Paige Bueckers entered the WNBA with the stardom of a superstar, and since then, she has proved she deserves the hype. The reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year has delivered some spectacular performances on the hardwood with no signs of a sophomore slump this season. Instead, she continues to transform the franchise’s trajectory, providing the much-needed spark for a deep championship run.
The 24-year-old navigates through defenses with sheer dominance, all while maintaining elite efficiency. Her fluid scoring and high-energy playmaking have caught the attention of the three-time WNBA champion coach, earning high praise.
Aces’ Head Coach Becky Hammon Calls Herself a Paige Bueckers Fan
The Dallas Wings hosted the Las Vegas Aces at College Park Center on Monday night. Ahead of the clash, Aces’ head coach Becky Hammon addressed the press.
When asked about her strategy for countering Paige Bueckers’ versatility and how she’d limit her opportunities on the hardwood, she said, “What makes her so versatile is she plays right way. You take this way, she’s gonna get to that. She just plays the game at really, I would say, simple level. But it is not simple. It’s very strategic, obviously, what she’s doing and how she’s reading defenses.”
“But she plays the right way, so it’s hard to be a player when they’re committed to just taking what the defense gives you. You wanna take out one aspect, she’s gonna hurt you in another aspect. So, it’s all kind like what you are willing to live with. But she is a very hard player to defend because if you bring a double team, she will pass it. If you don’t, she might score over you. She’s a stud. I’m a fan,” added Hammon.
Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon was asked about Paige Bueckers:
“She’s a stud. I’m a fan.”#wingsup | @TheIXSports pic.twitter.com/h6UwneUHDw
— Melissa Triebwasser (@TheCoachMelissa) June 15, 2026
In 24 minutes against the Aces, Bueckers scored 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists on 4-of-11 shooting, leading the Wings to a 96-66 blowout victory.
This performance was crucial after the injury scare on June 11 against the Phoenix Mercury, when the star guard suffered a right ankle injury and was escorted to the locker room. She soon returned to drop a season-high 31 points. But for precautionary reasons, head coach Jose Fernandez sat her out during their next game against the Portland Fire.
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This season, the former No. 1 overall pick is averaging 19.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists while shooting 52.3% from the field and 42.9% from downtown. The foundation for this statistical brilliance was laid during her rookie campaign last season, when she averaged 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists while shooting nearly 48% from the field, earning ROTY honors and an All-Star starter nod.
With the victory over the Aces, the Wings’ record improves to 9-5, third in the Western Conference. For their next game, they will travel to San Francisco to clash against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center on Wednesday, June 17.
