The Dallas Wings enter the WNBA All-Star break enjoying a successful July so far.
The team is 7-1 this month, the one loss coming with star guard Paige Bueckers out of the lineup on the end of a back-to-back. They started July with a six-game winning streak, the longest for the franchise since moving to Texas.
Dallas has undoubtedly leaned on its key starters through an 18-9 start to the season. The three Wings players featured in Chicago this weekend — All-star starters Bueckers and Jessica Shepard, as well as 3-point contest participant Azzi Fudd — all rank top-15 in the league in minutes per game. However, head coach Jose Fernandez’s deployment of reserves has been an important part of the team’s success as well.
Taking advantage of opportunities
As the season has progressed, WNBA teams have tightened their rotations. In the opening month of the season, teams averaged 67 bench minutes per game. In July, that mark has dropped to 60.6.
The Wings are no exception to this trend, their bench players combining for 65.5 minutes per game in May, 55.1 minutes in June and 52.9 minutes in July. Fernandez utilizes his reserves less than most teams, too — Dallas’ 57.5 bench minutes per game on the season ranking 11th in the league.
However, that hasn’t stopped the reserves from making an impact, scoring 23 points per game and 25.5% of the team’s points per game. Among the eight current playoff squads, only the Golden State Valkyries, who utilize their bench more than any other team in the league, get a higher percentage of points (43.2%) from their bench.
“Everybody is important on our team. Not just the starters,” Reserve guard Odyssey Sims said after a July 19 win over the Los Angeles Sparks. “We talk about it all the time. Just be ready when your number’s called, and it’s not just go in and try to score the ball, but just making sure we’re all locked in. So whoever goes in, we’re all ready to play.”
Maddy Siegrist and Aziaha James are the team’s top scorers off the bench, the former producing back-to-back double-digit scoring outings heading into the All-Star break.
Li Yueru’s emergence
While the Wings don’t lack fan favorites, there’s one reserve who gets the crowd going simply by heading to the scorer’s table to check in.
Dallas’ Li Yueru was active and did not play for eight games this season, but she’s recently become a mainstay in the bench rotation. Three of her six outings this year with double-digit minutes have come in the last four games, to the home crowd’s enjoyment each time.
The 6’7 center’s size is a major reason she’s seen the court at times this season. She’s seen significant minutes in all three matchups against the Chicago Sky, used to slow down fellow 6’7 post player Kamilla Cardoso.
Most recently, Yueru recorded a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double in helping Dallas finish off a season sweep of Chicago.
“Li helps us a bunch when we see some of those interior players,” Fernandez told reporters after that July 12 victory. “ … she held her ground. We needed her to do that, and credit [to] for her also staying ready and staying the course.”
In addition to matching up well with taller opposing centers, Yueru has brought value as a screener and floor-spacer. She’s shooting a career-worst 26.1% on threes this year, but has hit three of her six attempts from beyond the arc in July.
“I’m appreciative, I have a chance to get on the court,” Yueru said postgame on July 12. “And I appreciate my teammates … Even sometimes I make the mistake, my teammates always told me, ‘You are good and don’t worry about that, just focus on this moment.’”
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Game-to-game fluctuations
Despite quality bench production, it’s not always easy to predict who will be the player to step up from the second unit.
Siegrist, the leading scorer off the bench, didn’t play at all in a game against New York before logging just three minutes in the next contest against Toronto. Aziaha James, who was featured in the closing lineup for an overtime win against Seattle, has played single-digit minutes in each of the past six Wings games.
Sims and guard Sug Sutton have had their moments to step up or step back, and forward Alanna Smith has yet to settle in as she’s battled multiple injuries.
Fernandez has shown a dislike for media questions regarding minutes or shot attempts for individual players. His calling out of the locker room’s “selfishness” after an early-season loss to Minnesota is the most prominent example.
“You got to look in the mirror and be accountable on how you played,” Fernandez said in that May postgame press conference. “And don’t get upset if you think you should’ve played more, or you didn’t play enough, or you didn’t get the shots that you think you should’ve gotten. Really good teams, they don’t give a shit about that.”
Dallas’ play has seemed to reflect Fernandez’s desire, with players stepping up when they have the opportunity. The Wings’ continued embodiment of that sentiment will be key through the rest of 2026.
