The Dallas Wings are set to hire veteran coach Jose Fernandez, and Paige Bueckers, the team’s rising star, is likely excited to work with one of women’s basketball’s most respected coaches.

Fernandez takes over from Chris Koclanes and becomes the Wings’ fifth head coach since 2019. He spent 25 years at South Florida, turning the USF Bulls into one of the most consistent mid-major programs in the country. Now he’ll lead a young Dallas roster that includes former first-round picks Aziaha James and Maddy Siegrist, as well as retaining rights to 2021 second overall pick Awak Kuier.

Paige Bueckers, the team’s centerpiece, had a stellar rookie season, earning nearly unanimous Rookie of the Year honors along with All-Star and All-WNBA recognition. Fernandez’s guidance could make her mid-range jump shot even deadlier.

Bueckers has long admired Kobe Bryant, and her game reflects his influence. Her mid-range jumper, reliable off the dribble and in tight spaces, has been a staple since her UConn days. She shot an impressive 52.6 percent from 10 to 16 feet in her rookie season, leading all first-year players with 19.2 points per game.

Fernandez has experience developing players like Courtney Williams, who worked under him at USF and later with the Connecticut Sun. Williams is known for one of the WNBA’s most lethal mid-range shots and could serve as a model for Bueckers.

If Paige Bueckers can increase both the efficiency and volume of her mid-range shooting, it could open up the Wings’ offense in 2026. With Fernandez’s track record as a program builder and another early pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft, Dallas has the potential for a breakout season next year.