What happened: The Dallas Wings have opened the 2026 season as one of the WNBA's early surprises, fueled by a blend of young talent and flashes of high-level play. At 12-6, Dallas is averaging 89.1 points per game and is being floated in way-too-early awards conversations as a dark-horse contender.

Why it matters: A 12-6 start has lifted the surging Dallas Wings into the league's upper tier, a notable leap built on emerging contributors rather than established stars. If the young core keeps producing, it could reshape preseason expectations and inject the franchise into the season's awards picture.

What to watch: Dallas next visits the Seattle Storm, a chance to extend its run and strengthen the dark-horse case. Whether the young roster can sustain this pace through the summer will determine if the early surprise holds.