“They challenged us in a ton of different ways,” Chris Koclanes said. The international exposure that these pre-season fixtures have brought to the WNBA has been amazing. After a rather slow start to their 2025 preseason against the Las Vegas Aces, Koclanes’ team faced off against the Toyota Antelopes, and boy, was it a show to watch! Paige Bueckers’ first home game was a definite success with a 119-52 win, and fans loved it. Dallas, after a 34-point loss to the Aces, really needed this boost of confidence. But how exactly did they improve from their first outing?

Well, they stuck to the process. Even while squaring off against the Las Vegas Aces, the Dallas Wings played an unselfish brand of basketball. Their offense fell short, yes, but the intent was there. Against the Antelopes, Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale showed better flashes of their offensive potential by combining for 32 points. Bueckers was efficient and looked a lot better on both ends of the court, but Ogunbowale stole the spotlight with her clinic from beyond the arc.

All in all, it was a brilliant outing for the developing Wings in front of a sellout crowd of 6,251, and it was absolutely necessary before their first season fixture against the Lynx on May 16. And when a reporter asked about Bueckers and Ogunbowale’s backcourt combination and playmaking abilities leading the team forward, they both were extremely optimistic!

“I think it’s just more time together, we’re just going to become more lethal,” Ogunbowale responded in the postgame presser. The five-foot-eight guard led the team in scoring with 17 points and 6 assists, shooting over a whopping 57% from three. She talked about how the new system, coupled with a revamped team, would take some time to get used to. “And we’re still not there, which is exciting because we still look solid from how short of a time we’ve been together.”

There’s no doubt that the Dallas team is set up for success this season. And if their 80 points scored in the paint, 34 assists on 50 made field goals, and 24 turnovers in a wire-to-wire win are anything to go by, then they are solid. They were missing a solid facilitator alongside Arike’s explosive offense, and with Paige Bueckers on board? Everything seems to be going in the right direction for Koclanes’ team. However, the matchup against the Antelopes was quite memorable for both sides. The Japanese team earned a lot of praise from the Wings camp, but what exactly did they do right? Let’s find out!

Paige Bueckers’ new coach showers praise on Toyota Antelopes

The Wings and Antelopes, quite surprisingly, had a common link–Mai Yamamoto. Standing at 5’5, the Japanese guard has been a frequent part of the Antelopes’ side since 2017. However, in her journey to earn a spot in the WNBA, Yamamoto recently joined the Wings training camp and got an opportunity to face off against her home team!

Even though the game was lopsided, the Antelopes definitely made their mark. Their heart and enthusiasm caught the eyes of many, including the Dallas Wings head coach Chris Koclanes. He just couldn’t stop singing their praises!

According to head coach Chris Koclanes, the Antelopes provided a significant challenge to Dallas. “Their actions into actions and constant movement forced us to defend for 24 seconds,” he said, giving credit where credit is due. “We got a couple of shot clock violations, which is great. They’re really well-organized, and you could see their system on both sides of the ball.”

Defensively, Tanaka shone brightly from the visitors’ side. She ended up with three crucial steals and showcased her prowess on both ends of the court. The result didn’t go their way, but the exposure was definitely worth it for both teams!

As Koclanes continued. “It was great having them in our space—big insights into their culture. They’ve been so grateful, and we’re grateful in return. Just a cool collaboration.”

It will be interesting to see what kinds of doors this collaboration will open for both leagues. One thing is for certain: this game truly transcended national borders! We are so excited to see the Dallas Wings in action, and cannot wait to witness their first regular season game against the Lynx. Stay tuned for the action!