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WNBA fans and players might be concerned about the lack of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the WNBPA and the league, but Paige Bueckers doesn’t seem all that worried. Bueckers spoke about the 2026 WNBA season in an interview with Elle published Wednesday, and expressed a lot of confidence in the idea that a deal will be struck.
“Yes, there’ll be a season. We’re going to figure it out,” Bueckers said. “I think everybody wants to capitalize on the momentum right now, so I think we’re going to figure it out. We’ll have a season.”
Bueckers also offered thoughts on the Wings’ upcoming season. The team has a brand new coach, and, from the sound of it, a lot to look forward to. “And I’m just looking forward to continuing to build. We have a foundation, and we have a core, and we have new coaching staff, so it’s going to be really exciting just to see what it’ll be like under their wings and how we can continue to grow and get better as a team,” she added.
Paige Bueckers is already building new relationships
Bueckers also spoke about the dynamic she’s already built with the team’s new coach, Jose Fernandez. “We’ve met a couple of times, just sat and got dinner and chopped it up, and I think he has a good plan for the team. So, I’m excited about that and we’ll see how this free agency stuff goes,” she explained.
Bueckers also pointed out that this year’s WNBA Draft is likely to benefit the Wings, too. The Wings were awarded the No. 1 pick for a second year in a row, and many predict the team will draft Olivia Miles, Awa Fam, or her former UConn teammate, Azzi Fudd.
Jose Fernandez has a big vision for the Wings
Bueckers isn’t the only person who is excited about the Wings’ upcoming season. Fernandez recently admitted that he’s after a championship with the team, something that would be a major feat. Dallas finished the 2025 WNBA season last in the league’s rankings.
Fernandez came to Dallas by way of the University of South Florida, where he spent 25 years coaching the women’s basketball team. He’s also good friends with Bueckers’ former college coach, Geno Auriemma. In the same interview, he said that he spent several days talking to Auriemma before accepting the job with the Wings.
The Wings fired coach Chris Koklanes at the end of the 2025 season.
