Sue Bird warns Caitlin Clark and A'ja Wilson of new danger next season with old acquaintance

The Dallas Wings endured a turbulent season during what was supposed to be a banner year for the WNBA.

After three consecutive playoff runs, the team plummeted to a league-worst 9-31 record, marking their most dismal campaign since their days as the Tulsa Shock in 2011. The poor showing led to changes, including the firing of head coach Latricia Trammell.

But fortune smiled on the Wings during the WNBA draft lottery, offering a glimmer of hope for the future. With the top overall pick now in their hands, speculation is rampant that they'll select Connecticut star guard Paige Bueckers-a generational talent who could be the cornerstone of a major turnaround.

Basketball icon Sue Bird has hinted that this potential pairing could instantly elevate Dallas into a team to watch.

The Wings already boast a strong core with Arike Ogunbowale, a perennial All-Star, and Satou Sabally, whose breakout 203 campaign earned her the Most Improved Player title. Though Sabally's 2024 season was cut short by injury, her upside remains sky-high.

"If Dallas does have Paige because of the No. 1 pick, Arike (Ogunbowale) who is already there, and they re-sign Satou, that big three will be up there with all the other big threes," Bird told her podcast 'A Touch More With Sue Bird & Megan Rapinoe'.

With Bueckers likely ing their ranks and a talented roster ready to rebound, the Wings have a golden opportunity to redefine their trajectory.

Bueckers' preferred destination

Yet, ESPN's Michael Voepel reported that Bueckers had a specific WNBA destination in mind ahead of the draft lottery.

"Sources around the league have indicated that the Los Angeles Sparks, who got the No. 2 pick in the lottery, would have been Bueckers' preferred option," Voepel said.

"Like the Wings, the Sparks also currently don't have a head coach. But Los Angeles is a gigantic market and a team that could also have used a guard like Bueckers."