A disrupted WNBA leadership landscape continued to reconfigure last week, with both the Dallas Wings and Las Vegas Aces making moves. That and more news from around the sport:
Curt Miller named GM of Wings
Curt Miller is the new general manager of the Dallas Wings. Head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks for the past two seasons, Miller previously was head coach of the Connecticut Sun for seven seasons (2016-22), while serving as general manager of the franchise for six of those seasons.
Miller only will occupy an executive role in Dallas, where the first order of business will be hiring the team’s new head coach. On Nov. 17, the Wings will participate in the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery, hoping to secure the No. 1 pick with their 45.4 chance. Miller also will be responsible for preparing the organization for the Golden State Expansion Draft on Dec. 6. Following that will be a busy free agency period, when Miller will be expected to navigate the unrestricted free agencies of Satou Sabally and Natasha Howard, among other team-building imperatives.
On hiring Miller, Wings president and CEO Greg Bibb said:
Curt Miller is a proven winner with deep experience building and leading WNBA rosters and staffs. I believe Curt’s ability to construct winning teams as well as his success in coaching in the WNBA and beyond will prove invaluable for our organization as we continue our pursuit of a WNBA Championship.
Miller expressed his appreciation for the opportunity, saying:
The potential of the Dallas Wings is immeasurable. With a new arena and practice facility on the horizon, a talented roster which is impactful both on the court and in the community, exciting positioning in the upcoming draft, a passionate and loyal fanbase, a fully invested ownership group, and a dedicated front office staff, now is the time for the Wings. As a veteran head coach and GM in the WNBA, I’m looking forward to bringing my experience, passion, and leadership to Texas while we strive to hang a WNBA Championship Banner in Dallas.
The organization also made additional moves within its leadership team. First, Travis Charles was promoted to senior vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager. Charles, who has been with the organization for 11 seasons, previously served as vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager. Jasmine Thomas, who just completed her first season as Dallas’ director of player programs and development coach, has been promoted to vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager. Thomas has plenty of familiarity with Miller, playing eight of her 13 WNBA seasons under his coaching.
Aces add Ellis as assistant coach
After losing assistant coaches Natalie Nakase and Tyler Marsh to head coaching jobs this offseason, the Las Vegas Aces are beginning to replenish their staff, hiring Ty Ellis. The founder of The Ellis Performance Group, a growth mindset consulting firm, Ellis has extensive coaching experience, serving as an assistant coach in the NBA and holding head and assistant coaching positions in the NBA G League, in addition to working with USA Basketball’s men’s teams.
On the opportunity to join the Aces, Ellis said:
The organization’s success is a testament to the culture that Nikki, Becky, the entire staff, and players have built. Their commitment to excellence and championship-level standards in everything they do is truly inspiring. I’m grateful for the opportunity and I can’t wait to serve and add value to the entire organization.
Vegas head coach Becky Hammon said of Ellis:
I’m super excited to add Ty Ellis to our coaching staff. He brings a wealth of experience both as a head coach and as an assistant from the NBA, G League and international play. Not only is his energy palpable, but his character and work ethic are things I highly value.
USA Basketball announces 3×3 camp
After winning the inaugural 3×3 women’s basketball gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, USA Basketball appeared to take for granted that the American women would dominate the 3×3 court, just as they have done in 5×5 for almost three decades.
In Paris, the Americans discovered otherwise when they suited up a 3×3 foursome that had never played together prior to the Olympics. Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, Hailey Van Lith and Cierra Burdick experienced several rough outings before establishing enough cohesion to earn the bronze medal. However, the program’s apparent lack of serious preparation might have cost the United States a brighter medal.
USA Basketball should have know better, as the dominance of the women’s 5×5 team has been the product of intentional cultivation, beginning with USA Basketball’s significant investment ahead of the 1996 Atlanta Games. Now, it seems that USA Basketball will begin to adopt that approach for 3×3, ensuring that the American side is in better position to grab another gold at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
A first step is a 13-athlete developmental camp that will be held in Phoenix from Nov. 8-10. The list of participants features players with a wide range of experience, from WNBA veterans with All-Star honors to their names to younger, WNBA hopefuls who have yet to establish themselves in the league. Most all of them have prior experience with USA Basketball. The 13 participants, listed with the WNBA team that currently holds their rights in parentheses, are:
Sydney Johnson, who has been with USA Basketball since 2020 and led the 2023 3×3 Men’s U23 World Cup team to gold, will lead the camp.
2025 recruiting class check in
The early signing period for the class of 2025 begins this coming Thursday. Of ESPN’s top 100 prospects, 89 have announced their college destinations.
Most recently, forward Grace Knox, the No. 6-ranked prospect in the class of 2025, and guard ZaKyiah Johnson, the No. 13-ranked prospect, committed to LSU. The duo gives LSU four top-30 commitments, and the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class, according to ESPN’s Shane Laflin. Divine Bourrage (No. 12) and Isabella Hines (No. 3) already had committed to head coach Kim Mulkey’s program.
North Carolina and head coach Courtney Banghart currently claim the nation’s second-best class, with wing Nyla Brooks (No. 20), wing Taliyah Henderson (No. 23) and guard Taissa Queiroz (No. 76). New Stanford head coach Kate Paye has three top-100 prospects headed to Palo Alto, giving her the third-best class. The group is headlined by guard Hailee Swain (No. 9). Forward Alex Eschmeyer (No. 31), who our Stephanie Kaloi recently highlighted as a high school star to watch, and forward Nora Ezike (No. 84) also have committed to the Cardinal.
UConn currently has the fourth-best class with two top-100 recruits in guard Kelis Fisher (No. 27) and post player Gandy Malou-Mamel (No. 73). New head coach Tricia Cullop has Miami positioned for the nation’s fifth-best class, with four top-100 players set to come to Coral Gables in guard Camille Williams (No. 36), guard Danielle Osho (No. 54), forward Natalie Wetzel (No. 79) and guard Meredith Tippner (No. 93).
Among the top-100 prospects who have yet to make their college choice, two are ranked in the top five, including No. 1-ranked prospect Aaliyah Chavez. The 5-foot-11 guard from Lubbock, TX has narrowed her destinations to Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, UCLA and South Carolina. No. 4-ranked prospect Agot Makeer, a 6-foot-1 wing from Canada, continues to consider UConn, South Carolina, Michigan State and Kentucky.
Agot Makeer from Crestwood Prep highlights & my interview following her 29 point performance (with seven 3’s) to earn MVP. @makeer_agot is an ESPN 5-star recruit ranked No.10 in the Super 60 Class of 2025. pic.twitter.com/a59Pw7OUCW
— Chris McKee (@mrmckee) April 18, 2024
More AU additions
Athletes Unlimited has announced three more new participants for the forthcoming 2025 season in Nashville: a two-time national champion at UConn and eight-year WNBA vet in Bria Hartley, another national champ in South Carolina’s and the Indiana Fever’s Victaria Saxton and the Harvard-to-USC standout McKenzie Forbes.
