102 BEST OF DALLAS® 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS & RECREATION | FOOD & DRINK | SHOPPING & SERVICES | READERS’ CHOICE | CONTENTS BEST 2026 DRAFT PICK FROM A DALLAS SPORTS TEAM Caleb Downs It was close – Azzi Fudd reuniting with Paige Bueckers at Dallas Wings gave us seri- ous pause. But the Cowboys traded up to grab Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11 overall, and the message was unmistak- able: after finishing 30th in yards allowed, Dallas is done pretending its defense is fine. Downs brings the kind of instincts and coach-on-the-field IQ this secondary has been missing for years. It’s not glamorous like a franchise quarterback, but for a de- fense that desperately needed direction, Downs might be exactly it. MOST UNDERRATED PRO ATHLETE Jessica Shepard Jessica Shepard is having a career year—14.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists a game, sec- ond in the league in rebounding, and four tri- ple-doubles that make her the only player in the WNBA with more than one this season. She earned her first All-Star start in six sea- sons and represented the Wings in the Shooting Stars event too. But she plays alongside Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and Arike Ogunbowale, three names that eat up every headline in the building. Shepard’s the steady force making it all work, quietly piling up stats while the spotlight lands every- where else. BEST OLYMPIAN Amber Glenn Plano’s Amber Glenn was a stand-out star during the 2026 Winter Olympics, securing a gold medal for Team USA in the team fig- ure skating event. Glenn won us over through her outspoken support for the LGBTQ+ community, her Madonna-in- spired solo skates and for always getting back up when she fell. During Glenn’s short program skate towards the end of the games, a single mistake tanked her individual medal campaign. Despite the “soul-crushing” er- ror, Glenn performed flawlessly in the final round of the competition, and served as a mentor to Team USA’s younger members. We loved her gusto and her guts. BEST DALLAS STAR Mikko Rantanen For a few seasons now, we’ve been all but certain that this would be the year the Dallas Stars do it all. Few talent acquisitions have bolstered that feeling as much as the trade for Mikko Rantanen, the broad-shouldered Finn who signed an eight-year deal with the team in 2025. In his second season as a Star, “The Moose” battled some injuries, but missing out on a chunk of the season didn’t prevent him from being one of the team’s leading scorers. Despite a disappointing first-round playoff exit this year, Rantanen gave us something to be excited for come fall. BEST GM Jim Nill, Dallas Stars Between the Mavericks, Rangers and ol’ Jerry Jones, it’s been a tough stretch for North Texas GMs of late. The one saving grace fans can rely on season after season is the strategic wisdom of Stars exec Jim Nill. His background as a scout is evident in the franchise’s prodigious run of draft picks, with foundational standouts like Jake Oet- tinger, Roope Hintz, Miro Heiskanen, Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston all picked under his tenure. He knows when to go on the offensive with tactful trades for top tal- ent Mikko Rantanen, and the Stars appear set to remain contenders for the foreseeable future under Nill’s watchful eye. Luckily, owner Tom Gaglardi seems to appreciate the three-time NHL GM of the Year as much as we do, having signed Nill to a two-year contract extension in April. BEST DALLAS COWBOY George Pickens Another year, another disappointing Cowboys season. For a while, it seemed as though QB Dak Prescott would be a candidate for the NFL MVP award, especially after beating the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving Day. But the ‘Boys went on a wild losing streak and Dak fell out of the MVP pack. But by the end of the season, the team had two star receivers, thanks to eccentric WR George Pickens fulfilling the promise most experts suggested he had. His 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns easily outclassed his more famous, and higher- paid colleague CeeDee Lamb. BEST DALLAS WINGS PLAYER Paige Bueckers After the Dallas Wings defeated the favored New York Liberty in July, ESPN’s Harry Douglas said that Paige Bueckers is “everything we expected Caitlin Clark to be.” We’re not going to argue with him about the second-year player’s role in helping the Wings make a dramatic improvement this season, but we like to think that Paige “Buckets” is exactly who we hoped she would be as the first pick in the 2025 WNBA draft. In 2026, she’s among the league leaders in scoring and assists while also fearlessly speaking out about the social and political issues she cares about. BEST FC DALLAS PLAYER Petar Musa Since joining the club a couple of years ago, the Croatian striker has been a goal machine in Frisco. He currently leads MLS in goals, ahead of even Lionel Messi in Miami. But, come on now, not only did Petar Musa score a freaking goal in the freaking 2026 World Cup, but he did so in Arlington in front of his hometown fans on the biggest stage. Musa didn’t get to play much in the tournament beyond that for some reason, which is a shame since he could’ve helped his country avoid a feeble knockout round exit, we think. BEST TEXAS RANGER Jacob deGrom The Rangers have awarded some disastrous contracts in the past. Remember Chan Ho Park? For the first two seasons of Jacob de- Grom’s mammoth five-year, $183 million contract would join the ignominious list thanks to injuries that kept him off the mound for almost all of 2023 and 2024. But in 2025 and now again in 2026, the 38-year- old fireballer has not only been dependable, but he’s been great. In a season where the Rangers have a shot at the playoffs in a weak- er-than-normal American League, an ace of his caliber is a true weapon come October. BEST PLACE TO PLAY PICKLEBALL Serve and Sip 11250 N. Central Expressway, Dallas serveandsip.com This upscale complex is both a sports wonderland and a great date spot; all dropped into one day or night out. You can join leagues here if you’re a serious baller, or just meet friends for an easy game. Reserve courts online. And, yes, these courts are indoors. Refuel after with a well-rounded cocktail and dinner menu; this isn’t just bar fare; indulge in steak frittes or spicy vodka pasta. But honestly, we’re here for the cocktails. If you need more of a pre-match perk-up, they also have an all-day cafe serving a variety of drinks and breakfast. Photo by Maja Hitij / Getty Images Photo by Mike Brooks Petar Musa Amber Glenn