STWF Sports| ARLINGTON, Texas| August 25, 2026 — The Dallas Wings have added another experienced perimeter option for the stretch run, signing Latvian guard Kitija Laksa to a rest-of-season contract as the club continues preparing for postseason basketball.
Dallas was granted a Season-Ending Injury Exception by the WNBA after rookie guard Azzi Fudd was ruled out for the remainder of the season. That exception allowed the Wings to bring in Laksa, a 6-foot-1 guard with extensive international experience and prior ties to head coach Jose Fernandez.
Laksa most recently played in the WNBA during the 2025 season with the Phoenix Mercury, averaging 5.9 points and 1.2 rebounds across 33 games. She was later selected by the Toronto Tempo in the league’s expansion draft before being waived prior to the start of the 2026 regular season.
Originally selected with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm, Laksa did not immediately begin her WNBA career. Instead, she remained in Europe, where she continued developing into one of the more accomplished shooters on the international circuit.
Impact of Kitija Laksa on the Dallas Wings
Her reunion with Fernandez brings an added layer of familiarity to the move.
Laksa played collegiately at the University of South Florida from 2015 to 2019, where Fernandez coached her during one of the most productive stretches of her career. She finished sixth on USF’s all-time scoring list with 1,764 points, while ranking third in program history in career scoring average at 17.8 points per game.
Her efficiency from the perimeter was also a major part of her college profile. Laksa finished her USF career first in free-throw percentage at 89.6% and second in three-point percentage at 39.1%.
That shooting ability could make her particularly valuable for a Dallas team looking to replace some of the spacing lost with Fudd’s absence.
Laksa also brings a deep international résumé.
A member of the Latvian National Team since 2013, she has spent much of her professional career competing at a high level in Europe. In 2024, she helped Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe capture both the EuroLeague and Turkish Cup titles.
She later joined Beretta Famila Schio in Italy and helped the club win the Italian League Championship in 2025.
During that 2025 season, Laksa averaged 11.9 points per game over 22 appearances while shooting an impressive 53.1% from the field and 39.2% from three-point range.
Her performance earned her All-Europe First Team honors as well as All-Europe Shooting Guard of the Year recognition.
For Dallas, the signing provides another veteran presence and a proven shooter as the Wings move deeper into the final stretch of the regular season.
Laksa’s exact availability remains uncertain while the organization works through the immigration process, meaning her debut date has not yet been determined.
When she does become available, Laksa will wear No. 33 for the Wings.
The timing of the move is significant as Dallas continues building toward the postseason after securing its first playoff berth since 2023. With Fudd unavailable, Laksa gives Fernandez another experienced option capable of stretching defenses, handling pressure possessions and contributing immediately if she can quickly adjust to the rotation.
Her familiarity with Fernandez and his system could make that transition considerably smoother.
For a Wings team with postseason ambitions, the addition offers both depth and another proven shooting weapon at exactly the right time.
