W Nation Network

Tag: hot takes

  • From Ass to Class? Analyzing the Dallas Wings’ Struggles

    From Ass to Class? Analyzing the Dallas Wings’ Struggles

    The WNBA season has been underway for just over three weeks now. Although it is still early in the season, it has been full of surprises, letdowns, and drama.

    As you know, I am a huge Dallas Wings fan. After last season, when we finished with 9-31 record, I thought that would be the worst things would get. It came as a shock too since we were in the Conference Finals the year prior (2023), where we lost to to the Las Vegas Aces. I thought we would be back for years to come. I could not have been more wrong!

    I went into this season with that same excitement I had back in 2023 and with high hopes. This came after landing the first pick of the draft, which turned into Paige Bueckers, and several other off-season additions, most notably being Dijonai Carrington and her girlfriend, NaLyssa Smith.

    Despite the many additions, Dallas lost some key players from last year, including Kalani Brown and my former favorite Wings player, Satou Sabally.

    Nevertheless, the roster wasn’t the only thing to change. After last season, the Wings decided to fire Latricia Trammell, who coached the Wings for two seasons. Her replacement? Chris Koclanes, or man-bun.

    As a fellow guy with long hair, I am appalled to go after one of my own, but Coach Koclanes is that bad. Don’t believe me? The video below provides some context to just how bad he is.

    The Wings are off to their worst start in years, starting the season 1-9, with our only win being against the Connecticut Sun, who are now 2-7.

    Coach Koclanes, in my opinion has done an incredible job this year…at losing. Somehow, he took a better, more talented roster (I think) than last year’s and has done a worse job. Are we intentionally tanking in hopes of landing the first overall pick again? Or is his leadership and game plans just that bad? Maybe both? Or maybe the roster isn’t as talented as I thought. Who knows. What I do know is that the start to this season has been nothing short of unacceptable and embarrassing.

    To cut coach some slack, Paige Bueckers has missed some time due to a concussion. Still, games should still be won. We have lost several games that should have been easy wins, including two games against the Chicago Sky…who we lost to both times. Unacceptable.

    What’s Next?

    I understand this roster isn’t perfect by any means. It probably won’t be competing in the Finals later this year. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t compete.

    With how many changes there were this off-season, I’m sure there are still some growing pains. A culture has yet to be built. Nevertheless, one needs to be built fast, as this can’t be our new culture.

    So, with roughly 34 games left in the season, where do we go from here? Well, I thought you’d never ask (you didn’t but you’re going to hear my thoughts anyways).

    1. Mess around with the starting rotation

    I mean, would it hurt to change up the starting rotation every now and then? I don’t think you can sit Arike or Paige (when healthy), but everyone else? Make them earn the starting roles. Try some new lineups and see who plays well together. We’re 1-9. Clearly the lineups and rotations weren’t working before. Mix things up.

    2. Get a better Center

    Last year, we had Kalani Brown and Teaira McCowan as our centers, with both being swapped for the starting role here and there. I hated it. I am not a fan of Kalani or Teaira (sorry). Lately, the rookie from Germany, Luisa Geiselsoder, has been doing great. She should be starting. As for Teaira? Send her to CHina. I don’t care what happens. She can go. I think it is more valuable to get Luisa minutes and a chance to develop at this point. McCowan, you had your chance, but we want Luisa now.

    3. Fire Chris Koclanes

    This may be unpopular, and some might think this is way too early, but I think Chris Koclanes should be fired. Koclanes has experience working with USC as a video coordinator, Connecticut Sun as a video coordinator (Curt Miller, who is now the Wings GM, was Head Coach at the time), and was an assistant coach, serving as the defensive coordinator, with the Los Angeles Sparks. He has experience in the W, so what’s the problem?

    Personally, I don’t think he’s ready to be a head coach yet. Without Curt Miller, I don’t think he would have been hired as the Wings head coach, or anywhere as a head coach for that matter.

    The Coach Koclanes is shaping out to be a huge failure. Does Curt not want to fire his buddy? This is a business, and sometimes you have to make business decisions. He needs to go.

    Not only that, but we have a great young player in Paige Bueckers who is being wasted away under Coach Koclanes’ system. She has had some good games, but I think she could do better. I don’t think Coach Koclanes can.

    Truth Hurts

    It’s looking like the Wings are headed towards a rebuild, whether they like it or not, and I think it is time to rip the band-aid off now before things get worse (can they? lol).

    Next year’s draft will feature some outstanding, franchise-changing players like Azzi Fudd and Lauren Betts. Again, it’s clear we won’t be competing for anything meaningful this year, so why not blow it all up and try to get that first pick?

    The Wings have a ton of young players and rookies on their team this year. If the losing trends continue, use the rest of the season to develop our young players, hopefully under a new coach.

    Not only that, but I think we need to have some serious conversations about Arike Ogunbowale and her future with the Wings, but that’s for another story.

    I Love My DaLLLLLLLLL Wings

    In the end, I will still watch my Dallas Wings and continue to support them, but I know myself and other Wings fans are disappointed and want to see change. This is not who we are. If things don’t change, us Wings fans will be in for another long, miserable, disappointing season. So, Curt Miller, if you somehow read this, please do something. And soon.

    Until next time, W Nation!

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  • Why the WNBA Pay Gap Discourse is Getting Annoying

    W Nation Network is still new. Like, this is literally my second post. There’s a good chance I’ll get canceled before I even hit publish on the third one.

    But whatever, this conversation needs to happen.

    Let’s Talk About It

    I’m as big of a fan of the W and its players as anyone, don’t get it twisted. But one thing I absolutely can’t stand is the constant whining about pay. The WNBA salary conversation has been going on for years, and honestly? Up until the 2024 draft class (thanks, Caitlin Clark), there shouldn’t have been any conversation at all.

    The WNBA is entering its 28th season. Know how many of those years the league has made a profit? Zero. Twenty-eight years. Zero profit. Not a dime.

    How does a business that hasn’t made money in nearly three decades still exist? Easy — the NBA keeps it alive. The NBA owns roughly 50% of the W and has been footing the bill from day one. Most W teams don’t even break even.

    Do WNBA players not realize this?

    You can’t demand NBA-level salaries when you don’t bring in NBA-level revenue. It’s not sexism, it’s math. Ticket sales, sponsorships, TV deals… they’re just not there. Yet.

    Enter: Caitlin Clark and Co

    Whether her haters want to admit it or not, Caitlin Clark is the league’s saving grace. She brought in a brand new wave of fans, along with a bunch of old white guys who think she plays basketball the “right way.” No, she’s not the only reason for the league’s growth, but without her and the 2024 rookie class? It’s hard to imagine the W would be anywhere near the mainstream conversation it’s in today.

    The Part That Pisses Me Off

    These women have worked their asses off — no question. But they play a sport for a living.

    The minimum WNBA salary in 2024 was $64,154 — not including housing stipends, travel, healthcare, or everything else that comes with being a pro athlete. That also doesn’t include endorsements, overseas contracts, NIL money, or media gigs.

    Meanwhile, EMTs, nurses, and teachers are making less than that to save lives. And WNBA players are out here calling their salaries insulting?

    Get a grip!

    That salary puts them in the top 1.5% of earners globally. That’s not a hot take, that’s a fact. They’re making more than 98.5% of people on this planet, for playing a game. A game, by the way, played in a league that loses money every year.

    Perspective Check

    I follow a lot of these players on social media. And if that’s financial struggle, I’d love to suffer with them.

    Vacations. Luxury apartments. Fancy dinners. Designer fits. And then they hop online to say they’re underpaid. Be serious.

    Let’s not forget most of these athletes went through college on full scholarships. No student loans. No tuition. Free housing. Free food. Now they’re getting paid, well, to shoot hoops. Must be nice.

    I’m Not a Hater… Mostly

    And yeah, maybe I sound like a jealous hater. I kind of am.

    But here’s the thing: I do think they should be paid more, when the league earns it.

    That time is coming. The talent is there. The exposure is growing. The demand is building. But until the money actually exists? Comparing your salary to an NBA player’s is just embarrassing.

    Steph Curry brings in viewers. Arike Ogunbowale does not (enough, at least).
    (Except for me. I’ll die on that hill. Arike is my ride-or-die.)

    Supply and demand. Basic economics. Not sexism.

    There are people who would kill for these salaries. Life-changing money. Seeing how W players live and still hearing them complain is, frankly, hilarious.

    The League Is Rising

    But I’m not rooting against these women. Far from it. I want them to get paid more. I want the league to explode. I want the W to be so big that players are turning down $500K contracts overseas — and prison sentences — just to stay home and cash fat checks here.

    And honestly? We’re headed there.

    There are so many insanely talented players already in the league: A’ja, Arike, Jewell, Sabrina, Alyssa Thomas, Satou (if she’s not injured). These women can hoop. That’s not the debate.

    And what’s coming next? It’s ridiculous.
    Paige Bueckers is a walking bucket with Steph Curry efficiency.
    JuJu Watkins is a future problem and barely out of high school.
    Lauren Betts is 6’7″, polished, and ready to dominate.
    This next wave isn’t just talented, they’re marketable, magnetic, and built to grow the league. This is only the beginning.

    It’s Not Just the W

    And for the record? This doesn’t just apply to WNBA players.

    I think pro athlete salaries across the board are out of control.
    NBA guys making $55 million a year to play 40 games and load-manage.
    NFL players signing $200 million extensions to throw interceptions.
    MLB players getting 10-year deals they coast through by year six.

    Yeah, those leagues make billions. Yes, the money is there. But let’s not act like any of this is normal. It’s not. It’s wild.

    The whole ecosystem of sports salaries is bloated beyond belief, and I’m allowed to say that while still watching every game and loving every second of it.

    This isn’t about denying athletes fair pay.
    It’s about remembering what “fair” means when 98% of the world is just trying to pay rent.

    Why I Wrote This

    I wrote this because I’m tired, not just of the discourse, but of life outside the court.

    I’ve applied to more jobs than I can count. Rejected. Ignored. Ghosted. I have a Master’s degree in digital marketing, a 770 credit score, zero debt, and I’ve worked my ass off to get here. And still, it’s not enough. This isn’t their fault, it’s just life. And life isn’t fair sometimes…actually, most times.

    I would kill to make what a rookie in the W makes. I’d give anything to have the platform, the opportunity, the resources.

    I’m not saying the players have it easy. But I do wish more of them would take a second to see things from the other side, from the point of view of people grinding just to survive, not to hoop.

    And selfishly? It’s always been my dream to work in marketing for the WNBA. Through undergrad, grad school, everything, that was the goal. To help grow this league, elevate these women, and be part of the change.

    But now that the W is finally going mainstream, and I love that it is, it sometimes feels like I missed my shot. Like the door’s already closed. Like I didn’t get the chance to make the difference I spent years preparing for.

    So yeah, I’m passionate about this. Not because I’m hating. But because I care. And because I’ve been trying to climb the ladder these players are already standing at the top of, and watching them spit on the rung feels a little personal.

    It’s also been a rough week. So if it sounds like I’m taking it out on these women a little too hard… I probably am.

    But the frustration’s real. And so is the respect.

    Final Thoughts

    I’m still rooting for them. I always will be.

    I just want them to remember where they came from, what it’s like to hustle, to fight for a dream, to live without guarantees. Life isn’t easy. Not for most of us.

    They worked hard for what they have, no doubt. But some people work just as hard and never get that shot. Some of us are still waiting for our turn.

    So yeah, I get frustrated. I get angry. But it’s not coming from hate. It’s coming from someone who loves this league, who believes in these players, and who just wishes the conversation around pay came with a little more perspective.

    Because the grind is real.
    And most of us are still in it.

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