The bright lights of Dallas haven’t quite ignited the spark expected from Paige Bueckers. Two-time WNBA All-Star and ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike is calling for a change, urging the rookie to unleash the fire that made her a national sensation.
During a recent appearance on “Between the Lines with Lisa Leslie,” Ogwumike implored the No. 1 overall pick to adjust her on-court demeanor, turning flashes of brilliance into a relentless pursuit of excellence across the entire court.
Chiney Ogwumike Demands Paige Bueckers To Get “Aggressive” and Take Charge on Court
Dallas entered the 2025 campaign with high hopes, pairing Bueckers’ transcendent college pedigree with Arike Ogunbowale’s scoring prowess and Teaira McCowan’s interior force.
Instead, the Wings have stumbled to a 1-9 start, frequently squandering fourth-quarter leads and surrendering clutch opportunities. This includes losses against the Chicago Sky (May 31), Seattle Storm (June 3), Los Angeles Sparks (June 6), and Minnesota Lynx (June 8). Furthermore, the UConn prodigy has missed the last four games due to injury.
According to CT Insider, her availability for Wednesday’s game in Phoenix remains uncertain. She also sat out the June 8 match against the Lynx for recovery, despite fan expectations for her to play.
Paige Bueckers has cleared concussion protocol after missing the last 3 games. 🙏
She remains probable to play Sunday vs. the Lynx due to illness. pic.twitter.com/lAXmLJUiUC
— theScore (@theScore) June 7, 2025
On the June 6 episode with Leslie, Ogwumike said Bueckers needs to show more consistent competitive intensity: “The thing for Paige is Paige has to get comfortable being uncomfortable. She’s such a girl’s girl, she’s such a teammate’s dream.”
Here’s the edited text, maintaining paragraph breaks:
That said, Bueckers’ rookie campaign has already featured standout moments. Her UConn numbers—19.8 points per game with 53.1% field goal shooting over four seasons—hinted at what she could bring to the pros. She also made history by eclipsing UConn legend Maya Moore, becoming the fastest player in program history to reach 2,000 points.
Meanwhile, in her first six WNBA appearances for Dallas, Bueckers averaged 14.7 points and 6.7 assists per game. She was clearly gaining momentum before being sidelined by her injury.
Why Does Ogwumike Want Buecker to Get “Nasty”
Ogwumike sees some of her own early struggles in Bueckers. She recalled trying to stay quiet and blend in during her rookie days with the Los Angeles Sparks instead of asserting herself. That experience, she said, taught her the importance of showing confidence—something she believes Bueckers now needs to do more.
“And I think at times, this is something that I felt like in my career, at times, in order to fit in, I made myself small, and I regretted that. That’s what happened to me when I was in LA. You don’t do that in the W [WNBA]. You’ve got to make yourself big,” Ogwumike said.
Bueckers’ natural flair for playmaking and her polished pull-up jumper are virtually unmatched. Yet, uneven late-game execution has cost the Wings winnable contests, and some of those moments have exposed cracks in the 23-year-old guard’s confidence under duress.
“I will absolutely listen to a rookie if they speak up and they approach the game the right way and they want to win. And we all know the character of Paige. But it’s an adjustment as a pro, like, to be able to be that rookie,” Ogwumike asserted.
With the season nearing its first full month, the Wings remain outside the playoff picture. Dallas has a few winnable matchups ahead—but real progress hinges on Bueckers stepping up as a vocal leader on the floor.
“Paige is so nice, I want her to be nasty and she’s shown it, but I know it’s going to come with time,” Ogwumike said, implying how Bueckers should marry her offensive genius with an unshakeable will to win.
As Dallas gears up for a tough slate of games, the spotlight is squarely on No. 5. Bueckers has the talent — now it’s about showing the fire. If she can bring the edge that Ogwumike has challenged her to unlock, the spark that’s been missing in Dallas might finally catch fire.