growing you know as a person and as a player, looking forward to winning and looking forward to rocking my boots in my hat”.
Head Coach Chris Koclanes at Dallas Wings press conference at City Hall.(photo taken by sosocity Texas metro News)
Head Coach Chris Koclanes emphasized the players they brought onto the team and the people they are. “You win with good people, and the talent we added in this draft is remarkable. Each player leads with gratitude and humility, along with a unique confidence.” He added, “It’s all about the connection you can create, and we have a lot of vets, um, but they’re youthful vets. We’re a young team, and that balance is exciting. They have all these experiences, and they’re still very youthful.”
City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert and Dallas City Mayor Eric Johnson stand to the side of (Left to right) Aaronette Vonleh, JJ Quinerly, Madison Scott, Aziaha James, and Paige Bueckers, as they wear cowboy hats given by the city of Dallas during the introductory press conference. (Photo by SOSOCity/Texas Metro News)
In a heartfelt nod to Texas traditions, Dallas City Mayor Eric Johnson and City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert presented each rookie with a white cowboy hat, a gesture that was enthusiastically received. The Dallas Wings are set for an exciting future, highlighted by a 15-year, $19 million use agreement for the team to play in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas Memorial Arena starting in 2026. With a young roster, they are poised for a strong season. A new broadcast deal will also expand viewership for Wings games across Texas, making the team’s prospects even more promising. To summarize the day’s excitement, Wings GM Curt Miller proclaimed, “Catch the wave. The wave is coming.” And fast.
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