By Riley Ingram with Bill Ingram
Dallas, TX – When basketball fans in Dallas talk about highly-anticipated rookies they’re more likely than not talking about Dallas Mavericks top draft pick Cooper Flagg. While Flagg’s potential is certainly interesting, there’s another rookie top pick who is already taking the basketball world by storm. Dallas Wings rookie guard Paige Bueckers is a virtual lock for Rookie of the Year in the WNBA as she’s averaging 19 points, 5.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game. She has shattered rookie records for points in a single game (44), was the first rookie to collect 350+ points and 100+ assists in her first 20 games and was the first rookie to ever score in double-figures in each of her first 20 games.
“Paige is the ultimate competitor and her daily approach and her process is impressive,” Wings head coach Chris Koclanes tells The Garland Gazette. “I’m just continuing to have conversations with her and to learn, really. Through film, through living out these games and the adversity, it’s been a challenging year. She continues to show up, day in and day out, with an open mind and an eagerness to continue to want to get better for her teammates, for herself and for this organization.”
Bueckers’ success in college at UCONN, where she broke school records for career scoring average (19.8 ppg), most points in the NCAA Tournament (2,439) and most points in a single Tournament game (40), had a lot to do with her eagerness to grow while staying grounded in who she is.
“I try to be authentic to myself, and that’s something that’s always been important to me,” says Bueckers. “I don’t want to be someone who changes based on circumstances or anything else. I stay true to who I am, true to my love and my joy and let those things shine through.”
Bueckers’ special talent is not lost on her veteran teammates. Second-year forward Maddy Seigrist feels like her young teammate is well ahead of schedule.
“If Paige was an eight-year player, what she’s doing would be amazing,” says Seigrist. “The fact that she’s come in right out of college and is able to do this is just so impressive. It speaks volumes about the type of player, type of person she is and how she makes the people around her better.”
An onslaught of injuries to the Wings has brought in a lot of new faces this season, but Bueckers’ specialness is not lost on them.
“Paige has a great impact on this team,” says Amy Okonkwo, who recently joined the team after training at nearby TCU, and has been keeping an eye on Bueckers’ play. “She’s ball dominant, but she also makes the right plays, the right pass, is very aggressive and that helps the team in a lot of ways.”
“Absolutely! She’s a great player,” agrees Serena Sundell, who played her first game with the Wings on Wednesday night. “We were at the draft together and she’s such a great person off the court. I can see that in just the short time I’ve been here. I’m excited to learn from her and be on the court with her.”
With only five games left in the WNBA season, Paige Bueckers has nothing left to prove. The dominant player she was at UCONN has translated well to the WNBA game and the Dallas Wings cornerstone for the future is firmly in place.
The Wings final home game of the season will be at UTA on September 11th, with tickets available here!
For information about season tickets for the 2026 WNBA season, click here!
