Dallas Wings Head Coach Jose Fernandez Has High Hopes For Team
New head coach Jose Fernandez has high hopes for the WNBA’s Dallas Wings, despite Dallas’ bottom-feeder status the past two seasons. Here’s why.
Jose Fernandez Has High Hopes For the Dallas Wings
Fernandez has high hopes for the team amid the team’s poor rankings in the WNBA over the past two seasons. Fernandez, 54, recently spoke about being able to turn things around very quickly.
Fernandez told WFAA’s Jonah Javad, “If we can put a really good roster together around the current players that we have, there should be no reason why we’re not a playoff contender. I wouldn’t have taken this job if I didn’t think I could be a great change to the organization. They’re going to play with great passion. There’s not going to ever be a reason for anyone to think they didn’t play hard. My expectation in taking this job is to win a championship.”
The Wings selected UConn star Paige Bueckers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Dallas’ chances of adding another top talent through the 2026 WNBA Draft are projected to be high.
Dallas Wings’ Outlook
The Dallas Wings’ outlook appears to be bright, primarily because of Bueckers at the helm. Bueckers, 24, just needs a strong supporting cast around her for further success. The 24-year-old has already impressed Fernandez in their limited interactions.
Fernandez told Javad, “Paige is a relentless worker. She wants to be the best. She’s got one of the best mid-range games in the entire world. A three-level scorer — getting to the rim, mid-range game, and also shooting the three.”
The former UConn Huskies guard averaged 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, along with 47.7% shooting from the field, 33.1% from three-point range, and 88.9% from the free throw line, in the 2024-25 WNBA season as a rookie.
Barring the WNBA’s potential lockout, Dallas will be on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick at the 2026 WNBA Draft in April.
Who is Jose Fernandez?
The Dallas Wings’ new headlines have been heavily focused on Bueckers, who will enter her sophomore season this season, but who is Fernandez?
Fernandez, who hails from Miami, Florida, served as South Florida coach from 2000 to 2025, before being hired as the Wings’ new head coach in October 2025. He’s the fifth head coach in seven years for the Wings, a struggling WNBA team looking to become a championship contender.
Fernandez’s other coaching gigs include Barry, Lourdes Academy, Miami Sunset High School, and Miami-Dade Community College. He attended Miami-Dade Community College, where he became a coach, while working on his associate degree in physical education.
Dallas reportedly looked for a candidate with significant head coaching experience, a proven track record for sustained success, and an individual with an international reach. He won two gold medals with USA Basketball’s U18 and U19 teams in 2024 and 2025, respectively, in the FIBA AmeriCup as an assistant coach.
