Maddy Siegrist isn’t just back with the Dallas Wings — she’s stepping forward. Now entering her third WNBA season, Siegrist finds herself in a new position. With Dallas undergoing a full roster transformation, she’s one of just a few returning players — and she’s using that continuity to take on a greater leadership role.
Once the wide-eyed rookie from Villanova, Siegrist is now a steady voice in huddles and a key piece of the Wings’ transformation under head coach Chris Koclanes. For a team that is motivated to improve significantly from a 9-31 record while returning three players, Siegrist is eager to serve as a leader.
“Last year I really took it upon myself to bring the team in for huddles, try to be a little bit more of a vocal leader,” she said. “Little things like that, I think, do make a difference — whether you’re winning, whether you’re losing, just continuing to stay together.”
It’s a continuation of the progress she made during a breakout sophomore campaign, where she averaged 9.4 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 50.5% from the field in 27 games. That season was interrupted by injury, but it solidified her status as a valuable piece of the Wings’ core. Dallas confirmed as much this offseason, picking up Siegrist’s fourth-year contract option and making her a foundational figure in the team’s rebuild.
Building Confidence Through Athletes Unlimited
Siegrist carried momentum into training camp thanks in part to a standout stint with Athletes Unlimited, where she took on new roles and thrived against elite competition.
“AU was great for me this year, just to be able to be in a lot of different positions,” she said. “Obviously to win it was a goal of mine, but it just makes me feel confident coming into a season and just trying to build off of that.”
The experience gave her a wider lens — and a deeper toolkit.
“In AU, I played one through five, so I got experience at everything,” she added. “It gave me a lot of different looks and experience. And it helped me understand where to be defensively too.”
Under Koclanes, Siegrist has been deployed at both forward spots, where her off-ball movement and shooting touch have become natural fits in the Wings’ new read-and-react system.
“I love the cuts, I love the read and react,” she said. “I’m just excited to be a part of it.”
Siegrist spent much of the offseason sharpening her three-point shot — a key area of growth for the Wings as they prioritize spacing around their young backcourt. She’s often emphasized a need to raise her percentage (27.0%) from deep, along with her attempts per game (1.4) from last season.
“Definitely focused a lot on three-point shooting and just being more consistent, confident, knocking that down,” she said. “That’ll be a key piece for us this year.”
Chemistry Forming with Paige Bueckers and Team Goals
One of the biggest storylines for Dallas entering 2025 is the addition of No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers — and Siegrist is already seeing the benefits of sharing the floor with the rookie guard.
“Just even based on today — I got a lot of open shots,” Siegrist said during training camp. “She found me on cuts, on open threes. It’s exciting to play with a point guard like that, and a player like that in general.”
Defense remains a key area of emphasis for the Wings, who ranked near the bottom of the league last season in several categories. For Siegrist, the presence of players like DiJonai Carrington has helped reinforce daily defensive habits.
“DiJonai is probably one of the best defenders in the league, and having someone like that in your ear—and in everyone’s ear—is huge,” she said. “That’ll be big for us all year.”
How Maddy Siegrist Sets the Tone for the Dallas Wings
Koclanes has singled out Siegrist’s impact as a tone-setter on and off the floor. Her effort on the offensive glass has stood out significantly, especially when stepping up in small ball lineups. Overall, she’s been an effective downhill attacker in training camp, displaying a complementary skill-set that can be enhanced playing next to a backcourt consisting of Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale.
“Maddy, in a lot of ways, embodies what we’re trying to cultivate here as an organization and as a new staff,” Koclanes said. “She competes like crazy. She doesn’t take plays off, does all the dirty work, and is willing to do whatever’s needed. Off the court, she’s the first to serve her community, and she’s the best teammate.”
With a more polished game, a secure contract, and a growing voice in the locker room, Siegrist isn’t just trying to build on last year — she’s aiming to lead Dallas somewhere new.
“Obviously, I want to win — go to the playoffs, win a series, win two series, and ultimately win the whole thing,” she said. “Just continuing to do whatever it takes and help the franchise any way I can.”
The Dallas Wings open the regular season on May 16 against the Minnesota Lynx, providing a strong immediate test for a new-look team seeking significant improvement. Siegrist is aiming to be a key factor in that effort.
