Paige Bueckers' Dallas Wings will play their entire 2027 schedule inside the downtown home of the Mavs.
DALLAS - Downtown Dallas' American Airlines Center, which just celebrated its 25th birthday, is on the verge of no permanent professional sports tenants, with the NBA's Mavericks and NHL's Stars both planning on independent stadium constructions in Plano and North Dallas, respectively.
But the fan-favorite AAC isn't going anywhere anytime soon. That's because the WNBA's Dallas Wings have announced that they will play their entire schedule in the arena in the 2027 season.
"Today's announcement marks a pivotal step in the team's relocation to Dallas as well as our continued growth as a professional sports enterprise," Dallas Wings CEO & Managing Partner Greg Bibb said in a news release. "American Airlines Center is a world-class venue in the heart of Dallas, providing the spaces and amenities our athletes deserve while delivering an incredible environment for our growing and passionate fan base."
The Wings have long been in the process of constructing a state-of-the-art practice facility in South Dallas, which is set to open in April. This arena change is now a complete move into the city, fitting with the team's advertising campaign: "Big stars. Bigger stage. The next era."
The Mavericks' lease on the arena expires in 2031, which has prompted the organization to announce its plans of a new entertainment district and arena in the North Dallas site of the former Valley View Mall.
Up in Plano, the Stars are hoping to build a similar headquarters at the site of the nearly-vacant Stonebriar Centre.
The news of the Wings' arrival is great news for the American Airlines Center and downtown Dallas as a whole. The Wings, who are led by one of the league's brightest stars in Paige Bueckers, will also benefit from the opportunity to grow their gameday attendance and marketing capabilities.
In 2025, Dallas played two regular-season games in the AAC, including a June 27 matchup with Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, which held 20,409 fans for the largest WNBA crowd ever in the state of Texas and just the eighth regular-season game in league history to draw more than 20,000 fans.
With a 19-11 record, the Wings have the 5th-best mark in the WNBA, and fourth in the Western Conference. Next to the 2025 No. 1 overall pick Bueckers, the Wings also feature the top pick from 2026, Azzi Fudd. Dallas is 9-5 in home contests this season, normally played at College Park Center in Arlington.
The venue, nestled on the University of Texas at Arlington campus, has a capacity of 6,251.
Later this season, the Wings will be back in American Airlines Center - their new permanent home for at least the 2027 season - when they play the Golden State Valkyries on Aug. 7.
