The Dallas Wings are one win away from returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2023. Head coach Jose Fernandez has breathed new life into the franchise in his first season, but that momentum has taken a major hit with rookie star Azzi Fudd ruled out for the season. Now, with their hopes of making a deep playoff run hanging in the balance, the Wings have received some unexpected help from the WNBA.

On Tuesday, the team signed guard Kitija Laksa to fill the roster as the 12th player, under a standard contract. According to the Wings’ official X page, the league granted the Wings permission to sign Laksa after the WNBA granted them a “Season-Ending Injury Exception.”

Under the league’s rules, teams can apply for an exception when a player is ruled out for the season, allowing them to bring in a replacement. For the Wings, the provision has given them an opportunity to bring in a player who already shares plenty of history with the head coach.

Laksa spent four years at the University of South Florida from 2015 to 2019 under coach Fernandez, where she quickly established herself as one of the program’s best players. She finished sixth on the Bulls’ all-time scoring list with 1,764 points and third in scoring average at 17.8 points per game, as per Our Sports Central.

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Following her college career, Laksa was selected 11th overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2020 WNBA Draft. However, she did not make her WNBA debut until 2025, choosing to continue her career in Europe, where she played in Latvia and Italy.

In 2025, Laksa finally made her WNBA debut with the Phoenix Mercury, appearing in 33 games and averaging 5.9 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game.

Ahead of the 2026 season, however, the Mercury lost her in the WNBA Expansion Draft, with the Toronto Tempo selecting her 21st overall. But the cutthroat nature of the league meant Laksa never got the chance to suit up for Toronto, as she was waived shortly after.

What the Wings get from Laksa is an elite three-point shooter. She shot 39.1% from beyond the arc at South Florida, the second-best mark in program history, followed by 39.2% while playing in Europe in 2025 and 31.2% during her first WNBA season.

Her shooting could immediately address one of the gaps left by Fudd, but can Laksa really replace what Dallas has lost?

Dallas Wings Will Miss Azzi Fudd Sorely in the Playoffs

Azzi being ruled out for the season was something no one saw coming. It all began with right knee soreness during warmups before Dallas’ game against the Golden State Valkyries on August 7, when the Wings revealed that Fudd had been sidelined “out of an abundance of caution,” given her history of knee injuries.

She went on to miss the next five games despite regularly being pictured at Dallas training sessions and even completing a full shootaround without limitations ahead of the Indiana Fever game. But on August 19, the team announced that she would undergo arthroscopic surgery on her right knee, ruling her out for the remainder of the season.

The Wings didn’t just lose a player who was the team’s best volume three-point shooter, knocking down 39.7% of her 5.2 attempts from deep per game. Fudd’s ability to stretch the floor also created more room for Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale to operate.

What Fudd also brings is an underrated defensive game. She led the team with 2.5 stocks (steals plus blocks), establishing herself as a defensive playmaker who can end possessions and turn them into quick offense. Fudd’s 1.7 steals per game are the most among rookies and tied for the third-most in the WNBA, according to Sports Illustrated.

Fudd’s overall impact becomes even clearer when looking at how the Wings perform with her on the floor. According to PBP Stats, Dallas has been 7.6 points better per 100 possessions offensively with Fudd on the court. Defensively, the Wings have also allowed nearly three fewer points per 100 possessions when she plays.

Her absence has already been felt by the Wings, and it contributed to their post-All-Star break slump. Dallas entered the July break sitting No. 4 in the standings, ahead of the Indiana Fever. In fact, Azzi Fudd even won the 2026 State Farm WNBA Three-Point Contest on July 24, 2026, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

However, following the break, they lost momentum, and with Fudd on the sidelines, the Wings have amassed a 4-6 record in their last 10 games. With a 22-16 record, they are holding on to the eighth and final seed for the playoffs.

So, replacing Fudd’s contributions outright with one player was never going to be realistic for the Wings at this stage of the season. What Laksa does bring, however, is an abundance of experience and a proven winning pedigree.

She has played and won in both the EuroLeague and Italian League while also representing her country for the past 13 years. Her existing chemistry with head coach Jose Fernandez could also give the Wings an added advantage as they head into the playoffs.

The current playoff picture has the Wings matched up against league leaders Minnesota Lynx in the first round, which is exactly where Laksa’s experience could prove valuable.

Whether or not the Latvian can replace Fudd is something we’ll have to wait to find out, as the Wings are currently working through her immigration process. What we do know, however, is that Dallas could be staring at a first-round exit if they fail to find a way to collectively fill the void left by Fudd’s injury.