In a stunning turn of events, the Dallas Wings have fired head coach Latricia Trammell after just two seasons with the team. The decision comes on the heels of a dismal 9-31 record in the 2024 WNBA season, a far cry from the team’s impressive run to the WNBA semifinals under Trammell’s leadership just one year prior.
The Wings’ front office wasted no time in making changes, announcing Trammell’s dismissal in a statement released Friday morning. Greg Bibb, the team’s president and CEO, cited the need to “expand and strengthen our basketball operations” as a key factor in the decision.
“As part of our year-end review process, and in conjunction with our organizational long-term strategic planning, I have decided to expand and strengthen our basketball operations through the hiring of a general manager who will oversee the day-to-day operation of our basketball group.”
Greg Bibb, Dallas Wings President and CEO
A Season Marred by Injuries and Absences
The Wings’ 2024 campaign was derailed early on by the absence of star forward Satou Sabally, who missed 25 of the team’s 40 games due to a shoulder injury and commitments to the German national team for the Olympics. Without their primary scoring threat, the Wings struggled to find consistency on both ends of the court, ultimately finishing with the second-worst record in the league.
Despite the disappointing results, Trammell’s firing comes as a surprise to many in the WNBA community. In her debut season with the Wings in 2023, Trammell guided the team to a franchise-best 22-18 record and a trip to the WNBA semifinals, where they fell to the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces.
A Franchise in Flux
The Wings’ decision to part ways with Trammell is just the latest in a series of coaching changes across the WNBA this offseason. The Los Angeles Sparks, Atlanta Dream, and Chicago Sky have all dismissed their head coaches since the conclusion of the 2024 regular season, setting the stage for a potentially tumultuous free agency period.
For the Wings, the search for a new head coach will coincide with the hiring of a general manager to oversee basketball operations. The team also faces the uncertainty of the upcoming WNBA draft lottery and the Golden State Valkyries’ expansion draft, in which each existing team can protect only six players.
“The investment in human capital in our basketball group aligns with other long-term strategic investments we have been making in our organization, including our move to the city of Dallas, highlighted by a new practice facility and the renovated Dallas Memorial Coliseum.”
Greg Bibb, Dallas Wings President and CEO
As the Wings navigate this period of transition, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the team’s new leadership shapes the roster and sets the course for the franchise’s future. With a move to a new arena in downtown Dallas on the horizon and a talented young core still in place, the Wings have the potential to bounce back quickly from this year’s disappointment – but much will depend on the decisions made in the coming weeks and months.
For now, the Wings join a growing list of WNBA teams in search of a new direction, both on the court and in the front office. As the league continues to grow and evolve, the pressure to build a consistent winner has never been higher. The Dallas Wings’ next steps will be critical in determining whether they can rise to that challenge and establish themselves as a perennial contender in the years to come.
