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Paige Bueckers’ Coach Delivers Blunt Response on Disappointing Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Robert Marvi | Last updated Jun 6, 2025 2:05 AM ET

Prior to the start of this WNBA season, Chris Koclanes was hired to be the head coach of the Dallas Wings. He had been an assistant coach with the Connecitcut Sun and Los Angeles Sparks, but he had never been a head coach at either the pro or college levels.

The Wings went 9-31 last year and have struggled to be more than a middle-of-the-pack team for a long time. After losing 83-77 to the Seattle Storm on Tuesday, they fell to 1-7, which is the worst record in the league.

Koclanes was asked how he has been handling the adversity he has dealt with so far this season in his first head coaching gig.

"Just leaning on my support system," he said. "Leaning on that GM bucket, our coaching staff and my mentors to just trust and stay the course and continue to do the work. I need to show up consistent every single day regardless of outcome for our players and continue to exude belief and confidence in them, because that's the only way this thing is going to turn."

How has Wings head coach Chris Koclanes dealt with the adversity early in his WNBA career as a head coach?#WingsUp pic.twitter.com/WmeurlKjmb
— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) June 5, 2025

The Wings were given a big dose of hope when they won the draft lottery, which allowed them to take UConn star Paige Bueckers with the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft.

Bueckers has struggled offensively at times this season, and she has missed their last two games after being placed in concussion protocol. She had led UConn to the women's NCAA championship only about two months ago and won a slew of individual awards during her time there.

Clearly, becoming a very competitive team will be a long-term process for Dallas, and it sounds as if Koclanes has steeled himself to endure that process.

The franchise has won just one playoff series since 2009, the last season it was known as the Detroit Shock. While based in Detroit, it had won three WNBA championships in 2003, 2006 and 2008.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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