The Minnesota Lynx just lost one of their cornerstones, as in one of the biggest moves of WNBA free agency so far, Alanna Smith is headed to Texas. The 2025 Co-Defensive Player of the Year is signing a max contract to join Paige Bueckers, the 2026 No. 1 Draft Pick, and Arike Ogunbowale on the Dallas Wings.
The Dallas Wings just got Paige Bueckers some major help
The Dallas Wings just landed the Co-Defensive Player of the Year in free agency.
Chelsea Leite has been writing about professional basketball since 2021, and covers both the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Tempo as a credentialed reporter for SB Nation.
Paige, for one, was thrilled:
Grading Alanna Smith to the Dallas Wings: A+
This is a deal that works so well for both sides. For Smith, she goes from someone who was waived just a few seasons ago to being paid the $1.19 million max salary in year one of a three-year contract. Dallas gets a much-needed presence in their frontcourt and a boost in defensive power and rim protection.
Smith also has chemistry with Arike, having just won an Unrivaled championship together last month. Her signing immediately boosts the potential of this rebuilding Wings team, and at +4,000, they now have the 8th best odds to win the 2026 championship, according to our friends at FanDuel.
This now shifts the offseason attention to the WNBA Draft, where there is no clear consensus on who the Wings will pick as they select No. 1 overall for the second year in a row. Before Smith signed, there was a clear need for a frontcourt presence, but now the situation is different. Will they pick a more traditional point guard option like Olivia Miles? A shooter in Azzi Fudd? Build out the depth behind Smith and draft her a rookie in Awa Fam or Lauren Betts?
All eyes are on Dallas now.
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