Calls Mount Against Dallas Wings HC as Paige Bueckers & Co. Struggle Early Against Chicago Sky

If we talk about some of the biggest names from college basketball in recent history – Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, and Caitlin Clark have to be right up there. While Reese and Clark already brought their fireworks to the big league, Bueckers and CC have had their own fair share of history. But you know, Bueckers and Reese never faced off in college. Not once. So when the Dallas Wings met the Chicago Sky, this wasn’t just another regular-season game. This was years in the making, a matchup fans had been dying to see.

The Wings rolled into Wintrust Arena to wrap up their 4-game road stretch, and things were finally starting to look up. They were coming off their first win of the season, and it was a big one as they beat the Connecticut Sun 109-87, the biggest explosion this season so far.

Paige had her breakout moment, dropping 21 points back in her old stomping grounds of Connecticut, with a bunch of her former UConn teammates cheering her on. A wholesome homecoming to the arena she has never lost a single game in. Arike Ogunbowale was cooking too, bringing that veteran spark to the mix.

Meanwhile, the Sky were on a five-game skid. Their last outing against the Mercury was a heartbreaker, 94-89. But still, every starter hit double digits, and Ariel Atkins led the charge with 21 points and six boards. So on paper, this one looked pretty even. Maybe even a slight edge to Dallas with that newfound momentum.

May 19, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) in action during the game between the Dallas Wings and the Seattle Storm at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

But as the ball went up in the air, the Wings came out looking rough. Like, first-quarter-flat kind of rough. The Sky went up 29-19 early, and fans were already side-eyeing the coaching decisions. Sure, Dallas clawed back by halftime and even led 73-68 heading into the fourth, shooting over 54% from the floor. 

Bueckers and Co. found their rhythm. But the damage from that slow start lingered. Now, fans are starting to talk and not in a good way. The lineup choices, the rotations… let’s just say the patience is wearing real thin. The fourth quarter wasn’t enough to erase the chaos from earlier, and the blame is heading straight to the head coach Chris Koclanes’ clipboard.

Wings fans call out Paige Bueckers’ coach

Wings fans aren’t holding back anymore and neither are their tweets. One scrolled in saying, “What the f-k are these lineups… what is this HC doing…” That pretty much sums up the mood right now in Dallas. Chris Koclanes, the newly crowned head coach, is rolling out a starting five of Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, DiJonai Carrington, NaLyssa Smith, and Teaira McCowan. Sounds solid on paper, right? 

But fans are scratching their heads over why someone like Maddy Siegrist isn’t getting more burn. With her energy and scoring touch, people think she could shake up the Wings’ slow starts, which are becoming a little too predictable. And it’s not just the lineups that have fans side-eyeing the sidelines. 

Another tweet hit hard, “The Wings needed a veteran coach for this team. Not a rookie…” Koclanes came into this gig with experience as an assistant at USC and a defensive coordinator role in the W. But he’s never led a pro team before. Never the top assistant, never the go-to voice. That’s not sitting right with folks who hoped for someone with a bit more head coaching mileage. 

Add to that the fact he’s the fifth male head coach in a league that’s constantly pushing for more women in leadership. So, people had questions from the start. Another fan threw in a “Man bun coach needs to go. #Wings ain’t flapping,” and while that’s brutal, the sentiment isn’t exactly rare.  Look, no one expected this team to come out and chase a title after last season’s 9-31 heartbreak and the loss of stars like Satou Sabally and Natasha Howard.

But with Bueckers in town, Carrington and Smith joining the party, and Arike still doing her thing, there was hope. Maybe not Finals-level, but at least some noise, a playoff push, something to show for the reset. Instead, what we’re getting is a slow, clunky start that has fans muttering if Koclanes was ever the right guy for the job. They got that first W, sure but the overall vibe is shaky.

“This wings coach sucks,” another wrote. And this isn’t the first time fans have put Koclanes under the microscope.  Early on, people were already freaking out about how many minutes Paige was logging. After everything she’s been through with injuries, it’s understandable. The thought of her burning out before midseason was concerning fans. Some were already suggesting more Tyasha Harris minutes to lighten the load and offer a different look in the backcourt. 

This wings coach sucks

— Just for fun (@justforshowss) May 30, 2025

“Is the Wings coach actually giving them plays they can win with or…?” said a fifth. Koclanes is drawing up structured plays, and players have even acknowledged how detailed he is. He’s got plans, rotations, assignments, all that good stuff. But if it’s all so organized, why isn’t it clicking? The team keeps tripping over themselves trying to execute, and it’s making people wonder if it’s the plan that’s flawed or the fit. 

Even Koclanes has admitted he’s still figuring out how to balance rotations and give the lineup consistency without making things too rigid. So, changes could be coming. But until it doesn’t translate on the court, the fans are  going to question. In this game, it clearly didn’t, as Dallas failed to build on their momentum, falling 92-97 after getting dominated by 10 points in both the opening and final quarters.

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