The Dallas Wings are getting a new home.
An announcement was made on Monday that the Wings will moving to the American Airlines Center (AAC) in Dallas for the 2027 WNBA season.
The team opted to formally announce their big move via a news report-style segment featuring their superstar, and one of the top 10 players in the WNBA in Paige Bueckers, Wings head coach Jose Fernandez, and special guest, Dallas rapper BigXThaPlug.
“In today’s news, something very highly anticipated is coming to Dallas,” Bueckers introduced.
“Let’s get right to it and the big news is…,” Fernandez added before being cut off by Bueckers who said, “Actually, I have a surprise coming for you from Studio A.”
“Hey! Of course I had to welcome you to my city Paige. Let’s do it,” BigXThaPlug said. “Big stars. Bigger stage. Dallas is our house. The Dallas Wings are officially moving to the American Airlines Center for the 2027 WNBA season. I can’t wait to see you there.”
Since their inception in 2016, having previously been known as the Detroit Shock (1998-2009) and Tulsa Shock (2010-2015), the Wings have played their basketball at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.
The multi-purpose arena sits on the University of Texas at Arlington campus and seats just 6,251 spectators.
In comparison, the AAC hosts a capacity of 20,000 for NBA games, with it also being the home of the Dallas Mavericks organization, as well as the NHL’s Dallas Stars, both of whom are looking to vacate the premises in the near-future.
The Wings have played in that arena before, back in the 2025 season when they hosted Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. On that occasion, they drew in an attendance of 20,409.
But with the rise in popularity of the WNBA over the past few years, with the emergence of star talent that has aligned with the timeline of when players such as Clark and Angel Reese entered the league, the Wings are capitalizing on the opportunity to cater to more fans.
“Today’s announcement marks a pivotal step in the team’s relocation to Dallas as well as our continued growth as a professional sports enterprise,” Wings CEO and managing partner Greg Bibb said in the team’s announcement.
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“American Airlines Center is a world-class venue in the heart of Dallas providing the spaces and amenities our athletes deserve while delivering an incredible environment for our growing and passionate fan base.”
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With back-to-back No. 1 overall picks of their own in two-time All-Star Bueckers and Azzi Fudd – the highest-paid rookie in WNBA history – the team has climbed up the league standings, and are currently in a position in which they can legitimately jostle for a playoff spot.
“American Airlines Center is proud to serve as the home of the Dallas Wings, and we look forward to being part of the continued growth and excitement surrounding women’s sports,” Dave Brown, general manager of American Airlines Center, said in a statement.
“We have tremendous respect for the organization’s leadership, the talent and dedication of its players, and the bright future of the franchise in Dallas.”
It seems that the players are excited about the move too, with Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale telling Myah Taylor of Dallas News, “We’re the Dallas Wings, at the end of the day. We’re not the Arlington Wings.
“Being actually in the city, in the culture, that’s going to be really good.”
The move to AAC came about after plans to move downtown to the Dallas Memorial Auditorium, where they signed a 15-year use agreement worth $19 million with the City of Dallas in 2024, suffered delays to its construction.
The renovations, however, are expected to be completed in time for the 2028 season, though it will only stand to serve an estimated 9,000 fans.
As it stands, the Wings are also in the midst of constructing a brand new state-of-the-art practice facility in west Dallas, which is projected to be ready for business in time for the start of the 2027 campaign.
