Paige Bueckers (No. 5) of the Dallas Wings kicked off the month of July with her seventh 20+ point performance in her rookie season. (Photo: Rachel Schuoler | The Podium Finish)
ARLINGTON, Texas — Less than 24 hours after being named the Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month for June, Paige Bueckers stepped onto the court at College Park Center with an unmistakable sense of purpose.
It wasn’t about proving anything — not to the Phoenix Mercury, who had scouted her heavily, nor to the fans who already embraced her, nor even to the league that had honored her breakout month.
For Bueckers, it was simply about team.
And in Dallas’ 98-89 victory over Phoenix on Thursday night, the 23-year-old guard delivered once again, scoring 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting while adding five assists and four rebounds. It marked her seventh game this season with 20 or more points, a performance defined as much by poise and leadership as it was by production.
“It’s really fun to play team basketball like this, where on any given night, it can be anybody’s night,” Bueckers said after the win. “And for us to have multiple people contributing to the win — all eight who played made an impact. And, obviously, it was ‘The Aziaha James Game.’ So that was extremely fun to watch and to be a part of.”
While Bueckers’ stat line jumped off the page, she was quick to redirect credit. James, her fellow rookie in the Wings’ backcourt, erupted for a career-high 28 points while also drawing the defensive assignment of All-Star Kahleah Copper.
“It’s not just offensively too,” Bueckers added. “She’s guarding one of the best perimeter players in the league on the other end in Kah. So to take that on and to be fearless and to just be confident, I’m so happy for her, because she has it in her. She’s always had it in her.”
That humility and team-first approach have become hallmarks of Bueckers’ WNBA rookie campaign, one that has grown in impact and maturity with each passing game. Since debuting in May, the former UConn star has consistently demonstrated a combination of court vision, clutch shooting, and vocal leadership rarely seen in a first-year player.
Her award-winning month of June, in which she averaged 21.6 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game while shooting efficiently across all levels, showcased both efficiency and evolution. And yet, even in Thursday’s win — a clear statement against one of the league’s top teams — Bueckers remained introspective.
“I wish I could have taken care of the ball a little bit better,” she admitted. “But then that allows for my teammates to get open looks, for them to get offensive creation off of a double team, off an advantage, out of the trap, out of the physicality.”
Indeed, the Mercury tried to unsettle Bueckers with traps, switches, and contact — a strategy employed increasingly by opponents aware of her growing influence. But Bueckers remained composed, drawing fouls, slipping passes through tight windows, and using her footwork to create space off the bounce.
Paige Bueckers (No. 5) of the Dallas Wings often faced some tough resistance against the Phoenix Mercury defense on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at College Park Center. (Photo: Rachel Schuoler | The Podium Finish)
“I’m human,” she continued. “Sometimes, I’ll let my emotions get the best of me just in terms of all the physicality that’s let go. But I got to get used to it, got to embrace it. That’s every night in this league.”
That response — embracing contact, adjusting on the fly, and empowering her teammates — has helped anchor Dallas through a challenging season. Despite the Wings’ 6-13 record, the growth is undeniable.
“My[isha Hines-Allen], Tea[ira McCowan], Lu[isa Geiselsöder], Li [Yueru] — just holding it down in the paint,” Bueckers said of her frontcourt teammates. “I feel like just one through eight, it was really fun to play like that and really rewarding.”
For head coach Chris Koclanes, Bueckers’ performance didn’t just reinforce why she earned Rookie of the Month — it validated the culture Dallas is building around effort, unity, and resilience.
“We’re gonna capture that,” Koclanes said postgame. “We’re gonna build on it, and we’re gonna keep moving forward.”
Part of that progress is rooted in the chemistry the Wings’ young core is developing off the court — a detail Bueckers emphasized as central to their growth.
“It’s just so much fun playing with these guys,” she said. “We just have a competitive nature about us that we all want to win. And we all work extremely hard. We’re constantly in the weight room, constantly getting up extra work, and we’re all doing it together.”
That work paid off in Thursday’s game. The Wings outscored Phoenix 61-43 in the first half, forced 21 turnovers, and dominated the glass behind double-digit rebounding efforts from Yueru and Hines-Allen. Bueckers, meanwhile, contributed on every level — facilitating through contact, rotating defensively, and hitting timely shots when Phoenix made its fourth-quarter push.
For a rookie navigating physical pressure and nightly scouting reports, her command stood out.
Paige Bueckers (No. 5) of the Dallas Wings was like Dale Earnhardt finding the open lane at Talladega, as the UConn icon made an incredible basket. (Photo: Rachel Schuoler | The Podium Finish)
“We want to play like we’re hunting teams — and being hunted at the same time,” Bueckers said. “It’s just a competitive league that you have to bring that every single night. And we want to play like that for 40 minutes.”
She acknowledged that full consistency hasn’t always been there this season, especially in terms of game starts. But she saw Thursday’s win as a blueprint for what Dallas can become — and what she intends to continue driving.
“We’ve shown stretches where we’ve had slow starts. And we always fight and claw our way back in the game,” Bueckers said. “So to be able to carry that for an entire 40 minutes is what we need to move forward with.”
After a signature performance and a well-deserved league honor, Bueckers isn’t resting. She’s already thinking about what’s next — including Monday’s rematch at PHX Arena, where the Mercury will no doubt be motivated.
But if Thursday night was any indication, Paige Bueckers is ready.
