Awak Kuier’s strong showing against the New York Liberty has made Dallas Wings coach Jose Fernandez face a lineup question he may not be able to avoid for long. The second-half move that put Kuier in the starting group helped fuel a 91-76 win, while veteran Alanna Smith saw her minutes reduced in a decision Fernandez framed as a matchup choice rather than a demotion.
Fernandez was careful with his language after the game. “I don’t look at it as anyone getting benched,” he said, adding that the staff simply believed the adjusted rotation gave the Wings “the best opportunity for success” on both ends of the floor.
Kuier’s impact showed up quickly
Kuier delivered one of her most complete performances of the season in a game Dallas controlled against a Liberty team that was missing Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Leonie Fiebich. Even with New York’s core of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu, and Satou Sabally available, Kuier stayed effective and did not look overwhelmed by the matchup.
She finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks in a season-high 24 minutes. Her plus-minus also stood out, as she posted a team-best +17 during the win.
That kind of line matters because Kuier is offering more than just energy and length. At 6-foot-6, her athleticism already gives Dallas a defensive option, and her improved shooting gives the Wings a different kind of spacing when she shares the floor with the team’s scorers.
A growing perimeter threat changes her value
One of the clearest signs of Kuier’s development is her work from 3-point range. She made only nine triples across her first three seasons with the Wings, but she has already hit 5 of 10 attempts this season.
That improvement changes how opponents have to guard Dallas. A big who can run the floor, protect the rim, and stretch the defense is a valuable piece, especially for a roster built around perimeter scoring and lineups that need more balance in the frontcourt.
The early lineup numbers support that idea. Dallas’ most-used five-man group so far has been Odyssey Sims, Arike Ogunbowale, Paige Bueckers, Jessica Shepard, and Alanna Smith, and that unit has been outscored by 31 points in 56 minutes.
The numbers raise a fit issue for Smith
Smith entered the season as one of Dallas’ notable free-agent additions and is on a max contract, so a long-term move out of the starting five would be a major development. Still, her early production has been uneven, and the raw numbers point to a difficult start.
She is averaging 3.7 points on 33.3% shooting, along with 3.4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. Those are not the numbers expected from a player signed to be a key frontcourt anchor, especially on a team trying to establish a stable identity early in the schedule.
That does not mean Smith’s role is settled or that her track record has vanished. She was a major part of Minnesota’s success in 2024 and 2025, when she was viewed as a crucial piece for a championship-level team, and the Wings still have time to see her return to that level.
Lineup combinations suggest Fernandez has options
The strongest case for Kuier is not only individual production but also how the group functions around her. Dallas’ starting lineup with Kuier in Smith’s place has played only seven minutes, but it is already +2 in that stretch.
The bigger surge came when Fernandez also swapped Sims for Azzi Fudd, the move he used to open the second half against the Liberty. That version of the lineup, with Ogunbowale, Fudd, Bueckers, Shepard, and Kuier, has been +18 in 27 minutes so far.
Those early samples are small, but they give the coaching staff something concrete to consider. They also show that Kuier’s presence can alter the way Dallas spaces the floor and how much pressure the offense puts on opposing defenses.
Fernandez may not want the word “benched,” but the Wings’ early lineup data is building a real case for more minutes for Kuier if her play continues at this level. If Smith does not find her rhythm soon, the rotation discussion around Dallas’ frontcourt could become one of the team’s most important decisions.
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