STWF Sports| ARLINGTON, Texas| September 23, 2026 — The Dallas Wings added another young guard to their roster Tuesday, signing Deja Kelly to a Developmental Player contract as the team closes out the 2026 regular season and continues building depth for the future.

Kelly, a 5-foot-8 guard from Duncanville, Texas, returns to North Texas after a standout season in the Upshot League, where she helped lead the Charlotte Crown to the championship in the league’s inaugural campaign.

Kelly was named the recipient of the Ann Meyers Drysdale MVP award after delivering 29 points and six rebounds in Charlotte’s championship-game victory over the Jacksonville Waves. Over the full 2026 Upshot League season, she averaged league-best marks of 18.1 points and 4.0 assists per game.

Her signing gives Dallas another developmental option in the backcourt and brings a familiar local name into the organization.

Kelly Brings Strong Collegiate Resume

Kelly spent the first four seasons of her college career at North Carolina, where she became one of the program’s most productive scorers.

She finished her time in Chapel Hill with 1,858 career points, ranking eighth on North Carolina’s all-time scoring list. Kelly also helped the Tar Heels reach the NCAA Tournament in each of her four seasons, including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2022.

For her graduate season, Kelly transferred to Oregon for the 2024-25 campaign.

She averaged 12.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Ducks, helping the program finish 20-12 and reach the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Kelly entered the professional ranks after going undrafted. She signed a training camp contract with the Las Vegas Aces in April 2025, but was waived before the regular season began.

Her performance in the Upshot League gave her another opportunity to show her scoring and playmaking ability, eventually leading to the developmental contract with Dallas.

Developmental Role Gives Wings Added Flexibility

Under the 2026 collective bargaining agreement, Developmental Players are permitted to practice and travel with their WNBA teams and can also be activated for a limited number of regular-season games.

Each developmental player can be activated for up to 12 games during the 2026 season, while teams are limited to 24 total developmental player activations.

Teams can also retain reserved rights to as many as two players who finished the previous season on a Player Development Contract, giving organizations another avenue to evaluate and retain emerging talent.

For Dallas, Kelly’s addition provides another player who can learn the system, participate in team activities and potentially compete for future opportunities within the organization.

Her local ties add another layer to the signing.

Kelly developed her game in Duncanville, one of the strongest basketball communities in North Texas, before building a national college profile at North Carolina and Oregon.

Now she returns to the area with a chance to continue her professional development with the Wings.

Dallas has made player development a visible part of its roster strategy in 2026, using developmental contracts to create additional opportunities while maintaining flexibility throughout the season.

Kelly becomes the latest player to enter that pipeline as the Wings prepare for the postseason and continue evaluating pieces beyond the current campaign.

She will wear No. 2 for Dallas.