The Dallas Wings officially turned the page to a new era Thursday, introducing Jose Fernandez as the franchise’s new head coach and setting the stage for a rebuild centered around WNBA Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers.
Fernandez arrives after 25 years at the University of South Florida, where he became one of the winningest active coaches in women’s college basketball. His hiring represents more than just a change on the sidelines—it’s a declaration of identity for a team seeking to pair generational talent with championship standards.
“This won’t be the same old Dallas Wings, my brother,” Fernandez said during his introductory press conference, quoting his late colleague Amir Abdur-Rahim. “Change is coming, and we’re gonna win.”
Building Around a Franchise Cornerstone
Fernandez isn’t entering unfamiliar territory. He faced Bueckers multiple times during her dominant career at UConn and has been close friends with her former coach, Geno Auriemma, for years. Now, he’ll have the chance to coach the player he’s long admired — the new face of Dallas basketball.
“Paige is special,” Fernandez said. “Great players want to be coached. She wants to be coached and held accountable. And I think the things that we’re going to do in the half court and the open floor are going to suit her. So I’m really excited to get to work with her.”
Bueckers’ rookie season redefined expectations for what a first-year player could accomplish. She averaged 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.6 steals across 36 games while earning Rookie of the Year honors. She also broke the franchise rookie scoring record and became only the second rookie in league history with multiple 35-point games.
Fernandez said Auriemma told him everything he needed to know: “If there’s a shot you want her to make, she’ll make it. If there’s something you’re going to run, she’s going to run it.”
A Culture of Accountability and Innovation
For general manager Curt Miller, Fernandez’s experience made him a natural fit for the job. Dallas was seeking a coach who could blend player development, global recruiting reach, and a modern offensive identity.
“This job wasn’t for everyone,” Miller said. “The scrutiny, the expectation that comes right now with the Dallas job is extremely high, and that scared people. And what I loved about Jose is it did not scare — in fact, it motivated — him.”
Fernandez emphasized that his foundation will be built on relationships, trust, and structure.
“Three things: accountability, trust, and truth,” he said. “Everyone — players and coaches — must be accountable. We need to trust each other. And our players will always know exactly where they stand and what’s expected of them.”
The Wings finished last season 10–34, missing the playoffs for a second straight year. But with Bueckers leading a promising young core that includes Aziaha James, JJ Quinerly, Maddy Siegrist, and Diamond Miller, Dallas finally has a blueprint — and a coach intent on executing it.
Building the Future, Brick by Brick
Fernandez inherits a roster still taking shape. Dallas holds the best odds in the upcoming draft lottery and faces significant roster turnover with a two-team expansion draft and widespread free agency looming. Still, both he and Miller believe the team’s foundation is solid and the franchise’s momentum is growing.
“There will be tremendous collaboration going into decisions around expansion draft, free agency, and ultimately, where we land in the draft,” Miller said.
Fernandez’s global connections and player development record could play a critical role in shaping the next phase of the Wings’ roster. At South Florida, he developed more than 30 players who went on to professional careers in the WNBA and overseas.
His philosophy, he said, will be simple but unrelenting: “We’re going to play harder than anyone — run the floor, attack the rim, create second chances, cut and screen with purpose, defend the point of attack, and be tough to play against. It’ll start with how we practice every day.”
With Bueckers leading the charge and Fernandez bringing decades of structure and innovation to Dallas, the Wings’ vision for the future is clear — one built on discipline, development, and belief.
“Change is coming,” Fernandez repeated. “And we’re going to win.”
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