Wings GM Curt Miller: 'Not Satisfied,' Defense Is the Growth Area, and Bueckers Is a 'No-Brainer' All-WNBA Pick

Wings fans, the GM is happy with the season and still wants more.

Curt Miller talked to The IX Sports on Wednesday, with the semifinals going on without Dallas, and he called the year "incredibly successful." He has a case. The Wings went 27-17 after going 10-34 in 2025 and 9-31 in 2024. Paige Bueckers finished sixth in MVP voting, and Jessica Shepard was named Most Improved Player, all with a first-year coach and late-season injuries to multiple starters. "Really excited about what we did, but not satisfied," Miller said. "We had a lead with under two minutes to go in an elimination game, and could be playing tonight."

Miller gave Jose Fernandez a lot of credit for his first WNBA season. Dallas finished fourth in offensive rating and led the league in assists per game. He was even louder about Bueckers: "Our franchise will continue to say that Paige Bueckers is a no-brainer, All-WNBA first team player, and we don't need validated by other people's votes."

He also defended the three-guard lineup. Bueckers, No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd and Arike Ogunbowale started together in only 22 of 44 games, but they had a +7.5 net rating in 602 minutes. Miller said that when all three started, Bueckers took about 16 shots a game, Fudd 12 and Ogunbowale just over 11.

Then there's Awak Kuier, the restricted free agent. Miller called her the best rim protector in the league. She led the WNBA in block percentage and shot 50% from the field and just under 40% from three. "She's a priority," he said. "Restricted free agency gives some of the incumbent team some advantages in negotiations, but obviously there'll be a lot of interest in Awak."

The big growth area is defense. Dallas ranked sixth in defensive rating and gave up 104 points in its playoff opener. "Our defensive improvement will come in a variety of areas," Miller said. "Certainly roster construction, and that falls on myself and our GM shoulders..." With two first-round picks and no No. 1 pick this time, his message was simple: "We've got to get better."

Track the Dallas Wings all offseason. Radio question: what's the bigger offseason move, paying Kuier or adding a defensive stopper?

Sources: The IX Sports — Wings GM Curt Miller on the 2026 season and offseason focus.