Paige Bueckers has been running the show for the Dallas Wings this season. The 2025 Rookie of the Year has taken on primary playmaking duties for the Wings, leading to a shift in how she approaches every possession.
Averaging 18.7 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.9 rebounds so far, she’s helped Dallas to a 10-6 start and boasts a potent offense alongside rookie Azzi Fudd, who continues to show flashes of the promised potential.
Paige Bueckers Opens Up About Her Expanded Role with the Wings
The Wings have experienced their share of ups and downs this season. They pieced together a lengthy winning streak and also beat the defending champion Las Vegas Aces 96-66 on June 15.
A frustrating one-point loss to the Portland Fire and an 11-point road defeat against the Golden State Valkyries unraveled the growing pains of a roster learning to play together.
Dallas bounced back on Saturday night with a narrow 93-92 home victory over the Chicago Sky, with Bueckers playing a big part in rallying from a 14-point deficit.
Speaking to two-time WNBA champion and analyst Lisa Leslie, Bueckers opened up about the tactical differences between her rookie campaign and her current responsibilities.
“Yeah, it’s been a fun challenge,” she said. “Last year I played a lot more off-ball on the two, so a lot of my actions were coming up and pin downs, coming up for wide screens, obviously coming off the ball screens too. But this year has been a challenge to navigate.”
“This year it has been a challenge to navigate hunting my own shot… and creating for others.”
Paige Bueckers told @LisaLeslie she’s enjoyed taking on a bigger role in the Wings’ offense this season. @DallasWings pic.twitter.com/vqTSQs8a2f
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 20, 2026
Bueckers is feeling that weight, especially as opposing defenses gear up to stop her.
“Hunting my own shot, finding my teammates’ shots, creating for others, and like you said, we just have so many weapons on the team who can playmake, who can create their own shots,” Bueckers continued.
“So just being able to read that on any given night could be something different, and just play to what the defense is doing. It’s been a fun challenge.”
Bueckers set an incredibly high bar during her rookie year, averaging 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 47.7% from the field and 33.1% from beyond the arc.
The Wings, who finished 10-34 last season, will need Bueckers to grow into her role and keep reading the floor with precision for Dallas to finally make a deep postseason run.
The team travels to face the Seattle Storm on Monday night, and a road win against a Western Conference rival would do a lot to boost their confidence.
