The Dallas Wings re-signed Arike Ogunbowale and added Co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith and forward Jessica Shepard in a busy free agency period.
The Dallas Wings retooled their roster aggressively this offseason, re-signing franchise cornerstone Arike Ogunbowale and adding reigning WNBA Co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith and forward Jessica Shepard in free agency.
Ogunbowale, the Wings' all-time leading scorer, is back in Dallas after the team re-signed the guard to a new deal. The fifth overall pick in the 2019 draft, Ogunbowale has spent her entire WNBA career with the Wings and enters 2026 as the franchise's all-time leader in points, field goals made, three-pointers made, and free throws made. She averaged 15.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.3 steals across 29 games in 2025 despite missing 15 games due to injury.
Her 2025 season included several historic moments. On July 28 against New York, Ogunbowale dished out 14 assists — tying the franchise single-game record — and became just the third player in WNBA history to record a points-assists double-double in a single half. She also tied Diana Taurasi as the fastest player in league history to reach 500 career three-pointers, doing so in 198 games. Through 219 career games, she is one of four active players with at least 4,400 points, 700 rebounds, 850 assists, 330 steals, and 500 three-point field goals.
"We are so excited that Arike has chosen to return to Dallas and build upon her great legacy here," Wings executive vice president and general manager Curt Miller said. "We understand the unique opportunity we have in being able to welcome back our franchise's all-time leading scorer."
Smith arrives from the Minnesota Lynx on a multiyear deal after one of the most dominant defensive seasons the league has seen. The 6-foot-4 forward started all 42 games for Minnesota in 2025, averaging 9.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game. Her 80 blocks led to Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors and set a Lynx single-season franchise record, making her just the eighth player in league history to reach that mark. She finished third in the league in both blocks per game and total blocks and closed the regular season as the only player in the WNBA to record at least 400 points, 200 rebounds, 100 assists, 80 blocks, and 50 three-point field goals.
"Alanna Smith was our top target going into free agency after her outstanding 2025 season," Miller said. "As the reigning Co-Defensive Player of the Year, she is one of the top two-way players in the WNBA who consistently impacts both sides of the ball."
Originally drafted eighth overall by Phoenix in 2019, Smith has also played in Indiana and Chicago. The Hobart, Australia native was named to the All-Star Five at the 2024 Paris Olympics, helping the Opals win bronze, and most recently led Australia to a perfect 5-0 record at the 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
Shepard joins Dallas on a multiyear deal after five seasons with Minnesota, reuniting with Ogunbowale, her former Notre Dame teammate. The two won the 2018 NCAA championship together with the Fighting Irish. Shepard led the WNBA in field goal percentage in 2025, shooting 63.8 percent from the field across 40 games while averaging 8.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. Her offensive rebounding average of 2.3 per game ranked seventh in the league.
"She is a fantastic passer and facilitator, along with being an incredible scorer around the rim," Miller said.
The Wings also announced several additional moves. Center Awak Kuier, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft, is returning to Dallas after three seasons in Europe, where she led the Euroleague in blocks this past season with Galatasaray. Center Li Yueru and guard Grace Berger each accepted qualifying offers to remain with the team. Dallas also traded forward Diamond Miller to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for center Rayah Marshall, the 25th overall pick in the 2025 draft out of USC.