'When My Number’s Called': JJ Quinerly Embraces Expanded Role as Dallas Wings Adjust Without Tyasha Harris

For Quinerly, the expanded responsibility means continuing a shift in mindset — moving from the scorer she was at West Virginia to a more balanced playmaker at the professional level.

“I would say I’ve been improving on just knowing the plays and knowing where everybody needs to be, and then figuring out how to get everybody involved,” Quinerly told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I came from college as a scorer, so just turning that mindset into that facilitating point guard again. So yeah, I’m definitely learning and getting better for sure.”

Making an Impact in Recent Games

That growth was on display in Dallas’ June 8 game against the Minnesota Lynx. Despite the team’s loss, Quinerly drew praise from both Koclanes and star Arike Ogunbowale for her composure and ability to organize the offense during stretches of the game.

“She had a great game,” Ogunbowale said postgame, “and she’s shown what she can do in consecutive outings.”

Quinerly told DallasHoopsJournal.com that she’s becoming more comfortable blending her natural scoring instincts with the responsibilities of a point guard.

“I’m getting more comfortable with just knowing that I can also go score and then trying to figure out how I can get everybody else the ball and which spots they like the ball at,” Quinerly told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “And using my defense to create offense, because that’s a big part of my game.”

That defensive focus has been a strength for Quinerly going back to her standout preseason debut on May 2, when she scored 16 points and collected two steals in just 13 minutes against the Las Vegas Aces. Her energy and two-way play helped earn her a roster spot and have continued to give the Wings a needed boost off the bench.

Learning From a Veteran Presence

While Harris may be sidelined, her influence on Quinerly’s development remains strong. The veteran guard has stayed actively involved in team preparation and continues to provide steady guidance for the Wings’ younger backcourt players. For a rookie adjusting to the WNBA’s pace and complexity, that consistent voice has been valuable — helping Quinerly grow more comfortable with the team’s offensive structure and build confidence in managing game situations.

“Ty always stays in my ear, just telling me certain plays that I can run with certain people on the court and just staying in my ear telling me to keep being aggressive—keep that scorer mentality, but also being able to facilitate and get everybody else involved,” Quinerly told DallasHoopsJournal.com.

Quinerly has also benefited from Harris’ approach — one that balances encouragement with clear, practical feedback. Whether suggesting plays, helping her understand how to get teammates involved, or preparing her to handle different defensive looks, Harris has helped ease the transition to the point guard role.

“It’s very good to have vets that are on you and just are able to teach you things,” Quinerly told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Of course, you don’t want no vet that’s gonna be so rah rah and not able to teach you nothing. So having that is great and it makes you feel super comfortable.”

Koclanes said Harris continues to be an important voice for the entire team, not just for the guards. Even while sidelined, she brings a veteran presence to the locker room and practice floor, offering guidance to younger players and helping reinforce the team’s principles on both ends of the court.

“Ty — just extremely high IQ and just a very good demeanor about her and way of communicating that people really listen to her and respect what she has to say,” Koclanes told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “She’ll continue to have her imprints on this team for sure.”

Embracing the Opportunity

As Dallas continues to battle through adversity early in the season, Quinerly’s role will be key — both in providing backup minutes behind Bueckers and in giving the Wings added flexibility with their guard rotations.

“I feel good about our point guard situation,” Koclanes told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “JJ’s been fantastic. We’re going to continue to lean on her.”

For her part, Quinerly is embracing the challenge and the opportunity to grow, understanding that her expanded role is both a learning experience and a chance to contribute in meaningful ways. She has approached the transition with a willingness to absorb feedback, stay prepared for any situation, and continue developing the skills needed to lead the offense and impact the game on both ends of the floor.

“They just stayed in my ear, made me come in — well, not made me, but came in, watched film, just learning, soaking everything up,” Quinerly told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Staying in my ear, telling me things that I may need to know on the court or whether it’s in practice or even off the court in the training room or anything like that. Like they just stay on you and they just teach you a lot of things.”

As the Wings look to get back on track, Quinerly’s continued growth will be one of the key storylines to watch.