Through 29 games, Bueckers is averaging 19.4 points, 5.1 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals while shooting 47.4% from the field and 88.6% at the free throw line. Her season already includes an All-Star starter nod — just the eighth rookie in league history to earn that honor — and winning Rookie of the Month in both June and July, with another award in August likely on the horizon.
Even as injuries have left the Wings shorthanded, Bueckers has carried an outsized share of the responsibility in her debut season.
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A record-setting night in Los Angeles
Bueckers’ most defining moment came on Aug. 20 against the Los Angeles Sparks, when she erupted for 44 points on 17-for-21 shooting. The performance tied the WNBA rookie single-game scoring record and made her the first player in league history to score 40 or more while shooting at least 80%.
“Repetition in practice and games, learning, watching film — finding ways to get to my spots more efficiently, attacking mismatches, using teammates as screeners, attacking in transition,” Bueckers said about her professional routine. “Every possession is different, so it’s just reading the game and taking what the defense gives you.”
Her shot chart showed it all: rim finishes, midrange jumpers, and a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. Bueckers explained that her ability to still lean on the midrange gives her an edge in a league where defenses are geared to concede or deny certain areas.
“Basketball has gone away from it — it’s mostly layups and threes,” Bueckers said. “So it’s hard to guard. Teams don’t know how to guard it, and it’s an advantage if you can score there. You don’t want to settle, but being able to score in that middle area is important too.”
Wings teammate Maddy Siegrist marveled at what she saw that night.
“She’s so efficient, it’s unbelievable,” Siegrist said. “For a rookie, I don’t even have words. Just unreal. I’m so happy I get to play with her.”
Carrying the load in August
Dallas has endured a brutal stretch of injuries, losing Arike Ogunbowale to knee tendinitis, JJ Quinerly to a knee injury, and Tyasha Harris and Li Yueru for the season. That’s left Bueckers as one of just three available guards — alongside Grace Berger and Aziaha James — and forced her into the spotlight even more.
The strain shows in the numbers. The Wings went 1–8 in August, ranking 12th among 13 WNBA teams in offensive rating (97.8), defensive rating (110.9) and net rating (-13.1). With Bueckers off the court, the team’s offensive efficiency plummeted to 91.9, while their defensive rating ballooned to 115.0.
Yet Bueckers still averaged 22.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists on 52.4% shooting for the month. She also made 95.2% of her free throws, living at the line while being blitzed and doubled constantly.
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Grace Berger said the Sparks game was just one example of how Bueckers’ aggression changes the offense.
“Paige’s aggression — she can do this every game,” Berger said. “She’s such a team player she sometimes forgets to look for herself, but when she’s aggressive, it’s huge for us.”
Scoring evolution and versatility
Bueckers’ scoring evolution has stood out most. She entered the league with a reputation for midrange precision, and has leaned on that area while expanding her attack downhill. Over a recent three-game stretch, she scored double figures at the rim in each contest — the first time she has ever done so consecutively — showing more comfort finishing through contact.
“Basketball has gone away from it — it’s mostly layups and threes,” Bueckers said. “So it’s hard to guard. Teams don’t know how to guard it, and it’s an advantage if you can score there. You don’t want to settle, but being able to score in that middle area is important too.”
She added that her success comes from repetition and recognition.
“Repetition in practice and games, learning, watching film — finding ways to get to my spots more efficiently, attacking mismatches, using teammates as screeners, attacking in transition,” Bueckers said. “Every possession is different, so it’s just reading the game and taking what the defense gives you.”
The numbers reinforce her efficiency. Bueckers leads the WNBA in points per game off the dribble (6.8) and ranks third in points per possession overall (1.312), trailing only Alyssa Thomas (1.485) and Aliyah Boston (1.324). She has achieved this despite 72.4% of her shot attempts coming from dribble jumpers, many from inside the arc.
Head coach Chris Koclanes has highlighted how Bueckers’ willingness to play through contact has added another dimension to her game.
“Just being more aggressive, playing downhill,” Koclanes said. “She can get to her midrange whenever she wants, but she’s also been scoring through contact — a bunch of and-ones the last couple of games. The deeper she gets into the paint, the more people collapse, so she’ll continue to have opportunities to spray her teammates as well. I love that she’s mixing it up.”
Bueckers has also proven adaptable in a variety of roles — whether initiating pick-and-roll, serving as a post threat against mismatches, or even screening to counter defensive top-locks. That versatility has been essential for a Dallas team forced to play small with Geiselsöder at center and Haley Jones at power forward.
Wings learning to attack all coverages
For Koclanes, Bueckers’ versatility has become the defining feature of Dallas’ offense. He pointed to her ability to function in multiple roles — initiating pick-and-rolls, working out of the pinch post, and even serving as a screener in handoff actions. Those layers give the Wings ways to create advantages even when opponents overload on her first option.
That adaptability has been especially important with Ogunbowale sidelined, leaving Bueckers and Siegrist as the only consistent scoring threats. The Wings have asked Bueckers to both create for herself and open opportunities for teammates by occupying defenses in various ways.
Her matchup against Seattle showed the challenges of that responsibility. Bueckers drew relentless attention from Brittney Sykes, who the Storm acquired before the trade deadline specifically to bolster their perimeter defense. Sykes hounded her through ball screens and handoffs, forcing her to make reads under heavy pressure.
“They were extremely physical with her, threw a lot of bodies at her on ball screens,” Koclanes said. “They challenged her to make the right play over and over. I thought she kept composure, but we missed a lot around the basket that could have swung the game.”
While Bueckers continued to make the correct reads, the Wings’ lack of reliable finishing around the rim meant she could not capitalize fully on the space she created. This underscored the strain of her dual role as both primary scorer and facilitator for a shorthanded roster.
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Resilience despite adversity
The Wings’ record is near the bottom of the league, but Bueckers has consistently framed the season as a growth opportunity for herself and her teammates. She has spoken often about refusing to let results overshadow the work.
“I’ve always prided myself in the team winning, so that’s obviously the main goal,” Bueckers said. “But I’m proud of this team and the way we fight. This group means so much to me. It could be easy to be miserable with our record, but the way we show up for each other, learn, and grow together is exciting. The wins haven’t translated yet, but what we’re building makes me so happy. I’m grateful and proud of every one of my teammates.”
Her impact has extended beyond her scoring. Bueckers has emerged as a vocal leader in the locker room, keeping the group together despite the team not yet reaching double-digit wins. On the floor, she shows command as a communicator on both ends, and her teammates note that she carries the same standard in practices by demanding focus and effort.
Geiselsöder said that energy shows on the defensive end, even in losses.
“The way we came out of the locker room — we put our foot on the gas defensively,” Geiselsöder said after the Sparks game. “We were more aggressive, guarded the three-point line much better than in the first half, and were really physical. That made it tougher that we couldn’t finish and get the win, but in the bigger picture, the progress this team is making is real.”
Koclanes emphasized that Bueckers’ composure has helped steady the team during a season defined by absences and fatigue.
“She takes what the defense gives her, plays at her own pace, doesn’t get sped up,” Koclanes said. “Even on the last play [against the Sparks], when people thought she should shoot, she trusted her teammate and made the right play. That’s who she is. We’re lucky to have her.”
Building forward
Even with the Wings officially out of playoff contention, the organization views this season as the foundation for Bueckers’ future. Her Rookie of the Month awards, All-Star starter nod and record-breaking scoring performances already place her among the most decorated first-year players in league history.
“She’s just an incredible talent on and off the floor,” Koclanes said. “Nobody works harder off the floor to make sure she’s ready on game days, physically and mentally. I’m just happy that everything on the floor is coming together, because nobody deserves it more.”
Bueckers has positioned herself as the clear favorite for Rookie of the Year while also building an early case to be named to an All-WNBA Team in her debut season.
