WNBA’s Dallas Wings Are Big Winners in Free Agency

By DOROTHY J. Gentry
Sports Editor

The Dallas Wings have emerged as major winners out of WNBA free agency.

The franchise – beginning its sixth season in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and playing its games at the College Park Center in Arlington – have both the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the upcoming WNBA draft.

With those picks, the Wings become the first team in WNBA history to hold both the first and second overall picks in the same draft. In addition, Dallas also holds the fifth, seventh and thirteenth selections in this year’s draft. They acquired the No. 1 pick from the Seattle Storm via the New York Liberty for forward Katie Lou Samuelson and Dallas’ second round pick in 2022.

Last year was Samuelson’s first season in Dallas but she quickly became a fan favorite. Letting her go was hard, Wings officials said, but necessary for the forward development of the team.

“The decision to trade a young and talented player in Katie Lou Samuelson was a difficult one,” said Wings President & CEO Greg Bibb. “Katie Lou is the consummate professional and her best professional basketball is in front of her. That said, the opportunity to acquire the top pick in a draft does not present itself very often. By securing this pick, we will ensure our ability to draft the player at the top of our draft list while having additional draft assets at our disposal to further improve our team.”

Re-signing of Allisha Gray and Kayla Thornton

The trade follows the re-signings of team veterans Allisha Gray and Kayla Thornton, who both made long-term commitments to stay in Dallas this offseason.

“I’m grateful for the organization for believing and having the confidence in me to help take our team to the next level,” said Gray, who signed a multi-year contract to remain with the team. “From the time I entered the league, this organization and the city of Dallas have embraced me and I’m looking forward to showing them they made the right choice. I am excited about the future and cannot wait to get started.”

Gray, the WNBA’s 2017 Rookie of the Year, was drafted fourth overall by Dallas. Her 13.1 points per game last summer were the highest of her career. The University of South Carolina graduate also had a career-best three games with more than 20 points in the shortened 2020 season, including a career-high 26 against Minnesota on September 4.

In addition to her scoring, Gray also averaged a career-high 4.2 rebounds per game and shot a career-best 46.4 percent from the field. The former Gamecock was also one of just six players since 2017 to play in at least 122 of the 124 regular season games and is a member of Team USA’s 3v3 team.

Re-signing Gray was the team’s “top priority this off-season,” Bibb said.

“Allisha’s decision to commit to our organization is a testament to what we are building. Our future is bright, and Allisha Gray will play a key role for our team as we continue to grow and improve moving forward.”

Joining Gray in returning to the Wings is forward Kayla Thornton who also signed a multi-year extension to remain in Dallas. Gray now going into her fifth season is the longest tenured player on the team along with Thornton.

“I am very blessed and excited to continue my career with the Wings,” Thornton said. “I’m excited for what is to come with our team and I’m looking forward to working with Coach (Vickie) Johnson as our group strives to do something special together.”

Thornton has been one of the Wings most consistent performers since joining the team in 2017. The University of Texas at El Paso graduate has posted career averages of 7.9 points per game and 4.1 rebounds per outing on just under 40% shooting from the field and 85% from the free throw line.

Her best statistical season came in 2019 when she averaged a career-high 10.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Thornton has established herself as one of the best defenders in the WNBA and was the driving factor in Dallas posting the fewest Field Goals Allowed in 2019. In 2020 Thornton recorded 7.3 points per game on 42.5% shooting from the field and 87.5% from the foul line.

“Kayla Thornton is a wonderful example of how hard work, determination and self-belief can produce great results,” said Bibb. “Kayla has willed her way from a free-agent signee struggling to stay in the League to one of the best, and most underrated, defenders in the WNBA while continuing to expand and improve her offensive game as well. “We are thrilled to have Kayla make the decision to continue her career with the Dallas Wings and to be a big part of what we are building.”