Former WNBA player and two-time All-Star Vickie Johnson is expected to be named the head coach of the Dallas Wings. If the Wings move forward with this hire, Johnson would become the only Black female head coach in the WNBA.
The Dallas Wings let go of former head coach Brian Agler in October after the team missed the playoffs. Team president Greg Bibb has said that he would like a relatable voice to come into coach the team.
"At the end of the day we'll hire the candidate that's best qualified to lead our team,'' he said.
"As far as relatability, the best way is to find a coach who has walked in the same shoes that the players have walked in.''
Johnson has previously had a head coaching stint. In 2017, she led the San Antonio Stars in their final season before the team moved to Las Vegas. She also has served as an Assistant Coach for nine years with the Aces.
Beyond her coaching days, she was a phenomenal basketball player. She played her college ball at powerhouse Louisiana Tech. While there, Johnson led the Lady Techsters to the 1994 National Championship Game where they lost by one point to the University of North Carolina. She finished with 1,891 career points, 831 rebounds and was inducted in to the school's athletic hall of fame. In 1997, she began her 13-year NBA career. Johnson played with both the New York Liberty and San Antonio Stars. She finished her career with two All-Star appearances.
The news comes as the Wings enter the WNBA Draft Lottery. Despite the team's poor 2020 regular season performance, the roster is filled with young stars like Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally. Johnson will have a chance to steer the talented group in a new direction as the league returns to play in the summer of 2021.
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