The Dallas Wings named two-time WNBA Coach of the Year Curt Miller as their next general manager, the team announced Friday.
Miller, who coached the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks and the seven seasons before that with the Connecticut Sun, will fill a void in Dallas left as part of a broader organizational reshuffling. In mid-October, Dallas announced it was letting go of head coach Latricia Trammell and that president and CEO Greg Bibb would be hiring a general manager who will oversee the franchise’s day-to-day basketball operations.
Seven franchises, not including the incoming Golden State Valkyries, made head coach changes this offseason, including the Sparks following Miller’s departure. Dallas was also one of three franchises — the Washington Mystics and Las Vegas Aces being the others — to have a GM opening.
Miller has previous general manager experience, having worked dual coach/GM roles with the Sun beginning in September 2016. Under his tenure with the Sun, Connecticut made two WNBA Finals and four other semifinal appearances.
“With a new arena and practice facility on the horizon, a talented roster which is impactful both on the court and in the community, exciting positioning in the upcoming draft, a passionate and loyal fanbase, a fully invested ownership group and a dedicated front office staff, now is the time for the Wings,” Miller said in a statement. “As a veteran head coach and GM in the WNBA, I’m looking forward to bringing my experience, passion and leadership to Texas while we strive to hang a WNBA championship banner in Dallas.”
Miller nearly came to Dallas two offseasons ago, when he was a finalist for the Wings’ head-coaching opening in 2023 before eventually taking the Sparks job, league sources told The Athletic. He will also be Dallas’ executive vice president of basketball operations.
In Los Angeles, Miller was brought in to preside over a rebuild, but was nevertheless fired after two seasons in which he went 25-55.
Bibb said in a statement he believes “Curt’s ability to construct winning teams as well as his success in coaching in the WNBA and beyond will prove invaluable.”
One of Miller’s first priorities will be hiring a new head coach and preparing the franchise for the upcoming expansion draft, which is scheduled for Dec. 6.
On Nov. 17, the Wings will also learn their draft spot. Though they have the second-worst combined record over the last two seasons, they enter the lottery with the best odds of getting the No. 1 pick, because they have a 22.7 percent chance of earning the selection via their own pick, and another 22.7 percent chance of earning the selection via rights to a pick swap with the Chicago Sky. That gives them a combined 45.4 percent chance of getting the top pick, while the Sparks have a 44.2 percent chance of landing the pick.
Miller and the Wings will have a number of key decisions to make this offseason. Veteran forward Natasha Howard has already said she will test the free-agent market and is looking forward to a new team. Satou Sabally, a 2023 All-WNBA first-team forward, is also an unrestricted free agent and could sign elsewhere.
The Wings finished 9-31 last season, but are only a year removed from being the No. 4 seed in the playoffs.
As part of broader organizational changes, the franchise also announced promotions to longtime assistant general manager Travis Charles, who will now serve as their senior VP of basketball operations and assistant general manager, as well as former WNBA player turned Wings development coach Jasmine Thomas, who will now serve as the VP of basketball operations and assistant general manager.
Dallas is also targeting a move to a new practice facility by the start of the 2026 season, and a move from Arlington to a renovated arena in downtown Dallas for that season as well.
(Photo: Keith Birmingham / MediaNews Group / Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
