Wings encouraged to trade for former UConn star to help Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd

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Wings encouraged to trade for former UConn star to help Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Dallas Wings are starting to emerge as a WNBA title threat.

But there's one problem in Dallas: the Wings' frontcourt hasn't quite been up to par.

While Jessica Shepard was voted an All-Star starter, Alanna Smith has struggled to carve out her place after signing a three-year max contract with Dallas in free agency.

I asked Curt Miller about balancing chasing a title now and looking toward the future.

“You can’t be afraid to rip the bandaid off and make moves to try and go for it. You’re not always in a championship window.”#wingsup | @TheIXSportspic.twitter.com/waxkQodQ1V

— Melissa Triebwasser (@TheCoachMelissa) July 27, 2026

Smith herself could be on the trade block in the days before the Aug. 2 trade deadline as the Wings seek an upgrade before a possible postseason run.

MORE: Wings' Alanna Smith update is a trade plan no one saw coming

USA Today's Mitchell Northam has proposed that the Wings trade for Olivia Nelson-Ododa, a former UConn forward, to reunite her with Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd.

" The Wings could use assistance in areas (Smith) was expected shore up — rebounding and rim-protecting," Northam writes. "Nelson-Ododa could be a fix that provides both. She’s averaging a career-best 5.7 rebounds per game this season and last year ranked ninth in the league in blocked shots. She also ranks ninth in the WNBA this season in shooting percentage with a 57.7% clip."

Nelson-Ododa is enjoying a productive season with the Connecticut Sun, who are in position to dictate the trade market seeing as they have positional overlap, ample draft capital and loads of cap space.

Nelson-Ododa has a career-best 24.9 percent defensive rebounding rate in 2026 -- nearly a quarter of all defensive rebounds collected when she is on the floor belong to her.

The fifth-year forward is averaging four stocks (combined steals and blocks) per 100 possessions and has taken a step forward as a passer too, with a career-best 16.3 percent assist rate.

Nelson-Ododa is probably the Sun's top trade asset going into the deadline, and the asking price will be steep for the Wings or any other suitor.

Dallas general manager Curt Miller will have to weigh whether a pursuit is worth it as the Wings aim to bolster their frontcourt in advance of the playoffs.

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