Paige Bueckers (No. 5) of the Dallas Wings has confidence in her team’s progress and direction in the second half of the 2025 WNBA season (Photo: Luis Torres | The Podium Finish)
SEATTLE — Whether it’s a packed arena on the road or the home crowd in Arlington, Paige Bueckers continues to draw attention with her poised performances and measured presence.
As the second half of her rookie season begins, the Dallas Wings guard isn’t caught up in the spotlight. Instead, she remains locked in on what it means to serve — her team, her community, and the culture she hopes to help build for the future.
That selfless approach was on full display Tuesday night at Climate Pledge Arena, where the Wings notched a decisive 87–63 win over the Seattle Storm. Bueckers scored 14 points, including 12 in the second half, to help Dallas pull away late in one of its most complete performances of the season. Her ability to read the defense and shift her approach between halves proved crucial in steadying a young Wings team still trying to find its identity.
“In the first half, they were just doing a great job of limiting my touches and getting the ball out of my hands with traps,” Bueckers said following the win. “So I tried to play to the advantages, let my teammates get open, not force anything or try to get outside the rhythm of the team just to get some shots. In the second half, things started to open up a little bit. My teammates were making shots, so they sort of had to relax on me and worry about my teammates. So it’s all credit to them.”
Paige Bueckers (No. 5) of the Dallas Wings drives to the basket against Gabby Williams (No. 5) of the Seattle Storm on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at Climate Pledge Arena. (Photo: Luis Torres | The Podium Finish)
Even on a night when Bueckers emerged as one of the top scorers, she was quick to redirect praise. Her stat line—14 points, four rebounds, and six assists on 5-of-11 shooting—was the result of patience, timing, and trust in her teammates.
In Bueckers’ words, “We were playing team basketball. I don’t think any shots were forced tonight. They were all within the rhythm of the offense.”
That rhythm is something the Wings have been working toward through a rocky first half of the season. After a wave of injuries and roster instability, the team entered the All-Star break near the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
But Dallas look to start the second half on a winning streak while capitalizing on contributions coming from up and down the roster—including breakout performances from Li Yueru, Arike Ogunbowale, and fellow rookie JJ Quinerly.
Through it all, Bueckers has become a steadying presence, not just on the floor, but in the locker room. In her first professional season, she’s embraced the role of tone-setter, especially as the team’s offensive identity continues to evolve. That leadership, she says, starts with accountability.
Paige Bueckers embraces her teammates like Maddy Siegrist, Teaira McCowan and Haley Jones. (Photo: Luis Torres | The Podium Finish)
“We’re trying to create a culture here that we just take responsibility for things with no pointing fingers,” Bueckers said. “We don’t look to blame anybody else, but ask, ‘How can we be better?’ Every single day we show up to work, and we’re learning and growing together. That’s been really rewarding.”
It’s a mindset rooted in how Bueckers was raised, and in the values she holds close. A national champion at UConn, she entered the WNBA as one of the most highly anticipated rookies in recent memory. But she’s never seen the spotlight as something to chase.
“I think it’s from my parents—how they raised me,” she said. “Just to be humble and put others before yourself. I’m secure and genuine in my faith. Jesus was the most selfless man of all by giving up His life for us. So I think just my faith and wanting to give as I’ve been given. I know I live a very blessed life. To share is really the biggest one.”
Bueckers’ humility hasn’t gone unnoticed. Wings head coach Chris Koclanes has praised her maturity and playmaking instincts. And even opponents recognize the way she elevates others. That, she says, is what motivates her more than scoring averages or accolades.
“I’m just giving back—to the communities and the people who have done so much for me,” she said. “Also people who are less fortunate. I never had to worry about food on my plate or a basketball court to play on. Not everybody is as fortunate. So I’m partnering with people who have the same ideals and values as me. It’s been great to do.”
Bueckers’ off-court work has included partnerships with organizations focused on youth access to sports, food security, and mental health support. She views those initiatives not as a side project, but as part of her larger mission as an athlete.
Still, the basketball journey itself has been meaningful in new ways. Wearing a Wings jersey is a shift from the familiar blue and white of UConn—but it’s a transition Bueckers has embraced with both gratitude and perspective.
Paige Bueckers’ selflessness extends beyond her on court play with the Dallas Wings. (Photo: Luis Torres | The Podium Finish)
“I think the night I got drafted, the first time I stepped on the floor with my teammates—just wearing a different uniform—was really special,” she said. “I was so used to wearing a UConn uniform. So to represent a different city, a different organization, and be in the league I dreamt of being in—that was a moment.”
Halfway through her rookie season, Bueckers has shown flashes of brilliance while maintaining her steady approach. She’s posted nine 20-point games, delivered in clutch fourth-quarter stretches, and remained efficient even in losses.
More than any singular performance, her presence has helped guide the Wings toward the second half with renewed clarity as her team takes on the Golden State Valkyries on Friday night at Chase Center in San Francisco.
That sense of purpose was evident Tuesday night in Seattle, where a collective team effort led to a commanding win. For Bueckers, it was a sign of what this group is capable of when they’re locked in and sharing the ball.
“When we’re playing team basketball like that, things went in the way they’re supposed to,” she said.
The road ahead remains steep for Dallas, but with Bueckers leading by example—and with more teammates returning to full health—the second half of the season offers something the Wings have been chasing for weeks: hope.
Editor’s Note
Luis Torres contributed to this article onsite from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.
