David Adkins, who served as an assistant under Tina Langley, was hired by the Dallas Wings on Friday
The Washington Huskies women's basketball team is coming off its most successful season since 2017. The Huskies finished out the year 22-11 and lost 62-59 to the TCU Horned Frogs in the Round of 32 of the NCAA tournament on March 22.
Washington should enter the 2026-27 season with big, but reasonable, expectations. Barring unexpected transfers or a departure from head coach Tina Langley, the Huskies will return most of their best players from this past season.
Those players are included, but not limited to, first-team All-Big Ten guard Sayvia Sellers, All-Big Ten honorable mention guard Avery Howell and Big Ten All-Freshman forward Brynn McGaughy.
However, a key assistant and recruiter for Washington will not be back in Montlake for next season.
Assistant coach David Adkins was hired as an assistant coach by the WNBA team the Dallas Wings, it was announced Friday.
Adkins was an assistant coach for the Huskies for the last two seasons.
Adkins' main background is in scouting and player development, which has benefited Washington and multiple other universities and professional organizations in his career.
With the Huskies, Adkins helped scout and recruit McGaughy, who entered the program as a five-star prospect and a McDonald's All-American. The scouting department was also able to identify Howell, who transferred last offseason from Southern California (USC) and center Yulia Grabovskaia, who joined the program from Michigan via the transfer portal.
UW has a another four-star recruit, guard Amayah Garcia, who will join the next season as a true freshman.
Adkins was also with Langley on the Maryland Terrapins coaching staff from 2009-14. While both were together on the staff, the Terrapins made five NCAA tournament appearances, advanced to the Elite Eight twice and the Final Four once.
Adkins' experience also extends to the NBA ranks. In between his stints at Maryland and Washington, he was with the Washington Wizards from 2014-21 and the Portland Trail Blazers (2022-23). He was an assistant player development coach with the Los Angeles Clippers and an assistant coach for their G-League affiliate, the Orlando Clippers, in the 2021-22.
Before he reunited with Langley in Seattle, Adkins served as the director of player development for the Denver Nuggets and their G-League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold, in the 2023-24 season.
Across his decade in the NBA, Adkins has worked with former All-Stars and MVPs such as Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, John Wall and others.
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