The frustration is palpable in the Dallas Wings locker room, and star rookie Paige Bueckers isn’t mincing words about the team’s abysmal 1-9 start to the season. Following a string of disheartening losses, Bueckers offered a brutally honest assessment of the Wings’ performance, pointing the finger squarely at internal shortcomings.
The Struggling Dallas Wings Need Paige Bueckers Back
“Just a lot of stuff that happens in the game we can control,” Bueckers stated. “And sometimes I feel like we’re our biggest opponent in terms of stuff that we can do to contribute to winning. So coming back, having that perspective on how we can change things. It’s just little things that we can clean up, specifically like turnovers and transition defense are a few things…Just looking how much internally we’re hurting ourselves so it’s definitely stuff that’s fixable.”
I asked Paige Bueckers what she learned about the Wings from watching the team over the past four games:
“Just a lot of stuff that happens in the game we can control. And sometimes I feel like we’re our biggest opponent in terms of stuff that we can do to contribute to winning.…
— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) June 10, 2025
Her words cut deep, but they also offer a glimmer of hope for a Dallas team desperately searching for answers. The Wings’ 1-9 record is a stark reminder of their struggles, placing them at the bottom of the WNBA.
Despite the team’s woes, Bueckers has been a beacon of individual brilliance when on the court. In her six appearances this season, the highly touted No.1 overall pick is averaging 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and an impressive 6.7 assists per game. Her ability to facilitate and create opportunities for her teammates has been a highlight in an otherwise challenging season.
However, the team’s overall statistics reveal deeper issues. The Wings are currently 5th in the league in points per game (83.4) but lagging in defensive efficiency, ranking 12th in opponent points per game (88.9).
Their 11th-place offensive rating and 11th-place net rating further underscore the need for improvement. Bueckers’ emphasis on turnovers and transition defense is particularly relevant, as these are areas where the Wings have often struggled.
With Bueckers now returning from recent setbacks, her scoring punch and elite playmaking ability will be an invaluable asset as the Wings attempt to right the ship. Her vision and basketball IQ are crucial to orchestrating a more fluid offense and generating high-percentage shots.
If the team can heed her words and minimize their self-inflicted wounds, Bueckers’ presence could be the catalyst that finally propels the Dallas Wings back to their winning ways.
Dallas will not have an easy road to winning. They face a hot Phoenix Mercury team tomorrow night and then hit the road to take on A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces. Hopefully, Bueckers and the rest of her Wings teammates can right the ship before it’s too late.
