Dallas Wings Signed Guard Deja Kelly

The team added the former Duncanville standout on a developmental contract ahead of their next game.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Basketball

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The Dallas Wings have signed guard Deja Kelly to a developmental player contract, allowing the team to evaluate the former standout ahead of upcoming regular-season games. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Dallas Wings have signed guard Deja Kelly to a developmental player contract. Under the agreement, Kelly will practice and travel with the team while remaining eligible for a limited number of regular-season appearances.

Why it matters

This move allows the Wings to bolster their roster depth while maintaining reserved rights for Kelly. Developmental contracts provide teams flexibility to evaluate talent for future roster consideration.

Kelly brings a collegiate resume averaging 14.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. She recently scored 29 points in the Upshot League championship to earn MVP honors after leading the Charlotte Crown to an 81-76 victory.

The players

Deja Kelly

She is a professional basketball guard who played college basketball at North Carolina and Oregon.

Dallas Wings

This is a professional basketball team based in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex that competes in the Western Conference of the WNBA.

The details

Kelly, a former standout at Duncanville High School where she helped lead the team to a 40-3 record and a state title, previously spent time with the Las Vegas Aces during training camp. She will join the Wings roster immediately as they prepare for their upcoming game against the Seattle Storm.

Timeline

  1. Kelly led Duncanville to a 40-3 record and title during the 2019-20 season.

  2. Kelly joined the Las Vegas Aces training camp in April 2025.

  3. The Charlotte Crown won the Upshot League championship in August 2026.

  4. The Dallas Wings signed Deja Kelly on September 22, 2026.

  5. The Wings play the Seattle Storm on September 23, 2026.

Season Trajectory

This signing positions the Wings to evaluate new talent as they head toward the postseason. Adding a developmental player at this stage of the schedule provides an immediate look at potential contributors for the team's future roster configuration.

Fans should monitor the active roster status for the September 23 game against the Seattle Storm to see if Kelly is dressed. Her signing signals a potential shift in the team's rotation strategy as they approach the end of the regular season.

The takeaway

The addition of Kelly gives the Wings a chance to integrate a proven local scorer into their practice environment. Such signings serve as a low-risk opportunity for teams to test prospects before the official offseason begins.

Further reading

For more information on the current state of the team roster, visit the Basketball section.

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Do you support the use of developmental player contracts for local professional sports teams?