WNBA power rankings: Can the Dallas Wings figure out player roles?

Portland Fire

Another team that knows how it wants to play, even if the results haven’t been as positive as in Chicago. Like the expansion Valkyries a year ago, the Fire are getting up a high volume of 3-pointers. Nearly 45 percent of their shot attempts come from beyond the arc; unsurprisingly, their one win came when they converted on at least 10 of those. Portland isn’t getting to the rim often or generating many free throws, so the reliance on the 3-ball likely will continue.

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The Fire are full-court pressing on 16 percent of possessions, per Synergy, the highest rate in the WNBA. That doesn’t count the extended ball pressure that is their standard operating procedure, a level of freneticism that forced the New York Liberty into 30 turnovers over two games last week; Portland converted those giveaways into 38 points.

The defense behind the press still leaves something to be desired, as the Fire are worst in the league in opposing effective field-goal percentage (59.1 percent). Their lack of frontcourt size seems more problematic than it has been, though. Kamilla Cardoso had her way against the Portland frontline, but Jonquel Jones — who is only one inch shorter — wasn’t nearly as effective. If the pressure prevents the ball from getting inside, Portland can survive what appear to be big mismatches.

One team trending down

Dallas Wings

It’s never ideal when a coach calls out players’ selfishness three games into the season, or when a team repeatedly gets beaten on the pick-and-roll coverage to blow a fourth-quarter lead. But that’s where Dallas stands after two losses in the past week.

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The Wings were the darlings of opening weekend after stealing a road win in Indiana, but nothing has been as easy since. The schedule is partly to blame as they suffered two close losses to Atlanta and Minnesota; however, it doesn’t get much easier.

Beyond Paige Bueckers, Dallas is searching for consistent two-way production. Jessica Shepard provides a playmaking hub on offense but was lost as the last line of defense. Alanna Smith can be the defensive anchor but isn’t really being guarded on offense. Maddy Siegrist, who has been with the Wings longer than either of those players, said, “I don’t really know” when asked about her role following the loss to Minnesota. Dallas put the majority of its free agency resources into frontcourt players and hasn’t yet clarified what all of those players can do.

Yet, there might even be more questions in the backcourt. The Wings aren’t running Bueckers as a point guard, but they didn’t draft Olivia Miles to play next to her, either. Azzi Fudd is the better spacer next to Bueckers while Arike Ogunbowale soaks up more usage depending on which archetype Dallas prefers. Even when Fudd has played well, it’s unclear if Dallas is comfortable limiting Ogunbowale’s role too much given the length of her tenure with the franchise.

It’s early to have existential concerns about the Wings, but coach Jose Fernandez invited this criticism by calling out players. There will always be a spotlight on a team with Bueckers. Chris Koclanes couldn’t survive it as the Wings coach a year ago.