ARLINGTON, Texas — Last season was Teaira McCowan’s first in Dallas, but it was practically two different campaigns for the Mississippi State product. After joining the Wings late following the end of her season in Turkey, McCowan averaged 7.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in her first 20 games.
However, over the final 13 games, the ex-Bulldog cemented herself in the Wings’ starting five, averaging 16.9 points and 10 rebounds with six double-doubles and four 20-point performances while shooting a career-best 60.2 percent for the season.
“It wasn’t how I expected to start, but I waited my turn. When I got that moment, did what I am used to doing. I went out there, proved myself,” McCowan said. “I bought into the team, they bought into me. I’m happy to be home. Texas is where it’s at for me.”
Dallas finished 18-18 and lost in the opening round of the 2022 WNBA Playoffs, McCowan’s first postseason experience. She then played for Galatasaray SK in Turkey for a second straight season.
“It went well. We made it to the World Cup Finals, which was good. It wasn’t the finish we wanted, but it was still good,” she said. “I had fun with my teammates. I enjoyed the moment. Everybody always asks about the food [in Turkey]. The food is great. They have some of the most flavorful dishes I’ve ever had. My team made me feel comfortable. I like it over there.”
When the Texas native returned to Dallas, the Wings had a new coach, Latricia Trammell, an experienced WNBA assistant and college coach who replaced Vickie Johnson, dismissed after last season.
“She wants to do the right thing. She wants to be there for her teammates,” Trammell said of McCowan. “She wants to give back to them on the court. She’s walking in with a ton of confidence. She’s a joy to be around. I can tell she’s having fun. She believes in what we’re doing.
“This is a new chapter for her. One thing I mentioned when I was hired, I wanted every player to feel valued and respected. I think she feels valued.”
McCowan echoes her teammates in saying one thing which struck her immediately about Trammell is the enthusiasm she brings to every aspect of her job.
“It’s definitely [her] energy. She’s a loving person,” she said. “You can tell she really cares. She cares for us on and off the court. I’ve only known her for a little while, but I feel the energy from her. It was great coming in and her being fired up from the jump. She’s not shy with anything. It’s all love with her.”
This MSU product used last offseason to continue building her resume abroad and worked on the mental side of her game.
“I worked on myself, found a lot of peace. In a good headspace right now and doing well,” she said. “I basically stopped doubting myself, stopped second-guessing everything, and just went out and played.”
McCowan said she’s also been listening to her body off the court.
“Sometimes I would know I was tired but would keep going. Now if I’m having pain, I know I’ve got to take a break,” she said. “I’ve also channeled my anger. I can’t be so quick to go off because I got a few techs [last season]. I talk to myself. Whenever I miss a shot, I’m like come on, kid. You’ll hear me say ‘come on kid, keep your head up.’ I don’t try to let anything get me down to where I’m out of my game.
“I’m constantly talking to myself, giving myself positive feedback so I always have something in my head I’m saying or doing. It keeps me going.”
One byproduct of honing the mental side of the game is that she’s rediscovered her love for basketball, which is music to the ears of her new coach.
“Yeah, it [this game] is hard, right? The grind is hard and think about the sacrifices these young ladies make,” Trammell said. “It’s a grind. It’s a year-round thing for these professional players, so I’m glad that she feels like she’s in love with the game [again]. Sometimes you need that reset and it sounds like she has gotten that.”
And much like her early days at State, she immediately bought into Trammell’s new high-energy style.
“I really don’t know where I would be [now] if it wasn’t for [my four years at] State. Coach [Vic] Schaefer broke me down,” McCowan said. “Not in a bad way, but he just took me down.
“All the [coaches] took the time, invested in me. When I came in, I was rough. I didn’t want to do anything. I had that freshman mentality of I don’t want to be here. We sat down, talked about it and from there they started tearing me down and building me back up. It happened freshman year summer going into my sophomore year. That’s when I turned the page and realized these people care for me. They want what’s best for me. Once I buy into a program, the sky’s the limit.”
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