The Dallas Wings have signed Latvian guard Kitija Laksa to a rest-of-season contract, utilizing a Season-Ending Injury Exception granted by the Women’s National Basketball Association after rookie guard Azzi Fudd was sidelined for the remainder of the year, according to official team announcements released on August 25, 2026.
Roster Shuffling and the Injury Exception
Laksa joins the Wings following a circuitous route through the WNBA’s recent roster changes. During the 2025 WNBA season, the 6-foot-1 guard played for the Phoenix Mercury, where she averaged 5.9 points and 1.2 rebounds across 33 games, according to league records. She was subsequently selected by the Toronto Tempo in April’s expansion draft before being waived prior to the start of the regular season. Originally selected No. 11 overall in the 2020 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm, Laksa spent several seasons playing in Europe before making her WNBA debut in 2025.
However, team officials noted that Laksa’s immediate availability on the floor remains undetermined as the organization works through the necessary immigration paperwork. She is slated to wear jersey No. 33 once cleared.
Collegiate Roots and European Pedigree
For Dallas Wings Head Coach Jose Fernandez, the addition of Laksa brings a familiar face to the locker room. Laksa played her collegiate basketball at the University of South Florida from 2015 to 2019 under Fernandez, leaving a substantial mark in the program’s record books. During her time with the Bulls, she finished sixth on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,764 points, ranked third in career points per game at 17.8, set the program standard with an 89.6% free-throw percentage, and placed second with a 39.1% three-point percentage, according to university records.
Beyond her collegiate success, Laksa has established herself as a prominent fixture internationally. A member of the Latvian National Team since 2013, she won EuroLeague and Turkish Cup titles with Turkish club Fenerbahçe in 2024. Following that stint, she moved to Italy to play for Beretta Famila Schio, helping capture the Italian League Championship in 2025. Her performance in Italy earned her All-Europe First Team honors and the All-Europe Shooting Guard of the Year award for 2025, during which she averaged 11.9 points per game on .531 shooting from the field and .392 from beyond the arc over 22 contests.
Next Steps for the Wings
The Wings continue to monitor their roster depth as the season progresses. Club representatives indicated that further updates regarding Laksa’s playing status and debut will be provided once her immigration and visa processes reach completion.
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