A week after the WNBA draft and less than two weeks before training camp begins, the Dallas Wings are crossing their collective fingers in hopes that their draft picks, new defensive-minded head coach, off-season acquisitions, and more seasoned roster will translate into wins and a deeper playoff run.

With multiple first-round picks, the Wings loaded up on shooters – shoring up an already-solid offensive team led by bucket-getter Arike Ogunbowale – and players who team officials call multi-dimensional.

“If you look at our draft class this year, it should be pretty evident we prioritize shooting,” said Wings President and CEO Greg Bibb. “I feel very good about the talent we added to the roster in advance of training camp in terms of not only shooting the basketball – we’ve added elite shooters – but really good basketball players and even better people.”

The Wings entered the draft with the third, fifth, and 11th selections in the first round, in part a result of a trade for Chicago Sky guard Diamond DeShields. They later took part in a mid-draft trade and ended up with picks 3, 4, and 5 on the night of the first round. 

Maddy Siegrist – Pick #3

The 6-foot-1 Siegrist – who counts Elena Delle Donne and Breanna Stewart as her favorite WNBA players – led the nation in scoring with 29 points per game, averaged 9.2 rebounds, and was named the Big East Player of the Year and a first-team All-American.

“She can score the basketball, but she’s more than an offensive player,” Bibb said of the Villanova guard. “I think her defensive ability is underrated. She has great size and length. I think she can play a multitude of positions.”

“Dallas is one of the most exciting places to be in the league, and it’s one of the best teams,” said Siegrist during a recent media availability. “They’re hot right now and coming off a good season. I can’t wait to get settled in and officially get started.”

The Wings are hoping Siegrist’s versatility will come in handy this season and she can fit easily into wherever the system needs her. 

“The easiest part of my game is moving without the ball,” she said. “Playing the 5 out at Villanova helped me learn to do that naturally and I think now it is something I do without thinking.”

An area she plans to work on during her first year in the league is improving defensively, mentioning that she loves that new Head Coach Latricia Tramwell values both sides of the ball.

Stephanie Soares – Pick #4

On draft night, the Wings traded with the Washington Mystics to acquire the fourth pick, Iowa State center Stephanie Soares. They gave up a second-round pick in 2024 and a first-rounder in 2025 in the trade.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever been part of an in-draft process trade, but when you have an opportunity to add a player of the caliber of Stephanie Soares, you do what it takes,” said Dallas Wings President and CEO Greg Bibb.

The 6-foot-6 Soares was a top player in her only year with the Cyclones, averaging 14.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 13 games. But like Lopez Sénéchal, her immediate impact on the Wings is unknown. She tore her ACL earlier this year and likely won’t play this season.

“There just aren’t that many 6-foot-6-inch post players who can run the floor and shoot the ball like Stephanie,” Bibb said. “And the other thing that jumped off the film for me is how good her feet were in small spaces and her ability to finish with either hand. You just don’t get that kind of complete package that often in post players.”

“Most likely she’s not going to be playing for the team in the 2023 season, but she’ll be very much part of the organization, and we’ll work closely with her to get her healthy and ready to go for 2024.”

In talking with the media on Monday, Soares thanked her teammates and coaches at Iowa State even after her injury but said she is ready for what’s next.

“The people I’ve been around at Iowa State have been so supportive. Even when I got injured, there were tears, and for every athlete, it’s hard getting injured. But they were like, ‘OK, let’s take the next step. What do we have to do next?'”

“I think I’m just ready to get to Dallas now and start getting to work. It’s going to be a great, great next step to the journey,” Soares said.

Lou Lopez Sénéchal – Pick #5

The former UConn 6-foot-1 combo guard/forward (she played only one season) was picked #5 by the Wings. In her lone year as a Husky, she averaged 15.5 points per game and shot 44 percent from the three. She played her first four seasons at Fairfield. 

“She’s just pure in terms of her ability to shoot the basketball,” Bibb said of Lopez -Sénéchal. I love to watch her play, and she is wise beyond her years.”

Lopez Sénéchal is the first Mexican-born player to be drafted by the WNBA. She was born in Mexico but grew up in Grenoble, France. 

“I think it’s a very special feeling to be the first one. I hope not to be the last one. I hope that this is an example for many other girls from Mexico or other countries that have the same dream as mine. I hope to inspire those younger girls, but it’s just very special to be a part of this community.”

Coach Trammell calls Lopez Sénéchal a competitor. “She’s had tough coaching. She’s been at the highest level on a stage, and she has gone beyond expectations. So, I expect her to do the same here.”

Unfortunately for the Wings, they’ll have to wait and see how she fits with the team. She is rehabbing from a knee injury that occurred earlier this year, so her immediate impact is unknown.

Bibb said on Monday that she was scheduled to undergo an official medical evaluation with Wings staff on Tuesday and then take it from there. 

“We will take our time, and she will not get on the court until she feels 100% healthy and 100% ready to go,” he told the media. “This is not a short play for us. And we want her to be at her absolute best when she steps on the court in the Dallas Wings uniform for the first time.”

Lopez Sénéchal – who cites Kelsey Plum and her work ethic as motivations – is looking forward to bringing her shooting and her overall game to the Wings. 

“I think my shooting is something I can keep working on. It is one of my strengths of course,” she said. “But the main thing I want to work on is becoming a better defender. At UCONN it was already something I was working on and here, being on the pro level, it becomes more intense, so I think working on my defense is going to be one of my priorities as well.”

Armed with a new head, top picks, veterans Ogunbowale, Natasha Howard, DeShields, Satou Sabally, and more, the Wings look to make some noise this season. 

Training camp opens on April 30th with 18 players vying for 12 spots. 

Let the competition begin.

WNBA reporter Dorothy J. Gentry writes a column on WNBA.com throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at @DorothyJGentry. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.