Paige Bueckers (No. 5) of the Dallas Wings has led by example with grace, humility and determination in her rookie season. (Photo: Mason Munn | The Podium Finish)
ARLINGTON, Texas — Paige Bueckers’ first WNBA season has been a study in composure, production and poise.
The Dallas Wings rookie has scored in double figures in all 26 games she has played, a streak that matches the total number of games in her professional career so far. It is an achievement that, along with her statistical impact, has propelled her to back-to-back WNBA Rookie of the Month honors for June and July.
Bueckers entered the league with immense expectations as the No. 1 overall pick, but she has managed to exceed them in several respects. Through mid-August, she ranks seventh in points per game, eighth in assists per game, 11th in efficiency and second in steals among all WNBA players. Her averages, 18.6 points, 5.4 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, reflect a player who has quickly adjusted to the pace, physicality and demands of the pro level.
In June, Bueckers shot nearly 46 percent from the field and over 86 percent from the free-throw line while carrying a scoring load that put her among the league leaders. Her July production stayed steady, underscoring the consistency that coaches and teammates have come to rely upon.
Dallas has not been able to translate her excellence into wins just yet. The Wings stand at 9-24, navigating a difficult season in which injuries, lineup changes and a rebuilding roster have tested their depth. For Bueckers, that context is part of the job — and an opportunity to help lay a foundation.
Asked what her college coach Geno Auriemma might say about her rookie year so far, Bueckers reflected on his lasting influence ahead of the Wings’ road game against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center on Aug. 5.
Paige Bueckers knows it’s a process for the Dallas Wings to build toward long-term success. (Photo: Mason Munn | The Podium Finish)
“I feel he would have a lot of things to say, a lot of constructive things and how to be better,” she said. “He texts me every now and again just to give me words of advice on how to keep performing. But I think I just try to bring a leadership about me and a joy and a passion and just love playing basketball here, and I want to bring a winning culture here to Dallas.
“I know the results haven’t been there yet, but to continue to build it takes a process and a long while to build something. So just to continue to have that mentality of wanting to win, doing everything it takes to win, building that culture that you want to build here.”
Her outlook reflects a steady focus on the long term. When pressed about how she remains optimistic amid a challenging season, Bueckers was clear about her mindset.
“Just to not be result-oriented in life and be process-oriented in how I show up every single day and how we show up every single day to work, and how we continue to make each other better,” she said. “In a rebuilding process the first couple of years aren’t always pretty and they’re not always easy, but it’s the foundation you want to set for when the winning years do come — that we stick to who we are and that we’re the same team and we have the same winning habits and the same culture that we did in the rebuilding years, and then we do in the winning years. So I think it’s really a testament to just being process-oriented.”
The results Bueckers sees aren’t limited to the scoreboard. She points to the team’s improved chemistry and commitment.
“Even just the results from the beginning of the season to now, we’ve gotten a lot more comfortable with each other,” she said. “Our chemistry is great. We love each other and love being around each other on and off the floor. And just how we make each other better.
“The level of accountability, I think, has grown a lot in terms of how much we’re doing that within ourselves, but also within each other. So just I think the process has been great. And I know that if we continue up this process, those results will come.”
Her rookie campaign, Bueckers said, has been everything she imagined, even if she approached it without concrete expectations.
Paige Bueckers and teammate JJ Quinerly, along with Aziaha James, are part of the Dallas Wings’ “Three Studeteers.” (Photo: Mason Munn | The Podium Finish)
“Yeah, I always dreamed to be here, but I really had no expectations of it just because I didn’t know what it would look like,” she said. “But it’s been everything I dreamt of. Just being able to wear this uniform, being able to play against the best players in the world and build those relationships. Which is still why I’m in a new culture, in a new organization. So it’s just been a dream come true.”
Bueckers’ ability to lead, even as a rookie, has not gone unnoticed. In addressing how she uses her voice to keep her teammates focused on the big picture, she acknowledged the shared frustration over the team’s record but stressed the importance of unity and follow-through.
“I think we all are frustrated with losing,” she said. “So to continue to stay together through the tough times and just, I mean… well, like I said before, we talked about it enough. I think we just need to put action behind our words.”
The numbers back up her leadership role. Bueckers has been one of the most efficient rookies in recent memory, contributing in multiple statistical categories while handling primary ball-handling and scoring duties.
Her defensive instincts have made her a constant threat in passing lanes, leading to her ranking near the top of the league in steals. On offense, her mix of mid-range pull-ups, three-point shooting and slashing ability forces defenses to pick their poison.
While she has delivered highlight performances — several 20-plus point outings, multiple games with eight or more assists, and a handful of high-steal games — it is her steadiness that has drawn praise from coaches and analysts. In every game, she has found ways to impact play, whether by scoring, facilitating, defending or setting the tone with her energy.
Paige Bueckers (No. 5) of the Dallas Wings strives to showcase her passion and love of the game each night. (Photo: Mason Munn | The Podium Finish)
Her streak of double-digit scoring games is notable not just for its length, but for its balance. She has scored 10 to 12 points in some games where defenses keyed on her, and over 25 in games where she was able to dictate pace. That adaptability, coupled with her efficiency, has made her one of the toughest rookies to game-plan against.
The Wings’ record may obscure the significance of her rookie year, but Bueckers has been clear that this season is as much about establishing habits and culture as it is about wins. For a franchise seeking stability, that perspective is vital.
As the season heads toward its final stretch, Bueckers is in position to contend strongly for Rookie of the Year. Her consistent scoring, all-around play, and ability to shoulder leadership responsibilities at 23 years old put her in rare company among first-year players.
The accolades she has already earned, the consecutive Rookie of the Month honors and an All-Star starting nod, suggest that her peers and the league at large recognize her impact.
For Dallas, the hope is that this year will serve as the bedrock for future contention. If Bueckers’ rookie season is any indication, she has the skill, mentality and leadership to help turn that hope into reality.
Editor’s Notes
Geoff Magliocchetti of On SI contributed to this article onsite from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
