Maddy Siegrist and her development so far with the Dallas Wings

“I’m confident in my ability. I think I’ve taken the strides I need to and, you know, I think you’re gonna get an opportunity eventually, so you have to be ready,” Siegrist said.

Immediately after the Dallas Wings won their second home game against Minnesota, 94-89 on May 30, Siegrist was in the practice gym working on her 3-point shot. She said her teammates have emphasized to her not to overdo it, but that’s not Siegrist’s style.

Wings head coach Latricia Trammell said Siegrist’s will to win, her desire not to take a back seat as well as her work ethic are some things that have exemplified Siegrist’s development so far.

“She actually is trying to do what is asked of her, and she’s growing into her game at this level,” Trammell said. “I don’t want to say that it’s her confidence because it’s mine, to be honest, of knowing that she can do some of those little things that we’re asking on the defensive end, and then she’s proving that. I love her work ethic and she’s gonna be a great player. She is a great player, but a great player in this league.”

The Wings have been playing without the fifth overall pick in 2023, Lou Lopez-Sénéchal, as she recovers from an injury. WNBA champion Diamond DeShields will miss a significant part of the season. Crystal Dangerfield injured her knee during the game against the Connecticut Sun. Her return is unknown. Dallas also has lost center Teaira McCowan to overseas commitments.

With all of the players missing, the bench has become more important. It’s been a seamless transition, according to second-year guard Veronica Burton, noting their buy-in from the bench itself already.

“They have helped in so many ways and I think that can often get overlooked, but just the communication and the leadership on the sidelines has been huge as well,” Burton said.

For Siegrist, scoring was not a question — not after she led the nation in scoring in her senior season with Villanova. The Maddy Siegrist Show may not be running as frequently during Wings games so far as it did in college, but the fans are turning out anyway — Siegrist’s mom purchased 300 tickets to the Wings game on June 11 against the New York Liberty for friends and family, meeting outsized demand, and Villanova alumni groups are flocking to Dallas games all over the league.

Meanwhile, Siegrist knows the ticket to more playing time, especially for Trammell, comes from being more active on defense.

“You know, I think that showed a little bit in the last game, just get being able to get my hands on a lot of balls and just knowing like what spot to be in defensively,” Siegrist said.

Burton described the 6’2 forward as a great player and person. She said can obviously score at a high level and that is what she came in as, but it can be tough at times.

“Just being that great teammate right now and I think that’s the role that she’s in and understanding that whenever her name is called, she executes,” Burton said of Siegrist. “She’s kind of one of those like quiet leaders and so just the way that she carries herself when she contributes is big to this team.”

Siegrist has a diary with The IX giving an inside look on her journey throughout her rookie season with the Wings.