The first overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft, Paige Bueckers, has shown early signs of the superstardom she seems destined to reach. However, her team, the Dallas Wings, still sit winless at 0-4. It’s a tough slog right now for the exciting young playmaker, as the team around her appears a long way from being competitive.
Let’s break down the advice she’s offered and how Bueckers has done so far.
Diana Taurasi Extends Advice to Paige Bueckers Amid Wings’ Struggles
Eleven-time WNBA All-Star and six-time Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi offered sage advice for the iconic young talent, fully believing Bueckers will turn out to be the best player in the WNBA in her interview with the “No Offseason Podcast,” from The Athletic.
“She’s going to end up being the best player in the league, for sure,” Taurasi said. When watching how she played against Seattle already, it’s clear she’s on that trajectory.
Taurasi, recently voted the best WNBA player ever, when asked if Buckers will be the best player, replied: “Absolutely. Paige’s instincts on the court are incredible.”
She also praised her talent, “Paige has tremendous talent, and once it’s unlocked, I’m going to be really excited to watch her play.”
When asked about how she’s going to adapt to leaving a winning college program at UConn to going to a rebuilding side in Dallas, Taurasi replied, “The best thing about being in Connecticut is you don’t lose a lot of games, and the worst thing about Connecticut is you don’t lose alot of games. It’s [the WNBA] a different beast. One thing I know about Paige is she’s so grounded, so patient, and she’s so prepared.”
She also offered advice regarding improving as a player, “You take the wins as far as getting better every single game, and as you can tell, Paige was a different player in Game 1 to Game 2. From Game 2 to 10, she’ll be a different player.”
That’s some tremendous advice: to remain patient and focus on getting better each game, growing with her new teammates.
A Look at Bueckers’ Start for the Wings
It’s a small sample size of four games, but as mentioned, she looked like a superstar against Seattle, putting up 19 points, eight assists, and an impressive 50% from both the field and behind the arc in just her second game.
Bueckers showcased her immense skillset with some pull-up mid-range jumpers, beating two off the dribble to score over a double team, nailing a long-range 3, a perfect outlet assist in transition, and a rejection under the basket.
She did all she could, but unfortunately, her teammates let her down, particularly Arike Ogunbowale and DiJonai Carrington, who combined for a -32 on the court and 4-for-22 from the field in a nightmarish game for her teammates.
Following that, Bueckers had a double-double with 10 assists against her hometown team, Minnesota, sandwiched by two quiet games for the rookie.
This is expected for a rookie; there will be some ups and downs. It’s undeniable how special Bueckers looks. She’s a remarkable talent and arguably the best player on the team. She shows maturity on both ends of the court way beyond her years.
Her playmaking and shot creation are remarkably smooth, just four games into her career. It’s now incumbent on the Wings’ front office to put the right pieces around her to help her grow.
