Wings Fans Aghast at Player Ditching Team Huddle After Loss to Lynx

Dallas Wings player Teaira McCowan left her team early after their loss to the Minnesota Lynx, and fans are not happy about it.

Dallas Wings center Teaira McCowan (15) reaches for the ball Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Dallas Wings, 110-109. | Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Dallas Wings struggled out of the gates to the 2025 WNBA regular season, as they were defeated by the Minnesota Lynx by a score of 99-84.

Realistically speaking, Wings fans can expect some tough sledding this season. Even after adding star Paige Bueckers through the 2025 WNBA Draft, Dallas still doesn't have a roster that matches up with the league's top teams in terms of talent. And with many new pieces to the squad, it will surely take some time to build chemistry and camaraderie.

But while growing pains on the court are expected, potential culture issues this early in the season are concerning. And the Wings may have such an issue on their hands after Friday's loss, as Wings reporter Landon Thomas posted a video of center Teaira McCowan (who struggled in the game, scoring 0 points and accruing 4 fouls in 5 minutes played) leaving the court and heading into the locker room before the rest of her team, and therefore missing a team huddle.

Teaira McCowan walks to the locker room right after the Dallas Wings season opener ended while the team is still in a huddle on the court.

McCowan played under five minutes tonight.#WNBA | @WingsBulletin pic.twitter.com/xi6EYiuf5B

— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) May 17, 2025

Wings fans are not happy about this display from McCowan.

"It’s the first game of the season and she’s already leaving the huddle and going to the locker room? That’s not a good sign at all. 😩," one fan wrote.

It’s the first game of the season and she’s already leaving the huddle and going to the locker room? That’s not a good sign at all. 🫩😩

— Brianna Quintoria (@BQuintoria) May 17, 2025

Another fan wrote, "this is awful behavior …. all the boohooing she did on the floor too instead of staying active….".

this is awful behavior …. all the boohooing she did on the floor too instead of staying active…. https://t.co/zukzZiulQd

— 🌐｡ ₊°⊹ ࣪ ˖💿๋࣭ ⭑ (@maybecomputer) May 17, 2025

"This is inexcusable. Horrible showing of a teammate right here," a third added.

This is inexcusable. Horrible showing of a teammate right here. https://t.co/QS3ZUDIrwg

— Take Flight (@takeflightwnba) May 17, 2025

It will be interesting to see whether this gets addressed by someone on the Wings' coaching staff in the coming days.