By Dorothy J. Gentry
Sports Editor
Photo: WNBA
The Dallas Wings are hoping the fifth time is the charm.
The WNBA team on Monday announced the hiring of Latricia Trammell to serve as the organization’s next head coach. It will be the Wings’ fifth head coach in five seasons.
She will be formally introduced at a press conference on Friday, Nov. 11 at 12 p.m. CST at Troy’s at Texas Live! in Irving. The press conference will also be available for fans via live stream on the Wings’ Facebook Page
Trammell joins the Wings after spending the previous four seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks. She was part of a staff that led a top-three defensive net rating for three consecutive years from 2019 to 2021. Over the past four seasons, Los Angeles also saw four players named to the WNBA All-Defensive teams, including the 2020 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year in Candace Parker. Prior to her time in LA, Trammell spent one season as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Stars in 2017.
She replaces Vickie Johnson who was fired in September after two seasons despite the team finishing this past season with their best record since the Wings moved to Dallas in 2016 from Tulsa.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Dallas Wings and I am honored and excited to lead this talented roster,” Trammell said. “I’d like to thank Greg Bibb and Bill Cameron for their belief in me. The investment by this ownership group in the success of the Wings, both on and off the court, is incredibly impressive. I believe my coaching experiences at every level have prepared me for this opportunity and I can’t wait to get to work on behalf of this team, these loyal fans and the entire North Texas community.”
Trammell has almost 30 years of coaching experience. She spent three seasons at the helm of Oklahoma City University where the team won back-to-back NAIA National Championships in 2014 and 2015. Trammell was named NAIA Coach of the Year both seasons. Trammell recorded a record of 85-10 over the course of her time at OKCU.
Prior to her time at Oklahoma City, she spent five seasons at Western State (Colo.) University and ranks third all-time in wins in the history of the program. Overall, she totaled a 150-86 (.664) collegiate coaching record. Prior to joining the collegiate ranks, Trammel spent six years coaching high school girls’ basketball in Texas and Oklahoma, tallying a 105-45 (.700) record.
“We are pleased to welcome Latricia Trammell as the head coach of the Dallas Wings,” President & CEO Greg Bibb stated. “Coach Trammell has proven to be a winner at every level of basketball she has coached, including the WNBA. I have long admired the approach Latricia takes with coaching, which includes exhaustive preparation, an emphasis on communication and relationships, and a continual desire to learn and grow her craft. I’m excited to watch Latricia lead our talented roster as we continue our on-court growth in pursuit of a WNBA Championship.”
